Caring For a Baby Squirrel
Have you recently lost a baby squirrel? Are you worried that it has been injured or stolen? Don’t worry – you’re not alone. Many people have experienced this problem and are eager to learn how to protect and identify the animal. Listed below are a few steps you should take. Once you have identified the animal, protect it from the elements and try to recover it. Read on to learn more about caring for a baby squirrel.
Table of Contents
Identifying a
There are several signs that can help you identify a baby squirrel. These include its open eyes and ears, and its sparse fur. You can see a grayish pink color on pictures of a baby squirrel, but this is not what a real one looks like. By the time it is 2 weeks old, its fur is sparse. Its ears have moved away from its head and the tail is now longer than two mm. It also has a white belly and legs and lacks teeth.
Often, baby squirrels are orphans, meaning that their mother is no longer able to care for them. If you are concerned that you have found an orphan, the first step is to determine if it is healthy or injured. A healthy baby squirrel has a good chance of survival when it is cared for by its mother. Make sure to wear gloves when handling the animal. Other signs of illness or injury include a broken bone, maggots, fly eggs, or rice grain like caterpillars. If you see any of these signs, contact a veterinarian right away.
Finding a
If you’re looking for a baby squirrel, you should try to find one in a dark and quiet room. You can simulate the behavior of a mother licking her young. Once you have the squirrel’s attention, it’s time to find it a warm place to stay. Baby squirrels are very cold, so keep it warm by placing it in a cup of water or an old t-shirt. If you can’t find it, you can try placing it on a heating pad on a low setting. You can also use a plastic bag or soda bottle tied with a rubber glove filled with hot water. Place it in a dark and quiet place out of the way of children and pets.
Once you have found a baby squirrel, you must give it a warm, dry room. You can use an old wool sweater to make a nest for it. The baby should be placed inside a small box with breathing holes. It should be covered with soft, non-ravelled bedding. The mother squirrel may not recognize her baby if it’s body temperature is lower than usual. She may be preparing a new nest. Besides, she might be a little hesitant to let you handle her baby squirrel if she’s not ready.
Recovering a
First, you must determine whether you have a newborn baby squirrel or a mature one. The baby may have fallen from a tree and is in need of rescuing. If this happens, you should move the baby squirrel into a container that has a heat source. You should also place it under a tree, and wait for the mother squirrel to return to find it. If the baby is still alive and unharmed, contact a wildlife rehabilitator in your area.
The chances of the baby animal surviving in human care are extremely slim because they do not have the necessary skills to live on their own. Sometimes, it may take several hours to rescue a baby squirrel from its mother’s nest. Once you’ve retrieved the baby squirrel, she may take a while to return to her nest. If this is the case, wildlife rehabilitators may suggest placing it in an open box close to her nest.
Protecting a
If you have found a baby squirrel, you should immediately wear gloves to protect yourself from harm. Carefully check the squirrel’s body for any injuries and then find a veterinary clinic or a rehab center for rescuing wildlife. Never attempt to handle the animal yourself, as you may cause more harm than good. You can also try calling an animal control operator to see if there is a wildlife rehab center in your area.
Attempt to protect the baby squirrel by keeping it warm. You can place a glass of warm water near the baby squirrel, but you must ensure that the squirrel is not infected or dead. A sock or t-shirt with human scent will not deter the mother from taking back her baby. You can also place the squirrel in a secure container to avoid further injury. If you cannot locate the mother, call a wildlife rehabilitator to help you take care of the baby.
Weaning a
The first step to weaning a baby squirrel is bringing it inside. If its mother has not come home within 30 minutes, bring the baby inside. Then, block off the upper level of the cage with a quilt. If you have a two-level cage, block off the upper level so the baby cannot climb up. Also, consider placing a nest box so the squirrel has a safe place to sleep.
The best way to determine how much formula to feed a baby squirrel is to measure the weight of the squirrel. You should try to get an idea of how much formula a hundred-gram squirrel would need in a day. If the baby is already fed, use 5% of the formula to determine the amount it will need to drink per feeding. Using a small scale to measure the weight of the baby will make it easier to calculate the amount it should receive.
Should I give the baby squirrel milk?
No milk will do more harm than good.
What should I do if I find an injured or orphaned baby squirrel?
The best thing to do is to take it to a wildlife rehabilitation center.
How can I tell if a baby squirrel is injured?
If the baby squirrel is bleeding has a broken bone or is having trouble breathing then it is injured and you should take it to a wildlife rehabilitation center.
How can I tell if a baby squirrel is orphaned?
If the baby squirrel is crying and has no mother around then it is orphaned.
What is the best way to keep a baby squirrel warm?
The best way to keep a baby squirrel warm is to put it in a box with a soft towel and place the box in a warm room.
What should I do if I find a baby squirrel in my house?
The best thing to do is to take it to a wildlife rehabilitation center.
What should I feed a baby squirrel?
You should feed a baby squirrel kitten food puppy food or canned tuna.
What is the best way to feed a baby squirrel?
The best way to feed a baby squirrel is to use a syringe or an eyedropper to place the food directly into its mouth.
How often should I feed a baby squirrel?
You should feed a baby squirrel every two to three hours.
How much should I feed a baby squirrel?
You should feed a baby squirrel about 1 cc of food per ounce of body weight.
What kind of milk can I give a baby squirrel?
You should not give a baby squirrel milk as it will do more harm than good.
How can I tell if a baby squirrel is dehydrated?
A baby squirrel is dehydrated if it has a dry mouth sunken eyes or if its skin is wrinkled.
How can I hydrate a baby squirrel?
The best way to hydrate a baby squirrel is to give it sugar water pedialyte or water.
How often should I hydrate a baby squirrel?
You should hydrate a baby squirrel every two to three hours.
How much should I hydrate a baby squirrel?
You should hydrate a baby squirrel about 1 cc of fluid per ounce of body weight.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.