hello, To encourage help to all squirrel pup in need i have shared presentation regarding squirrel care and management

1. Palm Squirrels
About:
The two species ofpalm squirrels commonly found in urban, suburban and rural
landscapes are:
• Indian 3-Striped Palm Squirrel, which has a more southern distributionand is
commonly found in peninsular India and Sri Lanka.
• Indian 5-Striped Palm Squirrel, which has a more northern distributionin Indiaand in
commonly found in central and northern Indiaas well as Nepal, Pakistan and Iran.
The two species can easily bedistinguished by counting the number ofpaler colored
stripes on the squirrel’s back. Thesquirrels range from 22.5 cm to 40 cm in length,
which includes a tailof 11–12 cm long,and weigh between 100–200 g. To put size into
perspective, a stick ofbutter is about 115 g. Datasuggests that palm squirrels live on
average for 5-6 years in captivity and2-4 years in thewild.
Both species are highlygregariousand extremely adaptable,easilyadjusting to a
variety of living conditionsand habitatsand have spread well beyondtheirnative range
in recent years. Theyadapt easilyto semi-modern constructions and thrive on human
generosityand readilyaccept goodiesfrom human hands. It is not uncommon to see
individuals nesting in roof tops, false ceilings, unused atticsor cupboards, etc.
The otherpalmsquirrels found in forested landscapes are of course shy, comparatively
rare, less adaptableandmore specialized in theirneeds. Theyexist in restricted zones
and habitatsandare of course under looming threats due to intense deforestation,
habitat degradationandfragmentation.
Indian palm squirrels commonlynest in thebranches of trees, holes in thetree trunk or
in man-made structures such eaves of houses, atticspaces, electricityboxes, etc.
Squirrel nests are made of grasses, threads, wool, cotton,jute fibers and otherfibrous
materials.

2. HELP!I HAVE FOUND A BABY!
First, composeyourself. Youneed to be calm and collected to makethe best decisions.
Second, do not resort or post to socialmedia outsideof trusted references outlined
here. Ask for help from experts please.
Third,read this document, over and over and over…
DOESTHE BABY LOOKINJURED OR SEEM ILL? (bruising, broken bones, puncture
wounds, etc) Then this baby needs help.
ARE THERE PREDATORS AROUND IN CLOSE PROXIMITY? If yes, then this baby
needs help.
TRY TO DETERMINE AGE OF BABY AND OVERALL HEALTH (howdoes thebaby
move? Wobblyor unsteady? Are eyes and nose clear or runny? Are eyes open?Do they
have fur?) If babyhas fluffy tailand full furred, has no discharge in eyes or nose, and
seems to bein overallgoodhealth,thenthis babyis probablya juvenile and doesnot
need help.
Before rescuing:
If thebabyseems uninjured, our first concern is reuniting with mom!!
Before attempting to rescue any orphaned or distressed animal, you must ensure that it
is truly in need of rescue. If the kitshave been found just before dark, it would be
advisableto keep them in a safe, warm placefor thenight, and thenattempt to re-unite
them with themother at thebreak of dawn. Palm squirrels are diurnal in nature and

