Instructions
Determine the age of your squirrel. The proper diet for an abandoned squirrel is dependent on the squirrel's age. Young squirrels under 6 weeks of age eat formula exclusively. Around 6 weeks, baby squirrels will begin to eat solid foods in combination with formula. At roughly 10 weeks, a squirrel will eat solid foods exclusively and stop eating formula.
A squirrel that is under 5 weeks of age will range from having almost no hair on its body to having hair on its entire body except for the belly, lower legs and under the tail. Between the ages of 5 and 7 weeks, a baby squirrel begins to grow its front teeth and will become fully covered with fur. At the age of 10 weeks, a baby squirrel looks like a miniature version of its parents with fur over its whole body.
Take safety precautions. Baby squirrels are cute and don't generally look threatening, but squirrels are wild animals and will follow their wild instincts when living with people. Always wear gloves when handling squirrels, as they can deliver a painful bite at a very young age. Squirrels can also carry diseases and parasites, so avoid body contact as much as possible, especially around your mouth.
Feed squirrel under 6 weeks of age puppy milk replacer because it most closely mirrors the squirrel's mother's milk. Esbilac powder milk replacer is the formula many rehabilitators prefer and you can find it in most pet stores. Mix two parts water to one part Esbilac and keep the constituted formula refrigerated. Constituted formula should be disposed or eaten within 48 hours.
Feed very young squirrels, ones with no or very little hair on their bodies, small amounts of formula every two to three hours. Around 5 weeks of age, baby squirrels need to be fed about every four hours and you can increase the amount of formula given at each feeding. It is important to avoid the squirrel aspirating the formula where the squirrel gets the formula in its lungs. To avoid aspiration, take your time feeding the squirrel. Hold the squirrel upright when feeding, never on its back, and use a 1cc syringe and not a bottle.
Begin weaning the squirrel to solid foods at 6 weeks of age. Offer Mazuri rodent block or Zupreme primate dry diet, as these products are the most nutritionally complete for squirrels. Offer fruits and vegetables including hard shelled nuts out of the shell, sweet potatoes, grapes, apples, kale and broccoli. Between the ages of 7 and 9 weeks, cut the formula feedings back to two to three times a day as long as the squirrel is eating the solids foods you are offering. Squirrels will reject formula feedings at approximately 10 to 12 weeks of age and will feed exclusively on solid foods.
How to Feed an Abandoned Squirrel
Abandoned squirrels need a very specific diet to survive and grow. A large time commitment is necessary to provide the specialized care they need. It is illegal to keep squirrels and other wildlife in many communities and stiff penalties can result from keeping and raising wildlife. The most qualified people to assist and raise abandoned squirrels are licensed wildlife rehabilitators. See Resources to find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in your area. These feeding instructions will help you rehabilitate an abandoned squirrel until you can find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.