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How's the baby squirrel doing?


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Posted

I can't remember where I saw it but someone on here rescued and was feeding a baby squirrel a day or so ago. I've been trying to find the post to find out how the little chap is doing and have given up. Can anyone enlighten me please?

Posted

Wilbur is doing just fine - has had a large 3rd calcium jab from the vet and is now moving and using both his back legs normally - so normally in fact that he took off round the back of the kettle and fruit bowl Friday morning (and obviously that's just what I need when trying to get to work)!!

His feeding schedule means that he still has to come to pre-school - certainly provides something to spark the children's interest and vocabulary :1b

Following a hearty breakfast - via syringe still he is currently up - clambering the cage bars (I know how he feels xD )

In a while it will be my "pleasure" to give him a bath - the phrase drowned rat is most appropriate - as he smells absolutely rank :blink: :blink: and a quick dry with the hair dryer before he gets tucked up in bed again - bed is a towel wrapped round him to make a nest which is popped into a beanie type hat and then rested gently on a warmed hottie - oh the luxury.

I of course am sat here looking like rent a relic in my dressing gown - a paid up member of the great unwashed and most certainly not coiffed xDxDxD

Will post some more photos soon

  • Like 6
Posted (edited)

:D Great news, thanks Sue. Sounds like great fun, certainly not a dull life in your neck of the woods, lol I would love to see some more photo's thanks for sharing this with us :1b

Edited by Pimms o'clock?
Posted

How long before he's independent?

Will he go back out in the wild, are will he need to become domesticated (if that's the correct term)?

I've never seen a baby squirrel - yet we have lots of grown ones in the garden - and plenty of baby walnut and conker trees at random points in garden too (and many many more holes in the lawn!!!)

x

Posted

 

I of course am sat here looking like rent a relic in my dressing gown - a paid up member of the great unwashed and most certainly not coiffed xDxDxD

Will post some more photos soon

Hmmm - only photos of Wilbur please :1b

If I want to see a 'rent a relic' - I only need to look in a mirror :blink: xD

  • Like 3
Posted

How long before he's independent?

Will he go back out in the wild, are will he need to become domesticated (if that's the correct term)?

I've never seen a baby squirrel - yet we have lots of grown ones in the garden - and plenty of baby walnut and conker trees at random points in garden too (and many many more holes in the lawn!!!)

x

Am doing my research - now that he is out of intensive care so to speak I shall be looking at weaning him off his syringe and onto solids - I think you can release them into the wild at about 12 weeks old - not entirely sure how old he is but am guessing 5 to 6 weeks so looking at release about half term.

Hoping he doesn't become domesticated so am trying to give just the right amount of handling and not overdo it.

This is very much a learning on the job experience although there are many similarities between raising a squirrel and a small child xDxDxD;)

  • Like 1
Posted

For those of you keeping tabs on Wilbur's learning and development here are a few pictures. We seem to have reached the teenage years now - e.g., won't go to bed when told and thinks it's funny to scamper out of towelling bedding immediately after a feed (when I have no free hands) to charge off around the back of my neck and down my back - makes for some interesting Tai Chi type moves as I (everso gently!) try to shake him off. Needless to say feeding time is now a lockdown time - doors shut, cat out etc.

The calcium jabs from the vet seem to have worked their magic - that and the diet (seem to have cracked the milk formula :rolleyes: ). Nice to see the progress though - next stage - look into how to prepare him for the rigours of the wild!!

 

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  • Like 1

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