Identifying the exact age of your baby squirrel can be tricky, as they are born with no eyes, teeth, or hair. Fortunately, there are some ways to tell how old a baby squirrel is – and these methods are often highly accurate. Observing the development of these characteristics will give you a good idea of its age in weeks. However, this method is only applicable if you’re raising a squirrel yourself. If you’re concerned about your little furry friend’s welfare, consult a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for guidance.
After a baby squirrel has reached 8 weeks old, it will look very much like a real squirrel. It will have sharp claws for climbing and hanging upside-down. By 10 weeks, it will have a full tail and bushy tail, and it will have fully grown teeth. Depending on the type of fur you’re purchasing, you can also look for markings on the face, ears, or body to help determine its age.
Once a baby squirrel has developed its teeth, its fur will cover the underside of its tail. The incisors (the front teeth) will come in and cover the lower jaw by 3 weeks. If you’re trying to determine the age of your baby squirrel, keep in mind that it will need feeding every two to three hours and even overnight. If it goes longer than 24 hours without food and water, it will likely die.
Another way to tell the age of your baby squirrel is by looking at the eyes. The baby squirrel will have lower front teeth and open ears. Its body will have gray fur, with the top incisors emerging at around four weeks and the cheek teeth emerging between four and six weeks. This means the baby squirrel is already fully grown and can care for itself. And as long as they’re eating and drinking, they’ll be ready to go.
A baby squirrel’s age will depend on its appearance. A baby squirrel will be pink until it is only about four weeks old. The eyes will be closed when they are a newborn, while the ears will be pointed and positioned away from the head. At three to four weeks, they will have their lower incisor teeth beginning to appear. Despite their small size, a baby squirrel is not fully grown until it’s about 7 weeks old.
Once the baby squirrel has opened its eyes, you’ll have a great idea of how old it is. They’re still entirely dependent on their mother until they reach eight weeks of age. And you’ll know they’re six weeks old if they have eyes and are still totally dependent on her. Then, you’ll have to wait until they reach their first birthday. After that, they’ll start to develop on their own.
You can also try to find the baby’s teeth. You can find this out by taking a video of the squirrel’s eyes and playing it on your phone. When the baby has no ears, it’s still a baby. You’ll need to keep your distance to avoid scaring it. If you want to know exactly how old a baby squirrel is, you should take it to a vet.
In addition to determining how old a baby squirrel’s age, you can also observe the other features of a squirrel’s body. The body of a baby squirrel is pinkish and has an open slit in the eye. The head is white with white hair. The eyes are closed when the baby is less than four weeks old. Its ear pinnae are usually visible, and it is also possible to determine how old the animal is.
While this method is not a very accurate way to determine how old a baby squirrel, it will give you a good idea of how long it’s been in the same location. You should also observe the eyes of your baby squirrel to see how well they’re developing. It’s not too unusual to find an open ear at 3 1/2 weeks. If you don’t see it by five weeks, then it is three to four weeks.
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.
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