3. even whileshe may bein thevicinityof thebabies, themother may beunable to look
for them at in theabsence of light.
Place thebaby/babiesin a small box with nesting material likefleece strips or flannel
and securely placed as close as possible to theoriginalnest or at thebase of thetree.
Leave room for mom to access the nest. Ask for audio files for babiescrying to attempt
to call themom. Try to watch from a reasonable distance for a few hours. If mom does
not return for a few hours and/or it is approaching dusk, be prepared to bring thebabies
in to beginwarming, hydrating andfeeding. Please make allreasonable attemptsto
reunite the babieswith mom beforemaking thechoiceto bring to a rehabberor hand-
raise.
Only animals genuinely in distress must ever be rescued. Theyoung must be raised in a
manner making them independent and ablefor release, and must be released at the
appropriateage,timeand place. If a lone youngster has been found, it would bea good
ideato keep an eyeout for its siblings as there might beother young ones in need of
help too.A veterinarian should be contacted immediatelyshouldthesquirrel need any
medicalhelp.
When reunitingmom has failed:
Attendto theneeds ofthe babyimmediately.WARMTH. Small box (preferablynot
cardboardas this dehydrates)with fleece or flannel, heating padon LOW under halfof
thebox. If it is a box with a lid, be sure to have holes in thelid. Youcan make a heating
padfrom a cup ofuncooked rice in a sock and microwave for 30 seconds. Make sure you
test and work out any hotspotsbeforeplacing thesock NEXT TOthe babyand
covering. Reheat about every 2 hours. BabiesCANNOT be left without heat overnight.
Babymust becompletelywarm before trying to hydrate. 2 hours of warmth is
preferred.
Now, can you find a rehabber? If you cannot successfully find a rehabber,and you
chooseto hydratethebaby,youmust exercise caution! Ask questions!!
Hydration: **Hydration is very importantbefore formula feeding!!!**
Appropriatetoolsneeded…
1cc syringe
Miracle Nipple(if feasible)
50/50 solution of Pedialyte/distilled water
Scale in grams
0-2 weeks feed 3% of weight,offer every hour**thiscouldbe a very small amount such
as 0.2 to 0.45 ml** payvery close attention
2.5-3 weeks feed3%-5% of weight,offer every 2-3 hours
4-5 weeks feed 5% of weight,offer every 3-4 hours

4. 5.5-7 weeks feed 5%-7%of weight,offer every 4-5 hours
Do the math:
3%: Weight is 35 grams x 3% (35 x .03 = 1.05cc’s)
5%: Weight is 75 grams x 5%(75 x .05 = 3.75cc’s)
7%: Weight is 225 grams x 7% (225 x .07 = 15.75cc’s)
Hydrationmay even take8-12 hours to rehydrate,however do not hydratefora period
longer than12 hours.
DO
-Keep thebabywrapped in fleece the entire time youare hydrating.
-Go slowly. Youdo not want thebabyto aspirate, that willrequire immediate medical
attention. Go slowly, keep controlof your syringe.
-Give the calculated amount at thecorrect feeding interval. Follow thechart.
-Warm thehydrationmixture thoroughlybyheating waterin a cup, then dropping the
syringe or container into that cup, shake or mix it to disburse heated liquidevenly.
-Holdthebabyfirmly in an upright positioniftheyare young,older babiesthat can
walk, can drink sitting up or lying on their stomach.
-Keep hydrating untilthebabies’ skin isn’t wrinkly. Perform theTurgor test. Expect
hydrationto take4 to 6 hours. Extreme cases longer.
**You can not rushfeeding. You have to give them enoughtime to swallow. This
is spoken from personal experience**
DO NOT
-Use a bottle,nurser bottle,etc.
-Use tap water
-Attempt to rehydratein a distracted,loudor busy environment. You will need to
concentrate especiallyif youare new to nursing squirrels.
-Heat thehydrationfluidin themicrowave.
-Ever let a young or immature childnurse a babysquirrel.
-Overheat thewater, it shouldbe warm, never hot and always test it.
-Holdthesyringe pointing down.
-Allow thebabyto nurse on its back.
-Forget to wash your hands thoroughlyboth beforeandafter you handlethebaby
every time.
-DO NOT Feed babies with cotton or cloth wick, hazards include choking or inhaling
and can cause that baby to aspirate or have milk enter throughthe nostrils. In my
experience, this poses fatal outcomes.

