by Joshua Keyes DVM

Created on: December 06, 2008

Squirrels are not domesticated animals and should not be purchased from pet stores. If you find an orphaned baby squirrel in your yard, the first thing you should do is try to contact a wildlife rehabilitator in your area. You may locate wildlife rhabilitator's by contacting your town's animal control officer or your state's Department of Fish and Game. If possible, make these calls BEFORE you attempt to bring the babies into your home. Wildlife rehabilitators can help you determine if the suirrel is truly orphaned or if it only appears to be. Although it's tempting to rescue wild little the one's the moment we see them, it is often not in the animals best interest. In many places, it is also illegal to keep squirrels and other wild animals. Again, your local animal control officer is the best person to call. Veterinarians, pet stores and animal shelters often serve many towns and may not be apprised of the municipal laws regarding wildlife in your town.

But perhaps you live in a remote area and you don't have a wildlife rehabilitator near you, or you are not able to contact one when you need one. Here are some helpful things to know if you find yourself as the foster parent of a tiny orphan squirrel.

Prepare a safe place for the baby or babies. Using a cat-carrier with a roof-top door can make clean up and feeding easier. Place the crate in the quietest corner of your house, away from the flow or pedestrian traffic, both human and animal. Prepare the carrier by warming it to an ambient temperature of 95 throught the use of hot water bottles or an incandescent light. Cover the bottom of the carrier with shredded newpaper. Unprinted paper such as butcher paper or pads of blank newsprint from an office suppler is even better if you have access to lots of it. such papers are more natural and less likely to contain any ink toxins. Wood shavings may be too abrasive or allergenic. Be prepared to change the bedding frquently and remember to wash your hands thoroughly after each change, just as you would when cleaning the cat's litter box or picking up after your dog.

Newborn squirrels are pink, hairless and only about two inches long. You need to feed these tiny ones a puppy milk replacer via an eyedropper or a one milliliter syringe. It's a round the clock job, requiring feeding every two hours. When the babies approach a month of age, they can be fed less frquently and you can begin to offer small quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables. Later they will be able to

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