Tips on caring for a baby squirrel?

Question

My friend and I have decided to take on the task of caring for a baby squirrel.

We don't know what to do. We are trying to get it to bottle feed, but we're not sure how to go about doing this. Could you use a surrogate mother, such as a cat?

Any help would be appreciated. :3

Answer 1

I just became a surrogate mother to a baby squirrel saturday

and they are just like any baby creature, cute and cuddly, but require alot of care. I went on the internet first and researched any information available before taking on the task. Very important is not to feed them human milk, cause the can't digest it and will most likely kill them. Cat milk or Puppy milk can be found at a good pet store. It's kind of expensive, and only keeps 72 hours, before it has to be thrown out. A friend suggest I look for goats milk in my grocery store, it will probably be cheaper since it is easier to come by if you get the picture....I will always wonder how they get cat milk from a mother cat.?? Pumps, ya think?

One person has already given you some pretty good advice and somethings I learned myself from their answer.

I raised two other squirrels before,but they had already opened their eyes and were futher along in development, so this one will be a challenge for sure. Good luck to you and the little one. I still wonder what I will do when it time to release him...I named him Bud.

Here is a helpful link: http://www.mary.cc/squirrels/foundababy....

Answer 2

your friend should know better.  for one it's illegal for her to care for this animal.  she needs to contact her local wildlife rehab center.  that is the squirrel's best hope for survival and rehabilitation and chance for being successfully returned to the wild.  where it belongs.

Answer 3

I can help you.

I never had one either until last week- but I got loads of helpful information on the internet.

The cat brought him home and he's about 4 weeks old, a grey.

I attempted to help him find his momma, but after 2 or 3 hours they give up and would just kill it if they found him.

Its illegal to keep them as pets, and honestly why would you want to?

But, he cant fend for himself- so we've been bottle feeding him with a tiny tiny bottle found at the pet store,  pedialite for half the day (he was dehydrated, but not for more than 24 hours) and Puppy formula after that.

We use Just Born.

They say to mix it with water and whip cream, but mine eats it without just fine.

Do not give it human milk. It doesnt digest it properly.

Make sure that they are warm when you feed them, and you do not feed them cold formula either. It should be at least room temperature!

at that age, 4 weeks is what i have the experience with- they feed four or five times a day every four hours, and not past 10pm- and you have to take a qtip to their privates after each feeding because they cannot relieve themselves on their own, just yet- so you gotta make them go to the bathroom each and every time.

We just get a tissue and sort of feather that area with one and if done properly they will relieve themselves on it and the tissue just absorbs it.

Also, they gotta be warm at night, so we heat blankets up with a heating pad, on low.

Do not use Towels, you'll figure out why as soon as you use them, their nails get stuck.

Once they get to a certain age, and refuse the formula- you feed them cheerios, unsalted nuts, some fruits and veggies and water.

If you need any more help, I'd be happy to help out!

Oh and if the squirrels eyes aren't open yet, keep them out of sunlight. Don't handle them too often or they'll not be able to make it in the wild.

He/she should be ready to be on his own by springtime!

Answer 4

Why the h**l did you take a baby squirrel?