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Traits- Baby squirrels, much like domestic animals, have unique personalities. Some may be more aggressive than others. Typically, squirrels raised by hand are very affectionate and playful. They like to cuddle and like to be close to "mother". Remember, you are now "mother". It is not wrong to provide affection and love to the baby. He/she needs this love to develop properly. Eventually, there will come a time when you have to release the baby back to the wild. Being a wild animal, natural instincts come into play. The baby squirrel is not meant to be a pet. This will become evident as the baby gets older. In the mean time, regular care needs to be addressed for proper diet and needs of your squirrel. |
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Diet- Baby squirrels nurse on their mother until about 4 months of age. Babies do not get back teeth until around 8-10 weeks of age. At around 5 weeks the eyes open. A few days after the eyes open is the time to start putting some solid food into the incubator for them to start "teething" on. There is no need to wean them on mush, etc.. Any Cheerio type round oat cereal is a good first item for babies to chew on. Also whole grain breads are good. Usually after being fed formula, when put back into the incubator, babies go straight for a piece of Cheerio and start chewing. Notice that there will be lots of crumbs. They are just working their teeth. Only when the baby is around 8 weeks do they actual start ingesting the solid food. For a complete list on proper solid foods, see Proper Diet . As a source of calcium, a cleaned beef bone or deer antler should put in cage to chew on. Make sure to get all traces of meat off the bone. |
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Baby Routine- Warm up the formula. Load syringe ( no needle) with correct amount. Feed baby, watching the throat making sure baby is swallowing OK. When done feeding, put baby back in incubator while you clean the syringe and formula container ( use hot water and clean well). This should take about 5 minutes. The baby's brain has realized the food in stomach. The baby is calm and sleepy, this is the time to stimulate to urinate. Check urine color and stool for any problems. If OK, put baby back in incubator near light. |
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Toys-
Squirrels love to play. Good toys are a hanging sock, tennis ball,
a piece of rope across the cage to hang on, or a tree
branch to climb on. |
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