What to Feed an Orphaned Squirrel 
If you have recently discovered an injured orphaned squirrel, you can help it heal by feeding it the correct diet. In this article we’ll show you what to feed an orphaned squirrel, including a chew stick and Esbilac formula. We’ll also discuss how to rehabilitate an orphaned squirrel and return it to its nesting tree. In the meantime, you can read our articles on Rehabilitating an injured squirrel and returning it to its home.
Table of Contents
Chew sticks
To provide your orphaned squirrel with healthy food, you can provide him with chew sticks. Some sources of natural chewing material are antlers, maple and apple branches. Be sure to remove leaves from these sources. Adding a cuttlebone is a good way to provide calcium for your squirrel. Avoid giving him pet food or other packaged treats. In addition, avoid giving him starchy foods, legumes, artificial sweeteners, and packaged snacks.
You can also provide a squirrel with fresh food. Squirrels love nuts, so you should give them pecans or walnuts as snacks. Some people also offer peanuts to their squirrel friends, but it is not recommended to feed them this type of food. In fact, you should limit the amount of peanuts you give to your orphaned squirrel to avoid a choking hazard.
Esbilac formula
If you have an orphaned squirrel in your home, you should give it a milk-replacement formula. Esbilac is a powder that comes in premix form or in a powder and water mix. You need to dilute the powder with water to make it more palatable to the squirrel. Mix one part powder to four parts water and feed your orphaned squirrel every two hours.
For feeding a baby squirrel, you should mix the formula with soaked bread cubes, allowing the liquid to drain from the cubes. Feed the squirrel slowly, letting it suck at the mixture. You may need to keep a soft cloth handy after each feeding. Esbilac formula is safe to use on orphaned squirrels up to 4 1/2 weeks old.
Rehabilitating an injured orphaned squirrel
If you find an injured orphaned squirrel, contact a wildlife rehabilitator as soon as possible. Sometimes, young squirrels can fall from their nests, causing them to suffer hypothermia or drowning. Force-feeding them with water can lead to pneumonia or death. If you do not know how to properly care for these animals, contact a wildlife rehabilitator for help.
A licensed wildlife rehabilitator can help you care for orphaned or injured wildlife. They provide medical supplies, food, and housing. Squirrelmender Wildlife Rehabilitation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization and is authorized by the California Department of Fish and Game. To learn more, please visit the website below. After a squirrel is treated, you can then return it to the wild.
Returning the squirrel to its nesting tree
Once you have rescued the baby squirrel, the next step is to return it to its nesting tree. A nesting tree is one that is near the area where the squirrel was last seen. Trees with cavities or large balls of dried leaves are great places for squirrels to build their nests. If possible, try to locate the nesting tree near your home. You will want to avoid disturbing the squirrel while it is still young.
You should wait until the young are old enough to leave the nest. If you catch the baby in the act, it may not leave the nest, so try not to handle it. Although this might lead to some resentment on the part of the mother, squirrels always return to their nests. If you cannot wait until the babies are old enough to leave the nest on their own, you can still remove the baby from the nest and move it back to the tree.
What do orphaned squirrels eat?
Answer: Orphaned squirrels should eat a diet that consists of 50% insects 25% fruits and vegetables and 25% Meow Mix baby food.
What type of insects do orphaned squirrels eat?
Answer: The insects that orphaned squirrels eat are usually beetles moths grasshoppers and crickets.
How often do orphaned squirrels eat?
Answer: Orphaned squirrels should eat every 2-3 hours.
How much food should an orphaned squirrel eat per day?
Answer: An orphaned squirrel should eat about 1 teaspoon of food per day.
What type of fruits and vegetables do orphaned squirrels eat?
Answer: The fruits and vegetables that orphaned squirrels eat are usually apples bananas strawberries and carrots.
What type of baby food do orphaned squirrels eat?
Answer: The baby food that orphaned squirrels eat is usually Meow Mix baby food.
Do orphaned squirrels drink water?
Answer: Yes orphaned squirrels should drink water.
How often do orphaned squirrels drink water?
Answer: Orphaned squirrels should drink water every 2-3 hours.
How much water should an orphaned squirrel drink per day?
Answer: An orphaned squirrel should drink about 1 teaspoon of water per day.
Where do orphaned squirrels live?
Answer: Orphaned squirrels usually live in a Squirrel Rehabilitation Center.
How long do orphaned squirrels stay in a Squirrel Rehabilitation Center?
Answer: Orphaned squirrels usually stay in a Squirrel Rehabilitation Center until they are old enough to be released into the wild.
How old do orphaned squirrels have to be before they can be released into the wild?
Answer: Orphaned squirrels have to be at least 8 weeks old before they can be released into the wild.
What do orphaned squirrels do when they are released into the wild?
Answer: When orphaned squirrels are released into the wild they build nests and find food.
Where do orphaned squirrels build their nests?
Answer: Orphaned squirrels build their nests in trees.
What do orphaned squirrels eat when they are released into the wild?
Answer: When orphaned squirrels are released into the wild they eat insects fruits and vegetables.
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.