5. Hand-rearing is a challenging taskthat requires outstanding dedicationand
commitment. Theynot only need to be cared for round-the-clockbut are also
extremely delicateand require exceptionallytenderhandling.
The hand-rearing ofwild animals must also be approached ethically,taking into
considerationthe future implicationsand needs of young animals. All wildanimals have
theright to be free and must beraised in a manner without compromising on their
release potential.Theprocess of rehabilitationtoo must beginat theappropriateageto
maximize their release potentialandchances of survival after release.
Hygiene:
Young animals have underdeveloped immune systems and are extremely susceptibleto
infections. It is vital to maintain very high standards ofhygienewhen handling the
young. Hand-raised animals are at a further disadvantageofnot having received their
mother’smilk and theantibodiestheywould receive through her milkand need special
care in terms ofhandling and hygiene.
It is essential to always wash your hands thoroughlybeforehandling theyoung
especiallywhen theyare under 2 months of age.Pay careful attentionto washing
hands and arms after coming in contact with foods, chemicalsand otheranimals. **If
cooking with spices, this is easily transferred to a babies thin and delicate skin and
will cause irritation** WASH HANDSAND ARMS BEFORE AND AFTER EVERY TIME
HANDLING THE BABY/BABIES
Like any othermammal, squirrels too can carry rabies, it is just very rare. In case of a
squirrel bite, pleasecontact a doctororveterinarian and followthe appropriate
treatment.
Hypothermia:
Animal young have higherbasalbodytemperatures and should feelwarm on touch.
Prolonged exposure to the coldcan result in hypothermia.Orphaned,injured and sick
animals may also require an external heating source to maintain their body
temperatures.
Heat stress:
If theyoung have been separated for a longerduration and are in a warm location,their
bodytemperatures are likelyto be elevated beyondnormal. Thermoregulationbeing
poorlydeveloped inthe young,theyare unable to coolthemselves down either.It is
important to first slowlybring down the young one’s bodytemperature.
Dehydration:
Water constitutes a high percentageofbodyweight in young animals and theyget
dehydrated easily. Dehydrated young are unresponsive and listless. Their skin appears
wrinkled; theyhave a weak grip and are unenthusiastic to feed. The Skin Turgor test,

6. commonly referred to as the Tent Test, can be used to test theyoung for dehydration.
Gentlypinch a small amount of skin on thesquirrel’s back, to form a tent, thenlet go.
The skin quickly goes backdown to normal when well hydrated,but takeslonger to go
backto normal, making the“tent” more evident when the young are dehydrated.
Re-hydration:
Lactated Ringers and Pedialyteare recommended. A 50/50 mix ofpedialyteand
distilled water is advised. A homemade oralre-hydrationsolution can be made using
theproportionof2 cups of distilled water, 1/4 teaspoonof salt and 1-1/2 tablespoonsof
sugar, but must only be relied upon as a last resort as it cannot replenish otheressential
salts received through re-hydrationsolutions.
Babiesmust first be re-hydrated before formula is given.
Feeding: **DONOT OVERFEED,DO NOT RUSH. HOLD THEBABY PROPERLY AS
OUTLINEDEARLIER. BE IN CONTROL**
Formula is a crucial factorin thegrowth and development of theyoung. It is vital to
offer theyoung a proper substitutefor mothers’ milk. The onlycanned formula
recommended is Esbilacpuppymilkreplacer powder. Not pre-made. You mix as
needed. Shouldthisnot be readilyavailablea goatsmilkformula may begiven until
thebabyis readyto start eating solidslike blocksand greens and veggies.
Formula guidelines:
Only use goat’s milk (powder, liquid or pureare all acceptable)
You may start with a 50/50 ratio of 50 parts distilled water to 50 parts milk. **If the
milkline takes more than 4 hoursto vanish then add more water!** This may be
too heavy for babies and you may start with 70 parts water to 30 partsformula,
then gradually reduce to 60/40, then the 50/50.
Goats Milk Recipe:
2 tsp. distilled water
2 tsp. goats milk
¼ tsp.plain orvanilla cows milk yogurt (not buffalo)
If you are using powdered goats milk, mix it 2 parts water to 1 part milk.
Here is another goats milk recipe, but will mostlikely need to be modified per baby:
1 part Goat milk powder
2 parts hot water
Add about 2 teaspoons of cows whole milk vanilla yogurt to about ½ cup of the
mixed goat milk.
Feed with a 1ml syringe! Recommended is the Miracle Nipple,if unable to obtain,
see image to find a suitable replacement.

