Instructions
Upon first finding a baby squirrel, it is most important to first warm it by wrapping it up in a warm blanket with a heat source such as an insulated hot water bottle, or by cupping it in your hands until it warms up. The baby's body temperature should be about the same as yours. Next, the baby needs to be re-hydrated. Pedialyte, a re-hydration solution for human babies, is best, but in lieu of that any balanced electrolyte hydrating solution will work. Feed the baby this for the first 12 to 24 hours, at which point it will be strong enough to digest formula.
Determine the baby squirrel's age. It is important for you to know the baby's age for proper feeding and eventual release. Until about two weeks of age, the baby squirrel will still be pink. At three weeks of age you begin to see tiny hairs starting on the face. When the baby is four weeks, its two teeth begin to push through. At five weeks, the eyes may begin to open and hair covers the body. The squirrel's eyes are open at six weeks, and its back teeth come in between eight and 10 weeks.
It is vital to keep the baby squirrel warm and housed properly. From birth until its eyes open, keep the baby in a small cardboard box with breathing holes, a warm blanket and a heat source, such as a hot water bottle. Once its eyes open, it will need more room to exercise; a dog carrier, large rodent cage or dry aquarium will work nicely. The squirrel will not need a supplemental heat source after five weeks if it has a companion. Be sure to supply a nice blanket at all times, however.
Use a syringe to feed your baby squirrel every two to four hours. The amount that it needs to be fed depends on its age. You will also need to have the correct formula. The best formula to use is puppy formula. Do not use formula for kittens, babies or goats. When they are 6 weeks old, you can add some fruit and nuts to the cage, and slowly faze out the formula around seven weeks.
Stimulate the baby after each feeding. A baby squirrel will not defecate or urinate adequately without stimulation, which is something its mother will do for it in the wild. After each feeding, gently stimulate the baby's genital area with a warm cloth or cotton swab until it relieves itself.
How to Raise Baby Gray Squirrels
One of the cutest animals to find in the wild is a baby squirrel. It is very tempting to keep it and nurse it to health on your own, especially if it appears to be abandoned by its own mother. Before you make that decision, understand that every state has registered animal rehabilitators who are trained and able to care for your orphaned squirrel. Some states even have laws stating that it is illegal to have a wild squirrel. If you decide to try it on your own, then there are a few steps that you must follow.