Homemade Baby Squirrel Food

Before caring for and feeding a baby squirrel, keep in mind it is illegal in most states to raise wild animals, including baby squirrels. Call a veterinarian, local wildlife rehabilitation center or a fish and game office for help. If those resources are immediately unavailable, take the following steps to sustain and nourish the baby squirrel.

  1. Getting Warm

    • Before any feeding takes place, the squirrel needs to be warm and hydrated. As a container with holes for ventilation is being prepared, keep the baby close to your skin for 30 minutes to keep it warm. A lid is important for the box because even small babies can climb out. A continuous heat source is important until the baby is covered in fur and healthy. To maintain that heat in the box, set a baby blanket or flannel shirt at the bottom. Make a pocket in the material with your fist, then lay the squirrel in that space and cover it. Set a heating pad on low and place it under half of the box; place a folded towel in between the box and the heating pad. This will allow the squirrel to move around if it gets too warm. If the squirrel cannot move on its own, monitor the baby's temperature to make sure it doesn't overheat.

    Hydrating the Baby

    • Usually a caregiver's first instinct is to give a baby squirrel some milk. This is a mistake. A baby squirrel will not die over 24 hours without food, but it can die without replenishing its fluids. Water allows the baby to digest food and its body to perform other life-saving operations. If food is given first, the baby's body will use its cellular fluids to digest the food and further deplete its hydration levels. To keep giving food without hydration first only leads to further dehydration and eventually death. Pedialyte is considered a good liquid for hydration; Gatorade is for athletes, not squirrels. Hydration should continue for six to 12 hours depending on the squirrel's condition. Some tests to try include pinching the skin along the spine to see how quickly it returns to flat. If it returns to normal fairly quickly, hydrate for six hours. If it stays peaked, hydrate for at least 12 hours. Healthy babies are pink, responsive and issue clear urine.

    Feeding the Baby

    • Do not use baby doll or pet nurser bottles to give a baby squirrel milk because this can cause choking. Only small syringes of 1 to 3 ccs for small babies and 5 to 10 ccs for larger babies are appropriate. Give the squirrel a half to 1 cc to the baby every 30 minutes for the first two hours. This should be followed by a feeding every two hours, around the clock. After 24 hours have passed and the baby is hydrated, mix one part Pedialyte to three parts of a pet formula, such as Nutri-Cal or Esbilac. After several feedings, switch to straight formula. Never use cow's milk or human baby formula. The baby will nurse for up to 12 weeks, but at around five weeks the squirrel will be ready for solid food. Zupreem Monkey Biscuits are best. Once they get the hang of eating those, starting adding grape halves and vegetables such as peas, lettuce, broccoli and squash. No salted food.