CARE FOR
ORPHANED SQUIRRELS
http://www.orphanedwildlifecare.com/squirrelcare.htm
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IS THIS SQUIRREL TRULY ORPHANED? It is more likely that a baby squirrel with its eyes still closed,
found at the base of a tree, has fallen from the nest and will be retrieved by
mom.Also, if a whole nest is on the
ground with small babies inside, mom will take them back if given the
opportunity. Even if you have touched
the animal, mom will still accept it, she may come and then leave, but come
back for it in a few hours. To reunite, leave the baby in the exact spot where
found (mom won't know to go look anywhere else), you can place a hot water
bottle (wrapped in a towel) under it for warmth. (Do not cover the animal
with any materials; leave in plain view, otherwise mom won't be able to find
it).Monitor from inside. Try only
during daylight.If after several hours
mom does not at least come to see the squirrel then it needs help. However, if a young squirrel is following
you around and there is no sign of mom, and it's extremely thin, then it needs
help right away, do not bother trying to reunite! RAISING A SINGLE SQUIRREL: If you determine that the squirrel is orphaned, it will have littermates that also need help so continue to check the area frequently for up to a week. If no others are found it is vital to the squirrel's proper socialization and release to be raised with other squirrels, a single squirrel has little chance of a successful release. Contact vets or local humane societies to try and find a buddy. If this is impossible, handling of the squirrel should be minimal, give toys to stimulate, keep confined (i.e. in a cage), and do not treat as a pet. It is illegal to keep as a pet plus it wouldn't make a good pet, as it's a wild animal. AGING THE SQUIRREL: In order to properly care for the baby you have found, it is important to know its age. Consult the chart on the back to assess age. FEEDING: Orphans that have been without their mother will be suffering from chill and dehydration. They must be thoroughly warmed first, and then offered warmed rehydration solution. Pedialyte is a rehydration solution that is available in drug stores- it should be heated to body temperature and offered every couple hours for the first several feedings. Feed the baby squirrel esbilac powder, mix only enough for 24hrs and keep it refrigerated. Esbilac is a puppy milk replacer, which you should be able to purchase at a vet or pet store. Cow's milk, human baby formulas, and most pet products (except Esbilac) are not suitable and will likely cause death. Use a 1cc or 5cc oral syringe (try a vet or pharmacy), warm the formula, and hold the squirrel in a towel, firmly, and covering its eyes. The squirrel will suck very quickly and take too much formula if you are not in total control. If this happens the squirrel will sneeze formula out of its nose Stop feeding, turn upside down, gently rub its back, and gently wipe the excess formula from its nose. Repeat this for about 5 minutes or until the sneezing stops and breathing returns to normal. If severe this can cause immediate death or pneumonia on a long-term basis. This is why bottles are not suitable to use. To avoid this from occurring, feed in a quiet room, go slowly and watch both the squirrel and the syringe, if air bubbles appear in the syringe, stop feeding and expel the air, (see chart on back for feeding schedule). Once feeding is finished, wash its face well with a damp face cloth, as formula dries quickly and causes fur loss. It is very critical that baby squirrels are stimulated to urinate before and after every feed. The squirrel may be doing it a bit on its own but this may be overflow and if not stimulated the bladder will rupture. To stimulate a baby squirrel hold it over a face cloth. Dip either your finger or a Q-tip in warm water and then light feathery strokes over its genital area will cause the squirrel to urinate and/or have a bowel movement. Once the squirrel starts to pee don't stop as the squirrel will then stop. HOUSING:
Housing requirements will change as the squirrel grows and develops, see
chart for details. RELEASE: The squirrels will not be ready to be released any time before 12 weeks. It is necessary for the squirrels to spend 4 weeks in their large cage (2ft x 4ft and 4ft high, made of 1” welded wire mesh), with a nesting box (1ft x 1ft) on the floor of the cage, in a secure garage or shed. For red squirrels, the caging dimensions remain the same, but use ½” welded wire mesh instead. Doors and windows in the shed can be left open as long as there is someone to monitor to keep animals out (even if other animals such as raccoons cannot get into the cage, their attempt to get in will cause the squirrels to die of stress), before dark the doors should be closed. They should be in the shed on the property where they will be released. Before releasing it is important to investigate the area, if there are neighbours trapping or harming squirrels, they should not be released there. Prior to release, secure their nesting box high (at least 10ft) in a tree, this will provide shelter for the squirrels after they are released. Also, check the forecast to be sure there will be at least 2-3 days of dry weather after the squirrels are released. On the morning of release day, carry the cage to the base of the tree where the nesting box is anchored, and open the doors, monitor from a distance. If released in the fall, you should continue to feed squirrels sunflower seeds throughout the winter, if in the summer, only four weeks of feeding is required. Since transitional care is required, the squirrels must be released on private property, where caregivers are present. *In some jurisdictions it is illegal to care for wildlife
and you should consult your government wildlife agency. INTERNET SITES: There is some good information on the Internet, but other sites give advice that will kill the animals you are trying to help please be very careful. Consider joining the WLREHAB mailing list from this site, or to get more information.