7. 0-2 weeks feed 3% of weight,offer every hour **thiscouldbea very small amount
such as 0.2 to 0.45 ml**payvery close attention
2.5-3 weeks feed3%-5% of weight,offer every 2-3 hours
4-5 weeks feed 5% of weight,offer every 3-4 hours
5.5-7 weeks feed 5%-7%of weight,offer every 4-5 hours
Do the math:
3%: Weight is 35 grams x 3% (35 x .03 = 1.05cc’s)
5%: Weight is 75 grams x 5%(75 x .05 = 3.75cc’s)
7%: Weight is 225 grams x 7% (225 x .07 = 15.75cc’s)
PROBLEMS THAT CAN ARISE:
Jaundice:
Jaundice is a yellow colorobserved in the skin or in theeyes. Theyellowpigment is a
byproduct ofoldred bloodcellsthat is called bilirubin. If thereare too many red blood
cells retiring for theliver to handle,yellow pigment buildsup in thebody.When there is
enough to bevisible, the yellowskin colorresults. This often happensto theyoung
because theyhaven’t hadenough of theirmothers milk yet. It can also be caused by
too many red bloodcells retiring or bytheliver being unable to perform itsjob

8. efficiently or by a combinationofthe two. Dehydration or decreased stooling can
acceleratethe build-up of bilirubinconcentrations and make it get worse quickly.
Bloat:
If you are not feeding the correct formula or if you are feeding too much or even too
fast, this may producebloat. If the babydoesbloat,do not feed or offer water until the
bloat hasbeen resolved. You can offer a drop or so of human babygas drops,these are
know as simethicone. Youmay also soak thebaby’slower halfin a warm water bath as
you massage the tummy. Do thisfor 5 minutes, dry off and let rest in a warm spot for
15 minutes. Your goalis to get thebabyto pass stool,gas or urine, and relieve the
bloat.

9. Aspiration pneumonia:
The repeated inhalationof for instance milk, into thelower airways can lead to an
infectious process causing aspirationpneumonia. Aspirationpneumonia is one of the
most common causes ofmortalityin hand-raised animal young and every care needs to
be taken to minimize this risk. It is vital to ensure theuse of thenippleand syringe,
correct feeding positionand handling during feeding, correct milk temperatureand
avoidance ofoverfeeding or force feeding to prevent aspiration pneumonia. If it is
suspected that thekits have aspirated the feed, for e.g., the kitssneeze or cough up
milk after a feed, a veterinarian must be consulted to begin thepreventive treatment
without delay.
Antibiotics:
If babyhas aspirated,been bittenbyan animal, has puncture wounds, been found sick
or any otherreason where antibioticsarerequired, the following is recommended:
Enrofloxacin – Baytril – Enrostrong – Aviflox
Ciprofloxacin – Cipro
It is very importantto note that usingoral solutionsinstead of fluid from injection
vials are to be preferred because the solutionin vials is far too concentrated and an
oral solution is mucheasier to dose. Failing to follow these guidelinescould lead to
death!
Please reach out for help if you chooseto administer antibiotics. You willneed to the
exact medicine name and dosagethat youhave and an accurate weight on thebaby.
You willalso need probioticssuch as Benebac to be given 2-3 hours before or after the
antibiotic. **Again, from personal experience, do not administerany meds without
properguidance**
Here are some antibiotics that I was able to find.

