Baby squirrels???

[chyam]

This morning I was in a bit of a rush and was cleaning the bird cage.....this bird cage is on my back patio that is latticed in, I also keep a cat out there who for some reason cannot get along with anyone including herself! Anyways......I looked down by her dry food and thought I saw a rat, and thought to myself what a cat!! Well it was a baby squirrel, no fear what so ever, and not wanting to have the cat kill it I put it in a cat carrier with some water and bedding, fast foward 15 minutes and I was heading out the screen door and there was this baby squirrel hanging on it, thinking it was the same one who may have escaped the cat carrier, well surprise surprise it wasn't!! So now I have 2, went to Petsmart and got some kitten replacement milk and some other things for them and started feeding them, they do drink from the bottle but they also are eating cracked corn, cherrios and some dry cat food and seem to be doing pretty well, does anyone have any experience with raising baby squirrels??? From what I found on the internet they are probably about 6-8 weeks old but apparently mommas keep them around for about 4 months. I am hoping to move them outside into a larger cage in about a week and then eventually just leave the door open a few weeks later, to let them free. Although right now they are very very tame, I don't want to tame them to much, so how much is to much. Right now I just think they are to little. Any help would be appreciated, and they are oh so cute!

 

[CathrynRose]

How "baby" are they: (check this) http://images.google.com/imgres?img...rrel&start=20&ndsp=20&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&sa=N

I looked at the pics - so CUTE!

But I dont know if you should be doing anything for them ??

 

[chyam]

I am pretty sure I know their mama, she comes running anytime she sees me in the yard, I have not seen her the past 3 days (which is kinda odd) We always feed them peanuts and corn and apples. I believe these 2 got thrown from the nest in my tangerine tree last night, it was very windy and lots of lightening last night. I have called 2 different places today and no one has gotten back to me, I just would not feel right letting them fend for themself outside, although they are mobile they are very unafraid of anything yet and there are several cats in the neighborhood. I have raised a prairie dog and other small animals before just not squirrels. hopefully someone will call back this weekend.

 

[wdwmom2]

I raised 3 baby squirrels from the time thier eyes were still shut until the day I released them in the city park. I mixed milk, light kayro syrup, and an egg yolk to feed them. Once they where on solids (nuts, fruits, vegetables, and dog food), I stopped the "milk". Just be warned, if they start to know you as thier mom and something scares them, they have the ability to run straight up your body and sit on top of your head!!!! You better hope that they don't hit any bare skin on the way up!!!!! They stick like velcro. OUCH!

 

[tikilyn]

We raised baby squirrels. We feed then milk and baby rice cereal. They loved it and just dove into the bowl eating it all up. When they finally merge out of the bowl they were covered in cereal. If they are old enough to eat nuts give it to them in the shells so they can learn to crack them open.

 

[Buckalew11]

I had two last Labor Day.

It was an experience that touched my life and changed it. What precious babies.

Please be sure to keep them warm and hydrated.

 

[HarambeGuy]

I have a friend on another board that is raising a baby as we speak. He apparently found a good squirrel surrogate website and is having great luck. I think he's using puppy formula - I've sent him an email to ask for his Squirrel Rescue webpage that he's referencing. I'll post back as soon as I hear.

I do know that he's kept it really warm and had to - ahem - assist it in encouraging some bodily functions. But he's quite the proud papa!

Meanwhile, here's his squirrel when he first found it, and another picture from today:

 

[HarambeGuy]

Here's a website for raising orphaned critters:

http://www.orphanedwildlifecare.com/

He's feeding the little guy Esbilac (puppy formula) and keeping him on a heating pad.

Good luck!

 

[chyam]

Here's a website for raising orphaned critters:

http://www.orphanedwildlifecare.com/

He's feeding the little guy Esbilac (puppy formula) and keeping him on a heating pad.

Good luck!

Thank you so much. That is a great site, although I am glad these 2 aren't quite that small, they seem to suck the milk pretty good and then crash for a couple of hours, I have a bowl of some cracked corn, cherrios, sunflower seeds and bird seed in their cage and they have tackled some of that. I also bought a nest type thing which they love. They are kept pretty warm and just now I put their cage outside hoping that maybe mama will seek them out. I will wait a couple more days and try putting the milk in a small bowl.....
Thank you all for your help and experiences! they are so precious!

 

[Buckalew11]

HarambeGuy, those photos are precious.

 

[DisMN]

Buckalew I didn't know you did the squirrel thing too! We've done it a few times now and aren't they precious?

They're a bit of work because, well, they're squirrely.....LOL and they get into absolutely EVERYTHING if you don't have an appropriate cage for 'em. Charming little buggers though.

Sounds like everyone has given you good advice so I have nothing to add.
Enjoy the little guys, they do grow up very fast.

 

[horseshowmom]

Just a note to anybody who finds themselves in this experience. Cats carry a bacteria that is lethal to squirrels (the cats aren't sick, they just carriers). There is a specific antibiotic that they have to have if they start exhibiting symptoms (Septra).