www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/wlrehab.htm |
STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT AND BASIC CARE GUIDE FOR SQUIRRELS
**For Red Squirrels Formula
Amounts Should be Reduced by One Half**
|
AGE
(weeks) |
DESCRIPTION |
FEEDING SCHEDULE |
HOUSING |
SPECIAL CARE |
|
|
Birth - 1 week |
3-4
inches long: pink, no fur, eyes tightly closed c |
Formula: 1-1.5 mls, every three hours or 6 times per day
(i.e. 7:30; 10:30; 1:30; 4:30; 7:30; 10:30) |
A cardboard box animal
carrier lined with several layers of soft cloth/ flannel that doesn't
have any holes or hanging threads. Should be in a warm room
away from drafts & noise. -
Change bedding twice daily. -
Do not use wood chips, they are not good for insulation, and release aromatic
oils that are hard on squirrel respiration. |
Supplemental heat source -
hot water bottle wrapped in toweling for warmth. MAKE SURE
THAT THE BOTTLE DOESN'T LEAK! Stimulate babies after each feeding - rub genital areas with a wet finger or Q-tip until there is a bowel movement &/or urination. |
|
|
1 2 weeks |
Pink, scant fur, eyes closed |
Formula: 2-3 mls, every three hours, 6 times per day. |
Same as above |
Same as above |
|
|
2 3 weeks |
4-5 inches long: scant fur, eyes closed |
Formula: 4-5 mls, every three and a half hours, 5 times per day. |
Same as above |
Same as above |
|
|
3 4 weeks |
5-6
inches long: furry all over, eyes opening at corners. |
Formula: 6 mls, every Three and a half hours, 5 times per day. |
Size & depth of
box/carrier should be adjusted as squirrels become more mobile. |
Remove heat source gradually (e.g., several hrs a day, remove night heat last.
Monitor sq's; if not maintaining body heat reintroduce external heat source. |
|
|
4 - 5 weeks |
6-7 inches long: eyes open (27-30 days old), cannot curl tail |
Formula: 8-10 mls, or more every four hours (i.e. 9; 1; 5; 9). Introduce a small dish of lab chow (cut into small pieces) and a separate dish of apple, banana and grape. |
Same as above |
Hang drinking water bottle on cage. |
|
|
5 - 6 weeks |
Can
curl tail. Appearance of upper incisors. |
Formula: 13-15 mls, three times a day every 5 hours (i.e. 9, 2, 7) Should be cracking large, striped, unsalted sunflower seeds, give a small dish with lab chow and dish of fruit. |
Teething materials should be
provided to allow for gnawing to keep their ever-growing teeth worn down
& healthy. (e.g., twigs of varying length & diameter)
|
Rodent lab chow or nutri-
block is
crucial to the animals' good health & development, and can be purchased at most pet stores. If
chow is introduced as teething material, sq's will acquire
a taste for it & accept it as a staple of their diet once weaned. |
|
|
6 - 7 weeks |
7-8 inches long: furry all over including underside of tail, can sit up |
Formula: 20mls twice a day. Offer 75% sunflower seeds, 25 % rodent chow, peanuts and other nuts. Continue to give a dish of fruit, and introduce veggies such as yam, broccoli and spinach.. |
Move to the intermediate cage (complete with branches for climbing and a regular supply of fresh branches with leaves attached) to provide plenty of living space and exercise. Squirrels defecate anywhere,
therefore, nest & cage should be placed
on a plastic sheet to catch debris
and cleaned daily. |
Include a variety of natural
features and components of
natural diet cage should provide as
natural setting as possible (
e.g., branches, pine cones
offered still attached to
boughs) |
|
|
8 - 12 weeks |
Long fur, bushy tail, increasingly active |
Free choice of 15% lab chow, 70% fruit and veggies, sunflower seeds, peanuts, hard shell nuts plus natural foods-- fresh branches, leaves, pine cones. |
Replace chewed branches
& twigs regularly. Provide a variety of
stimulating & safe toys. ·
Move
to large cage
|
Same as above. Release squirrels at 12 weeks of age. |
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