How to Care For an Injured Flying Squirrel
If you’ve been caught in the act of capturing a flying squirrel, this article will give you information about how to care for it in captivity. Read on for tips on feeding, keeping it warm and treating an injured flying squirrel. Remember, you’re not the only one who has suffered this unfortunate fate. Follow these tips to care for your flying friend until you can take it to a wildlife rehabilitator.
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Transporting an injured flying squirrel without consulting a wildlife rehabilitator
Injured flying squirrels can be tricky to handle, so you should consider using gloves to protect your hands. You can also use an empty glove tip to keep the squirrel busy and protect yourself from scratches. Avoid offering food or water to the squirrel. You can then consult a wildlife rehabilitator for further instructions. Don’t attempt to transport a flying squirrel yourself without consulting a wildlife rehabilitator first.
To transport an injured flying squirrel, first check whether the facility is licensed to handle the animal. If you don’t know whether it is licensed to handle the species, call the wildlife rehabilitator immediately and get the animal transported to their facility. The humane society, animal control agency, and state wildlife agency may all be able to provide you with information and assistance. You may also try calling a veterinarian or a wildlife rehabilitator.
Feeding a flying squirrel in captivity
If you’ve ever cared for a flying squirrel, you know that their diet is varied. Besides nuts, flying squirrels also enjoy eating fruits and vegetables. They’re known to love pecans, and you should try to feed them a few pieces of this nut. You can also add a few mealworms to their diet, too. Luckily, flying squirrels have a neutral odor, and they will use only one part of their cage to toilet.
When you first get a flying squirrel, be sure to feed it a nutritious pellet diet. These foods are high in calcium. If your flying squirrel is deficient in calcium, you can use a complete pellet diet. It’s best to avoid calcium deficiency, and you can make up the amount of calcium by supplementing with calcium tablets or baby powder. Vaccinations are not necessary for flying squirrels, but you should be sure to regularly check their health.
Keeping a baby flying squirrel warm
If you have a baby flying squirrel, you may wonder how to keep it warm. The first thing to do is to clean it thoroughly with a no-rinse formula or blue Dawn soap. The latter is a good choice because it will help loosen dirt, dissolve oils, and deodorize the squirrel’s skin. Next, check the baby for parasites. For this, you can use a Q-tip to stimulate the genital area of the baby. If you have any doubts, you can look for videos on youtube, which explain the process.
After cleaning the squirrel, it is important to gradually warm it up before allowing it to eat. Ensure the temperature does not exceed 99 degrees Celsius. This is a normal human body temperature, while a baby flying squirrel’s is 99 degrees. A little overheating could be fatal for your baby flying squirrel, so you should be sure to monitor its temperature. As soon as its body temperature rises to a normal temperature, it should no longer require the heating pad.
Treating an injured flying squirrel
First of all, what is a flying squirrel? This small brownish-gray squirrel has long limbs, bushy tails, and large eyes. The flying squirrel’s body has a flap of fur covering its skin, known as the Patagium, that extends from its wrist to ankle. It uses this flap to glide high in the air, and can control its direction by dipping one foot or hand into the flap. Flying squirrels weigh from 3.5 to 5.5 pounds.
A fly may lay its eggs on the injured flying squirrel. Flies may lay their eggs in a squirrel’s wounds, but removing them may cause more damage. In addition, flies lay their eggs inside of the animal, causing extensive maggots and internal infections. This is why it’s so important to immediately seek veterinary attention. It is vital to avoid unnecessary suffering for the animal and to help others understand its needs.
How does a flying squirrel get injured?
A flying squirrel can get injured from falling out of a nest being attacked by a predator or being hit by a car.
What should you do if you find an injured flying squirrel?
The best thing to do is to take it to a wildlife rehabilitator or veterinarian.
How can you tell if a flying squirrel is injured?
Injured flying squirrels may be bleeding have broken bones or be unable to fly.
How do you catch an injured flying squirrel?
Wear gloves and place a towel over the squirrel.
Gently pick it up and place it in a box or container.
How do you transport an injured flying squirrel?
Place the box or container in a cool dark place.
Do not give the squirrel food or water.
What should you not do if you find an injured flying squirrel?
Do not try to nurse the squirrel back to health yourself.
This is illegal in some states and you could get bitten.
How long does it take for a flying squirrel to heal?
It can take several weeks or longer for a flying squirrel to recover from its injuries.
Will a flying squirrel be released back into the wild?
This depends on the severity of its injuries.
If it is able to fly and forage for food then it will be released.
What happens to flying squirrels that can’t be released back into the wild?
They will be placed in zoos nature centers or other captive breeding programs.
What do flying squirrels eat?
Their diet consists of nuts fruits insects and other small animals.
Where do flying squirrels live?
They are found in forests woodlands and urban areas in North and South America.
What is the best time of year to see a flying squirrel?
The best time to see them is at night when they are actively foraging for food.
How big are flying squirrels?
They range in size from 10 to 20 inches long including the tail.
What is the lifespan of a flying squirrel?
In the wild they typically live 2-5 years.
In captivity they can live up to 10 years.
Are flying squirrels endangered?
No they are not considered to be endangered at this time.
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.