10. Weaning:
Indian palm squirrels are weaned off at 8-10 weeks of age.The frequency of milk feeds
for thekits can bereduced by a feed every week untilweaning period,but most kitslike
theirbedtimefeed to be extended for a few more days. Interactionwith thekits must
also be reduced during theweaning phase as it creates some detachment and
encourages theirindependence, therebygiving them betterchances of survival after
release. Formula is an idealsource of proteinand calcium, and weaning the babies
early can compromise on their growth and development, they shouldbe weaned off at
roughlythesame timeas theywould normallybe weaned offin nature.
Ano-genitalstimulation:
The muscles and controlof thegastric tract are poorlydeveloped inanimal young and it
is essential to stimulate theano-genitalarea very gentlywith a warm, wet cloth after
every feedfor thefirst 3-4 weeks of theyoung one’s life. This encourages urination and
defecation.A warm bath may also encourage urination and defecation. Failure to do so
can result in constipation,bladderproblems, uraemia, toxaemia and megacolon. Ano-
genitalstimulationis extremely important in animals that are weak or have calcium
deficiencies.
Squirrel poop:
The droppingsare a goodindicatorof digestion.It is essential to keep an eye on the
babiesdroppingsto make sure theydigest theirfoodwell. The droppingsshouldbe
well formed and will appearsomewhat granular and yellow-brown in smaller kits that
are only being fed formula. Thedroppingsshouldn’t be too stickyand you shouldbe
ableto lift it with a pieceof tissue without causing any staining. It will be necessary to
make changes to their diet if theydon’t digest theirfeed well. Once theycross theage
of one month and start eating otherfoods, theirdroppingswillbe like thoseof adult
squirrels (and much likethose of rats) – black,hard pellets.
Extended Overview
Week 1
New-born squirrel babies, commonly referred to as ‘Pinkies’, are born naked and pink in
colorwith eyes tightlyclosed andears closelypinned back. Although theyareborn
naked, thestripes on thebackare clearlyvisible. The young are 3–4 cm long at birth,
with a 2–3 cm long tailand weigh 5-8 grams. The young are extremely delicateat this
stage oflife and need rather tender handling and care.
Pinkies: 2-3 daysold:
The pinkiesmust initiallybestarted on a diluted feedwith a ratio of 70:30 formula to
water. Thisalso helpsto address mild dehydration.Thefeedmay be increased very
graduallyto 100% of formula over a week once thekits appearto digest the feedwell

11. Quantityper feed: The young will consume roughly0.1 ml per feed for thefirst few days
of theirlife. The quantitymust graduallybe increased by 0.05–0.1 ml per feed over the
course of theweek. The young shouldconsume roughly0.2 ml per feed bythe end of
thefirst week. The kits must be allowed to have a tummy-full if theyprefer to feed
more, but theymust never be forced un-necessarily as it onlydoes themmore harm
than good.
The new born must consume at least 1 ml offeed every dayfor the first few daysof its
life, and a minimum of 1.5 ml every dayby theend of thefirst week. If the young seem
to consume less than theminimum dailyaverage, it willbe crucial to increase the
frequency of feeds, but never thequantity ofthe feed, to make up thedailyaverage.
Feeding frequency: Pinkies require a minimum of 8-9 feeds per day. Each feed should
be 2–2½ hours apart. Feeding must begin by5-6 am and continued until midnight.
Feeding through thenight is absolutelyunnecessary and thenewborns can be given a
4-6 hour gap between their feeds at night. Each feed must take4-5 minutes and the
flow of thefeed must beadjusted accordingly.At this stage, it is best to just drop
extremely tiny dropletson thekits tongue,allowing her to swallow slowly. It is vitalnot
to hasten the speedof thefeed as it can easilyresult in aspirationin theyoung ofthis
age.
N.B. 1 ml = roughly20 drops; 0.1 ml = roughly2 drops
These two dropsmust be divided into at least 5-10 portionsand then fed to the young
over a few minutes.
Specialcare: The normal bodytemperature of squirrels in 100˚C – 102˚C. Theyoung
must thereforealways feel slightlywarm on touch.Pinkies must be kept warm and
require an ambient temperature of 27˚C – 29˚C for thefirst coupleof weeks of their life.
Theywill require a heat source throughout thedaywhen kept at room temperatures,
particularlyin colder weather. Babiesfound during thehot Indian summers may not
require a heating pad during theday but this will besubjective to thehousing
conditionsand the kit’shealth.
Week 2
The young rapidlyput on weight in thefirst few weeks of theirlives, theirskin
pigmentationgraduallybecomesdarker and teeny bitsof hair beginto cover theentire
body.There is a noticeableslit in theeyelids,the ears start to unfold and thelower
incisors beginto erupt in thesecond week. Thekits begin to respond to sounds by the
second week oftheir lives.

