What to Feed a Baby Squirrel & How to Do It

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Everything you need to know about nursing baby squirrels
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If you find a baby squirrel, contact a wildlife rehabilitator to get expert guidance, since squirrels are wild animals that thrive in the wild, rather than being kept as pets. If the rehabilitator recommends feeding the squirrel, you're in the right place. We'll explain how and what to feed a newborn squirrel according to the squirrel’s age and dietary needs.

What do you feed a newborn squirrel?

You can feed a baby squirrel a special milk replacer formula using an oral syringe. Combine 8 oz (230 g) of powdered puppy milk replacer, 16 oz (470 mL) of distilled water, and 1/8 teaspoon (2-3 g) acidophilus or plain, full-fat yogurt per 1/4 cup (59 mL) formula.

Section 1 of 3:

How to Feed a Newborn Squirrel

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  1. Water will work for rehydration, but a pediatric electrolyte solution (like Pedialyte is a better choice. Do not use a sports drink like Gatorade. [1] You can also make your own rehydration solution by stirring together 1 tsp (5 mg) of salt, 1 tbsp (15 mg) of sugar, and 1 qt (1 l) of warm water. Store this mixture in the refrigerator.
    • Signs a squirrel is dehydrated : If, while gently pinching the baby squirrel’s skin, it remains raised (or “tented”) for more than 1 second, the squirrel is likely dehydrated.
    • Signs a squirrel is not dehydrated : If, while gently pinching the baby squirrel’s skin, it falls quickly, the squirrel most likely isn’t dehydrated. [2]
  2. If the baby squirrel doesn’t require rehydration, you can move straight to providing this formula. Or, once you’ve completed the process of rehydrating the squirrel, you’ll also shift to this formula. Make the following mixture: [3]
    • Combine 8 oz (230 g) of powdered puppy milk replacer , 16 oz (470 mL) of distilled water, and 1/8 teaspoon (2-3 g) acidophilus or plain, full-fat yogurt per 1/4 cup (59 mL) formula. Stir the mixture together thoroughly and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
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  3. Warm a small amount of liquid and fill a 2 cc (2 ml) oral syringe . Draw up enough Pedialyte, water, homemade rehydrator, or formula to fill a 2 cc (or 2 ml—they’re equivalent) oral syringe (medicine dropper). Dispense it into a small, microwave-safe bowl, and heat it for 5 seconds. Draw it back into the dropper and squeeze a drop on your wrist to test the temperature. If the solution feels cold to your skin, reheat it in the bowl for 5 more seconds. [4]
    • If it is uncomfortably warm on your skin, wait until it is comfortably warm before feeding it to the squirrel.
  4. Once your rehydration solution or milk replacer formula is mixed and warmed, use the measurement lines on the oral syringe to get the right amount for a feeding. First and foremost, follow the recommendations of the wildlife rehabilitator that you’ve contacted. The general guidelines are as follows: [5]
    • Under 2 weeks old : Tiny, pink-skinned, eyes-closed babies under 2 weeks of age should get 0.5 to 1 cc (ml) every 2 hours.
    • 2 to 6 weeks old : Open-eyed, fully-furred babies from 2-6 weeks of age should get 2-6 cc (ml) every 3-4 hours.
    • Over 6 weeks old : From about 6 weeks of age until the baby is weaned, feed them 6-8 cc (ml) every 4-5 hours.
    • Baby squirrels under 5 weeks old can go 6 hours at night without feeding, while squirrels that are 5-7 weeks old can go up to 8 hours at night without feeding.
  5. It’s very easy for tiny, hairless, pink newborns to aspirate the feeding liquid, which can lead to pneumonia and death. Keeping the squirrel upright will make aspiration less likely. [6]
    • Pick up the squirrel very gently and cradle it just enough to keep it secure. You can use your thumb to help keep the squirrel’s head tilted slightly upward but do so gently.
    • Wash your hands before and after handling the squirrel. Even better, wear latex or thin leather gloves.
  6. For a hairless, pink baby, place just one drop at a time on its lips. If the baby has fur and its eyes are open, you can place the dropper just past its lips and squeeze 3-4 drops at a time. At a one-drop-at-a-time pace, it may take up to an hour to complete a feeding—so be prepared! [7]
    • If the liquid is running out of the squirrel’s mouth or especially its nose, you’re feeding it much too rapidly. Blot off the excess liquid and wait about 1 minute before resuming.
    • If the wildlife rehabilitator has alternate feeding instructions, follow them.
  7. If the squirrel’s eyes are still closed, it will need external stimulation—which is provided in the wild by its mother—to urinate and defecate. After each feeding, gently rub the newborn’s genital and anal area with a cotton ball or cotton swab dipped in warm water until it urinates or defecates. Wipe away the tiny mess with a damp cloth. [8]
    • Once the squirrel’s eyes are open, it should urinate and defecate without stimulation.
  8. Make a nest in half of a plastic storage container or shoebox after poking numerous holes in the lid. Using gloves, gently place the squirrel in the container. Set the other half of the container (without the nest) on top of a heating pad set to low or medium so the temperature reaches 99 °F (37 °C). [9]
    • Make a baby squirrel shelter if advised to do so by a wildlife rehabilitator.
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Section 2 of 3:

