How to Tell the Age of a Baby Squirrel
Your baby squirrel is just a few weeks old, so you’re probably wondering: how old is my squirrel? A newborn squirrel has open eyes and an unfurled tail. It’s also a bit hairless, except for the white fur around its mouth and nose. The fur will grow at a very steady rate, so you’ll need to take the time to count the hairs on your baby’s body and tail.
Your baby squirrel is only a few weeks old. You’ll see that its eyes have fully opened, and its tail has a full furry coat. By this time, the upper incisors will appear. It will also be crawling and active. You can also notice that its tail is thicker, furrier, and fuller. It will be walking and eating solids, though it’s still dependent on its mother’s milk.
Baby squirrels are about eight to 10 weeks old and can jump, climb, and hang from branches. At this age, they should start to crack nuts and show signs of weaning. At eleven to 18 weeks of age, your baby squirrel will look just like a fully grown adult. The baby squirrel is usually released back into the wild when it’s about three months old depending on its health. You can also check whether your baby squirrel is eating nuts.
Read More: How Long Is Squirrel Gestation?
If you have a baby squirrel, the eyes should be closed, but you can still make a decent guess at its age. The ears should be visible, and their eyes should be nearly open. The upper and lower teeth should also be visible. The younger the squirrel, the less likely it is to be a juvenile. However, the older the squirrel, the more likely it is to be injured. You can try a few different methods to figure out how old your squirrel is.
It is possible to determine a squirrel’s age by looking at its appearance. At birth, your baby squirrel is pink and hairless, and it may be able to take care of itself, but if it is a baby, it will need extra attention. But if you catch a squirrel while it’s still a baby, you may have to take it to a wildlife rehabilitator.
A baby squirrel with open eyes is about four weeks old. It is too young to have teeth. The first one erupts at three weeks of age. The second two incisors appear between four and six weeks. Finally, the cheek teeth appear at six months of age. Although these teeth are in development, the squirrels’ appearance is very important. Despite their small size, their teeth are still the primary source of food.

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.