Q. Am I Caring for My Orphaned Baby Squirrel Properly?

Posted by Mia Carter Oct 5, 2008

On October 1, 2008, I received the following question from a reader of How Old is My Orphaned Baby Squirrel?: "My name is Marianne and I am the new mommy of a baby squirrel. We found him in the cemetery near our house the other day completely soaked to the bone and almost gone. We bundled the baby up in a soft towel and brought him home. I have been giving him Pedialyte along with kitten formula but he isn't very hungry. He seems to be sleeping a lot in the pet carrier that we put it in. I have a heating pad under a very soft blankie and he likes to curl up in it and have a soft baby towel over it. Am I doing something wrong that it isn't eating as much as it should? It looks like it is about 5-6 weeks old as it's eyes are open. It will move around some and likes to crawl in my lap and my son's lap also. We named it Alex as we aren't sure if it is male or female. if you have any more suggestions and all i would greatly appreciate them. Thank you, Marianne."

Thanks for your question, Marianne. It sounds like you're off to a good start with your little squirrel. There are a few small changes in care that I would recommend.

Baby Squirrel Age & Feeding Requirements

Firstly, I would switch this little guy over to the Esbilac Puppy Formula instead of the kitten variety, as this is better tolerated by baby squirrels.

Have you read my articles on determining a squirrel's age? These articles have descriptions of a baby squirrel's features for each of the first twelve weeks of life. This can help you better pinpoint his age. And once we pinpoint his age, we can determine precisely how much he should be eating and how often. If he appears to be eating less than he should, then you can try two things. Firstly, you can purchase the powdered Esbilac Puppy Formula, and you can make it a bit thicker than normal to get him some extra calories. The second way to get him to eat a bit more is to feed him a bit more frequently. Some of these baby squirrels tend to get full a bit faster than they should, so this helps to compensate.

Here are the three articles that will help you determine age and proper feeding:

• Feeding a Baby Squirrel
• Squirrel Age and Development - Weeks 1 to 5
• Squirrel Age and Development - Weeks 6 to 12

Sleeping and Bedding for a Baby Squirrel

In terms of his bedding and sleeping situation, lots of sleeping is perfectly normal. Until around seven weeks of age, baby squirrels spend 95% of their time sleeping and eating - just like a human baby. It's only once their eyes have been open for a week or so that they'll start to explore more and sleep less.

You can also throw in a Squirrel Buddy (you'll find Squirrel Buddy directions in this article) or two to help keep him warm, along with a heat lamp aimed inside the carrier - he should be kept around 96 degrees. I would also look into finding a veterinarian who can see this little guy. If he's suffering from intestinal parasites or another not-so-obvious illness, this could explain his poor appetite and failure to thrive. So you'll definitely want to address all of those potential problems with an examination by a vet. It's also good to have a veterinarian on-hand who can assist if an emergency arises, so I recommend calling around to locate someone who will see this baby squirrel.

I encourage squirrel caretakers to visit my ever-growing Baby Squirrel Care Page for more information on caring for orphaned baby squirrels.

I hope Alex is doing well!

Have a pet question? Or a suggestion for a pet care article? Send your questions and suggestions to Mia.Carter@Suite101.com.

Disclaimer: I have extensive experience in caring for animals, including sick and special needs animals, but I am not a veterinarian. I can provide information and advice based on research and my many years of experience with pet care and training, but it's not a substitute for seeking medical attention from a veterinarian.