A baby squirrel this late in the year?

[audtatious]

So, my daughter was at a friends house when they see a baby squirrel on the ground. She approaches it and the squirrel immediately comes to her and starts crawling up her leg. It was dehydrated and cold. Leaving it would have been its death so it has come to a new home for now.

Based on size, eyes open, amount of fur, and the tail curling when it sits up we believe it is around 5-6 weeks old.





Seems to be doing fine thus far. It's eating formula and drinking without a problem. It sleeps wrapped up and against the wife or daughter while they sleep, occasionally walking around them under the covers to find a more comfortable spot. It has teeth but has not bitten anyone and seems calm when being held. I figure with winter almost here we will need to find a rehab place like the zoo to take it when it gets bigger as we have no room for a adult squirrel in the house.

Pretty cool regardless.

[2the40]

Dude that's pretty cool. What kind of formula do you feed it?

[Razi]

Holy crap!
I want a squirrel as a pet!

[Dattebayo]

Squirrels make pretty good pets tho, if you are lucky enough to find one when it's young... They don't make messes and they don't poop everywhere like a rat sometimes can. All they need is a little closet or box or something to call home!

[audtatious]

Dude that's pretty cool. What kind of formula do you feed it?

Dog formula. We purchased the little bottles from the local pet store as well.

[audtatious]

Squirrels make pretty good pets tho, if you are lucky enough to find one when it's young... They don't make messes and they don't poop everywhere like a rat sometimes can. All they need is a little closet or box or something to call home!

Not sure how it would work out with our ferret. If it were spring or summer it would not be up for discussion. Being it's going into winter and this squirrel would have absolutely no chance out there we are in a position to keep it or give it up. I see them as potentially being more destructive to a home than a ferret as ferrets can't climb walls and such and don't jump like a squirrel does.

[Dattebayo]

Well, I'm told they have to be cage trained first, then they can be allowed out. This is coming from my ex gf tho, so I don't know if it's good info or not?

[audtatious]

They do. Once they get to a certain stage you cage train them. You have to use a cage regardless of what you plan to do. If you want to release them in the wild you move them outdoors to live in the cage. At some point you open the cage and let them come and go as they please. Eventually they make their own home elsewhere but usually stay in the area.

Or something like that.

[Dattebayo]

haha

That kind of sounds like being a parent.

[audtatious]

Yeah, kinda. Can't just kick it out of the house as it's momma ain't around to teach it.

[nissangirl74]

Bird cage usually works well. My dad had a pet squirrel. Found it laying under a watermelon plant in his garden. It lived three or four years, died right after Daddy did.

Make SURE to put a little Karo syrup in his milk every three to four days. Squirrels get constipated on "non-squirrel" diets. If they can't poop, they will die. The syrup helps out just enough, it doesn't give them the runs so you shouldn't have to worry about a mess.

[audtatious]

Thanks for the tip!!

He's more and more awake as time progresses and seems to be feeling better. Runs around under the bed covers when not asleep at this point.

[frapjap]

My landlord had a pet squirrel. It used to hang out on the deck and would come inside for the evening hours. When she left for work she'd shoo it out and it'd be waiting on the deck when she came home every day. Never bit anyone or made a mess.
Then the dog ate it.

[Encryptshun]

It takes a lot to warm this frozen thing called my heart. You, sir, with your kindness and those pictures, have thawed it completely through. I wish you were here so I could give you a man-hug and share a beer with you.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

Sweet, my step-dad kept tons of those as pets.

[Dittoz7]

[Encryptshun]

Armando, that picture is effing win.

[audtatious]

It takes a lot to warm this frozen thing called my heart. You, sir, with your kindness and those pictures, have thawed it completely through. I wish you were here so I could give you a man-hug and share a beer with you.

I thought you always wanted to man-hug me

[Jesda]

My head is about to explode from all the cuteness. I'm also slightly hungry.

[audtatious]

This is a non-edible squirrel.

I need to get some more pix. He's starting to get active and run about.

[Repo Man]

Nice work Matty. Keep us updated.

[2the40]

Armando, that picture is effing win.

Truth.

[Dittoz7]

But srsly you have no room for a squirrel in your house? Just wait till you start to get attached to it. Get some of that waterless ferret wash to keep it from smelling.

[audtatious]

lol

I think it will be happy with more of its own kind. We have a ferret to play with as it is and at least he can't climb the walls like this critter can.

[Alfador]

I would seriously offer to take it off your hands but I'm quite sure it's illegal here.

[BusyBadger]

I would seriously offer to take it off your hands but I'm quite sure it's illegal here.

You are correct, damned Taxachusetts (I know their chicanery - I was at Ft. Devens for a while). You can have a flying squirrel as pet in Mass though. I wonder if you had a rehabbers license if it would be ok to keep.

[audtatious]

Mass is only trying to protect the people from themselves.

lol

[Encryptshun]

If I want my nuts hidden I'll watch that video of the guy climbing the ariel tower.

[Alfador]

I wonder if it could be trained to ride the Shiba around and wage tiny rodent war on other animals.

[audtatious]

Here's an update:



He's doing well on formula and, as he has small teeth, I have found out that he likes these:



Further, he likes watermelon but is not a fan of other melons. I have some grapes to try later and I need to pickup some sunflower seeds without salt.

He's much more active now. He will still sleep 4+ hours at a time but when up he's running around and climbing on stuff. No issues at this time as he's usually on the bed climbing around. He does well if you put him on your shoulder and move around as he just holds on and watches what's going on. He will also get playful and roll around while grabbing and pulling at your finger.

Damn dude is too cute.

The "local" squirrel rescue is closed for renovations so we are looking for another place since we won't be able to release him outside this year. We will probably have him for a couple more weeks at this point.