Fostering baby squirrels

[Slithytoves]

As requested...SKWERLZ! Some of my foster babies in the latter stages of their journey with me.

[Slithytoves]

A few more pics

[Slithytoves]

TroutDude....thanks for the photos. They're great! I especially love the second to last pic, of the raccoon. I envy your experience with them. In this state I would have to get $600 worth of vaccinations and training to work with them, so it will be a while before I can consider it. You guys got your squirrels at a very young age...I was taking older ones mostly, 5 weeks and up. The ones brought to the center with their eyes already open aren't as popular with a lot of the volunteers because they're a little more of a hassle to handle. I really enjoyed earning their trust, but I do hope to get a few tiny babies next season.

[Nanny Goat]

How adorable the all are.

[CrowGirl]

This is one of the squirrel babies I fostered. I wish I could still do it but I can't in my new job. In my previous job I could smuggle them in and feed them during the day. I can't really do that where I am working now. My favorite age was when they were just old enough that I could leave them at home with e feeding just at lunchtime. I would keep them in a big ferret cage in the house. I could just sit and watch them for hours playing with each other. And the cats could watch them longer. But that didn't last long and they were out to their "halfway house" in the yard where they "re-wilded" and could no longer be safely handled. That was success …. and then back to the wild they went. Probably my favorite episode came when a friend was visiting with her young family and her two kids - 5 and 2 - just were comepletely captivated by them. Even to this day the oldest, who is now about 10 I think - wants to work with animals when he grows up.

[Slithytoves]

Originally Posted by CrowGirl

This is one of the squirrel babies I fostered. I wish I could still do it but I can't in my new job. In my previous job I could smuggle them in and feed them during the day. I can't really do that where I am working now. My favorite age was when they were just old enough that I could leave them at home with e feeding just at lunchtime. I would keep them in a big ferret cage in the house. I could just sit and watch them for hours playing with each other. And the cats could watch them longer. But that didn't last long and they were out to their "halfway house" in the yard where they "re-wilded" and could no longer be safely handled. That was success …. and then back to the wild they went. Probably my favorite episode came when a friend was visiting with her young family and her two kids - 5 and 2 - just were comepletely captivated by them. Even to this day the oldest, who is now about 10 I think - wants to work with animals when he grows up.

Awwww...cute baby. They are all a little different, but all equally adorable.

That rough-play stage is hilarious! Good to know you used a ferret cage. My rehab center is adamant that the babies stay in the box they provide, but I couldn't stand for the little ones to miss out on play. I have 2 screen-top 30 gallon reptile tanks and have PVC pipe tunnels and homemade wooden climbing toys for them to explore on. Knowing somebody else bends the rules is reassuring. Have you ever seen a baby squirrel play with a ball? I gave my solo squirrel a cat toy ball with a bell in it...she wrestles and rolls with it several times per day.

Bummer that you can't have any more because of your job. I am at home most of the time so I can have a bunch of babies (squirrels, that is!). I'll be sad if there comes a time when I can't do this anymore.