Introducing Solids to Baby Squirrels

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  1. Most baby squirrels open their eyes fully at around 4-5 weeks of age, which is also a good indication of when they’re ready for soft solid foods. [10]
  2. Many wildlife rehabilitators usually recommend packaged squirrel feeding blocks . Don’t worry if the squirrel shows no interest in the feeding block at first. Before long, it will start nibbling on it. Keep feeding the squirrel formula every 4 hours until it shows no interest; it’ll likely lose interest in formula and only want solid food by 7-10 weeks of age. [11]
    • When you first add the feeding block, also keep a shallow dish of fresh water in the enclosure and replace it at least once daily.
  3. After the squirrel has taken to the feeding blocks, start adding small, ripped-up pieces of broccoli, kale, spring mix, or other dark greens. Start with one veggie at a time (kale, for instance), and wait 2-3 days before trying another one. After that, you can offer seeds, small nuts, and cut-up pieces of fruit one at a time. [12] It’s best to leave the food in the shelter or nest because hand feeding a squirrel can be difficult.
    • Veggies and other foods should supplement the feeding blocks, not replace them. When giving veggies to the squirrel, be sure to add a few pieces at a time.
    • Providing new foods one at a time makes it easier to determine if the squirrel has a bad response to a particular food. Diarrhea is usually the most obvious sign of this.
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Section 3 of 3:

When It's Okay to Feed a Baby Squirrel

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  1. Search online for “wildlife rehabilitators near me,” or contact your government’s environmental or wildlife agency. Help the squirrel only if advised. [13]
    • Before you commit to taking care of a wild baby squirrel that appears to be orphaned, keep in mind that its mother may simply be hiding nearby, waiting for you to leave.
    • Baby squirrels require round-the-clock care for the first several weeks of life. It’s not easy to care for a baby squirrel and then successfully reintroduce it into the wild with the skills it needs. Taking in squirrels may even be illegal where you live, and subject to fines or even jail time. [14]
  2. If the baby squirrel gags when you try to feed it or shows no interest in feeding, immediately contact the wildlife rehabilitator again. Your best option is always to get the squirrel to the rehabilitator so they can care for it properly, but this is especially the case if there are feeding problems. [15]
    • If the squirrel won’t urinate or defecate, even with stimulation, get the rehabilitator’s help right away.
  3. Once the squirrel is weaned, it’s ready to go back into the wild. This is a very challenging transition, however, and you should let an expert handle the process. Contact the rehabilitator for guidance on transferring the squirrel to their care. [16]
    • Raising a baby squirrel may be illegal where you live, and squirrels are very demanding pets, so it's not recommended to keep the squirrel. It will likely live a better life in the wild. [17]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/how-help-orphaned-or-injured-baby-wild-animals#squirrels
      2. ↑ https://www.mass.gov/doc/wildlife-rehabilitation-exam-study-guide/download
      3. ↑ https://www.squirrelrefuge.org/squirrel-formula
      4. ↑ https://www.squirrelrefuge.org/squirrel-feeding-techniques
      5. ↑ https://www.squirrelrefuge.org/squirrel-feeding-techniques
      6. ↑ https://www.squirrelrefuge.org/squirrel-feeding-amounts
      7. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/found-orphaned-or-injured-baby-wild-animal#squirrels
      8. ↑ https://www.squirrelrefuge.org/how-to-make-a-baby-squirrel-go-pott
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/7EpLSJuzQSs?si=_himTPmlSJ1gfNwS&t=100
      1. ↑ https://wildlifecenter.org/help-advice/healthy-young-wildlife/if-you-find-baby-squirrel
      2. ↑ https://animals.mom.com/foods-seven-eight-week-old-squirrel-6768.html
      3. ↑ https://animals.mom.com/foods-seven-eight-week-old-squirrel-6768.html
      4. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-find-wildlife-rehabilitator
      5. ↑ https://www.paws.org/resources/keeping-wild-animals-unsafe-illegal-and-inhumane/
      6. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-find-wildlife-rehabilitator
      7. ↑ https://animals.mom.com/foods-seven-eight-week-old-squirrel-6768.html
      8. ↑ https://www.paws.org/resources/keeping-wild-animals-unsafe-illegal-and-inhumane/

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