12. Feed: Same as thefeed for week 1
Quantityper feed: The young would consume 0.2 ml per feed by thebeginning of the
second week. Thefeed must graduallybeincreased by0.05–0.1 ml per feedevery other
dayand the quantityof feed must bebrought up to 0.4 ml per feed by theend of the
second week.
Feeding frequency: The young require at least 7-8 feeds a day.Each feed shouldbe 2½–
3 hours apart and thepinkies can now be given 6 hour gap between theirfeeds at night.
Specialcare: Same as that for Pinkies of a week’s age.
Week 3
The kit’seyes start to open in the 3rd week, typicallyat/after15days of age.The kits
slowly start responding to visual stimuli by theend of the3rd week.
Quantityper feed: The feed must graduallybe increased to 1.0–1.2 ml per feed when
theyare on 7 feeds a dayand up to 1.5 ml per feed for 6 feeds a day.The young should
now consume an average of 9 ml of feed each day.
Feeding frequency: The kitsmust be given 6-7 feeds a dayat thebeginning of theweek
and thefrequency of thefeeds can graduallybereduced to 6 feeds a day. Each feed
shouldbe 2½–3 hours apart.The kits can now begiven a 6-7 hour gap at night.
Specialcare: The kits may now be housed at ambient temperatures of 25˚C and will
require some additionalwarmth when kept at room temperatures. The heat source can
now bereduced during the day,unless it is a chillyday,as theyoung now have a small

13. coat of fur and hence some additionalwarmth.Thermoregulationis also sufficiently
developed at thisstage and theyretain heat better.
Week 4
The squirrels willnow start to move around and playa bit after theirfeeds, much likea
littlepuppy.Theymust be tucked back into their boxonce theyfinish playing as they
will now sleep until theirnext meal.
Quantityper feed: The feed quantitymust graduallybeincreased to 2– 2½ ml per feed.
Feeding frequency: The frequency of feeds can now graduallybe brought downto 5
feeds a day with a gap of 3 hours between each feed. The kits can now be given an 8-
hour gap between theirfeeds at night.
Specialcare: A heat source willno longerbe required during theday unless it is a chilly
day. Thekits must nevertheless behoused in a warm and dry place. Thewarmth of the
hot-waterbottleorheating pad at night can also now bereduced.
Week 5
The kitsstart becoming activeat theage ofa month. Theymust be given plentyof
freedom to run around and playin order to get exercise and for theirmuscles to
develop well.
Solidfoodsshouldnow be introduced into the kit’sdiet.Introduce new foodsabout an
hour before theirformula feed. This encourages themto taste and eat thenew food
offered.
As thekit’sreliance on solidfoodsbegins to increase and theirfeed becomes thicker,
theywill require additionalwaterto maintain their hydrationlevels. A fresh bowlof
water must be offered to thekits every day now onwards as theywillstart to drink
water by thisstage. It may takethem a dayor two to learn to angletheir mouths
correctlyand keep theirnose out of thebowl, but they’llget there.
Caution: The babies must initially be offered solid foods only when under
supervision.
Quantityper feed: The quantityof feed must graduallybeincreased to 3–4 ml per feed.
Feeding frequency: The feeds must graduallybereduced to 4 meals a day, 3-4 hours
apart. Thekits can now be given a gap of 8-10 hours between their feeds at night.They
must also begiven plentyofsolid foodsthroughout theday.
Specialcare: The squirrels will now start becoming very active and inquisitive and will
want to thoroughlyexploretheirsurroundings. It is extremely important to squirrel

