Squirrel Diets
Over 365 species of squirrels are scattered across the globe. Squirrels can be found in treetops, underground and in your attic. A squirrel's diet varies depending on the time of year and the squirrel's habitat. Opportunistic feeders by nature, a squirrel will eat most anything from plant matter to dog food left in the open. Squirrels are mammals and depend on their mother's milk for the first 10 weeks of life. Caring for squirrels in captivity requires an understanding of the nutritional needs of infant and adult squirrels.
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Natural Diet
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Squirrels typically eat a vegetarian diet consisting of nuts, berries, fungi, seeds, roots, leaves and bark. You may see squirrels chewing on branches or twigs to sharpen and clean their rapidly growing teeth. The squirrel's environment will often dictate their diet. For example, A Douglas squirrel living in a coniferous forest might have a diet consisting largely of pine nuts, while the common gray squirrel, thriving in the neighborhood park, might enjoy a meal of acorns or walnuts. Squirrels have also been known to eat insects, eggs and animal carcasses.
Feeding Squirrels
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Chances are, your backyard is home to a few squirrels. It is important to understand the feeding habits and nutritional needs of the squirrel before feeding them. Nutritionally balanced squirrel food is available in most pet or farm stores. Premixed squirrel feed should contain a balance of proteins, fats and vitamins and minerals necessary for a healthy squirrel. Squirrels held in captivity require additional care by supplementing premixed feed with fresh vegetables and nuts. Wild twigs and branches should be added to the diet to aid in teeth-cleaning and to combat boredom.
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Infant Squirrel Diet and Care
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An infant squirrel's nutritional needs are ideally met by the mother squirrel, but what if the mother is not available to care for its baby? The first step in caring for an orphaned infant squirrel is maintaining warmth and rehydrating the baby. A moderately dehydrated infant should be fed Pedialyte for the first eight hours. When the baby squirrel is no longer dehydrated, a mixture of Esbilac powder milk replacer, available at most pet stores, and heavy whipping cream can be fed using a syringe. Formula strength should be increased slowly. The infant squirrel should be fed every two or three hours for the first 10 weeks of age.
Handle with Caution
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Caring for an orphaned infant squirrel, like all wild animals, should be handled by trained professionals whenever possible. Some rescue organizations specialize in caring for orphaned or injured squirrels and can provide contact information for a facility in your area. If you must handle a wild animal, protective gloves should be worn at all times. Squirrels are notoriously skittish and will bite if frightened.
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References
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