14. proofthehouse especiallyif hand-raising theyoung from home.You must ensure that
nothing can accidentallyfallon them. All important documents, wires, laptops,etc.
must be kept out of reach as theywill now also start to nibbleon everything.
Week 6
Theymay start teething bythis ageand will chew on anything soft that theycan sink
theirteeth into.
Feed: The kitsmust consciously be shifted onto solid foodsbynow. Including solid
foodsearly on in theirdiet eases thetransition from milkto solid foodsduring weaning.
Solidfoodsoffer theadditionalbenefit of giving thekits something to chew on thereby
providing some exercise for theirteeth and easing theteething process as well.
Quantityper feed: The quantityof thefeed can be increased to 5 ml per feed.
Feeding frequency: The kitsnow require 4 feeds a day,4 hours apart, with lots of fresh
greens and veggies in between.
Specialcare: The kits willnow seek out warm places in thehouse like blankets, pillow
cases, cushions, jackets, internet modems, etc. when theywant to rest.
Week 7
The kitswill playand wrestle a lot bythis age.If hand-raising just one squirrel, it will be
very important to spend a lot of playtime with him/her as play-fighting honestheirskill
and abilitiesin thewild and is essential for theirsurvival. If hand-raising more than one
squirrel, theywill playamongst themselves and require less attentionfrom you.
Quantityper feed: The kitswould now consume 5–7 ml per feed but larger feeds must
not beencouraged. As their reliance on solidfoods increases, the dailyaverageof feed
consumed bythekits can now be reduced. Ensure that thekitshave some solidfoods
before theirfeed so theydon’t require a heavy feed. Kitsthat takelonger to adjust to
solidfoods must be given an adequatefeeds as it wouldnegativelyaffect theirgrowth
otherwise.
Feeding frequency: The kitscan now be brought down to 3 feeds a day – one feed each
in the morning, afternoon and night.They willhave their last mealmuch after sundown
between 8-10 pm at night and can now be given a 10-12 hour gap between theirfeeds
at night.
Specialcare: Although therewill beno need for a heating pad at night any longer, there
must be ampleamounts ofwarm bedding forthebabies to keep warm.

15. Week 8
The kitsnow start adjusting to daylight hoursandwould prefer an uninterrupted sleep
of about 12 hours at night. Theymight also now prefer spending a few hours at the
window watching everything that goeson outside thehouse. This is a sign that the
young are getting readyto explore theoutsideworld. The kits will haveachieved more
than 70% of theirtotalgrowth bytheend of the8th week.
Quantityper feed: The kitsmay be offered a feed of 5-7 ml each but thefeed quantity
must not beincreased too much as the kitsshould now get most oftheir energy from
solidfoods.
Feeding frequency: The kitscan now be given 2 feeds a day – one feedeach in the
afternoon and lateevening. It is important to refrain from giving the kitsa feed in the
morning as it encourages them to eat solid foods.
Specialcare: It is essential that thekitsget plentyof exercise for goodmuscle
development,co-ordination,gastro-intestinal tract functioning and learning. This must
be encouraged by providing suitableplayfacilitiesfor the young.Sunlight too playsan
important factor in thedevelopment of theyoung and lack ofthe same can result in
rickets.
Habitat enrichment:
It is extremely important to start providing enrichment for thekits by thetimethey
reach two months ofage. The kitsare extremely curious at this ageand require
supplementary stimulationto maintain their curiosity.This may simply achieved by
shifting things around a littlebit so thekits always have something to explore.
Hanging or hiding theirfoodalso helpsas theywill learn to search for theirfood. The
foodmay be shifted around, giving themtheopportunityandneed to explorefurther.
This process is vitalfor squirrels being released through ahard release process as
squirrels.
2 – 3 months
Young squirrels get theiradult coats which are darker, thicker,and very sleek, by 2½–3
months of age. It is interesting to note that some squirrels also get a linear marking on
theirforeheads at this age. Thismarking seems to disappearin a few weeks bythe time
theyattaintheirfull growth. Thesquirrels also get their completeset of adult teeth by
12–13 weeks ofage. The kitswould now have completelyadjusted to being active
during daylight hours,i.e., up bysunrise and backin bed by sunset. The process of
rehabilitationandsoft release begins at this age.
Kits feeding on their own:
Squirrels are opportunisticfeeders and willnow begin to explorea variety of foods
including leaves, buds, flowers, grasses, berries, etc. Their diet in thewild also
occasionallyincludes insects and bird’seggs and chicks.

16. Quantityper feed: The kitswould now need a feed of 7–8ml but theymust be allowed
to have a tummy-full shouldtheyask for more.
Feeding frequency: The kitsonly need theirbed-time feednow, preferablylate in the
evening, i.e., around or a littleaftersunset. This ensures that thekitsare tempted to eat
during theday but don’t go to bed on an emptystomach at night.Thefeeds can be
completelystopped by10-11 weeks of age.
Specialcare: The kits must beallowed to roam outsidetheroom/enclosure where it is
feasible. An access dooror window can beleft open for thekits to freely move in and
out ofthe room/enclosure. The kitsmust never be allowed access to otherrooms of the
house as it is extremely dangerous for them.Their playgroundmust always beoutside
thehouse. They must only be let out for a few, strictlysupervised hours initiallyto
ensure theirsafety from predators. Theywill graduallystart staying away for longer
durations.
Most animals show remarkablesite fidelityand homing instincts. Animals released at
new sites typicallyattempt to return to the place theyhave grown up in. Thisjourney
towards ‘home’ results in theirtaking higherrisks that oftenhave fatal consequences.
The kitsmust ideallybegiven the opportunityto familiarizeandassociate themselves
with the environment theywill subsequently bereleased in. The cageor enclosure must
therefore beplaced at thesite of release to encourage thekits to get familiar with the
new environment, therebyassisting safe release.
3 – 4 monthsonwards
The squirrels willnow be away most dayand onlyreturn for quick snacks during theday
and to sleep at night.As theirconfidence increases, theywillslowly expand theirrange
and wander further away from theirroom and enclosure. By4 months of age,they
would stop returning at night but may stilldrop by occasionallyduring theday.
Specialcare: Being primarilyarborealin nature, thepalmsquirrels instinctively prefer to
sleep in spaces at a height.Retiring in enclosed spaces higherup in trees or eaves of
houses affords themsafety from terrestrial predators. Consider hanging a box or even a
bag somewhere high up in theroom bythetime thekits are 3 months old.For e.g.,
hang a cardboardboxbehindsome curtains so theycan climbup the curtains and get
some privacy too.Depending upon theseason, a warm blanket or towelmay be placed
inside thebag or boxfor bedding.
Female maturity:
Female squirrels sexually mature at 7-9 months of ageand commonly give birth to 3–4
young after a gestationperiodofapproximately42 days. Theyoung are referred to as
kittens, kits or pups.

17. Release:
Soft Release is a means by which an animal is graduallyintroduced or familiarized to a
new environment before its eventual release into that location. Soft release process is
necessary for theirsurvival.
It is idealto opt for a soft release for hand-raised young. Hand-raised young have to
learn allnew skills through a methodof‘trialand error’ as theyhave no adults to teach
or show them theessential survival skills byway of example. Theyalso have to offset
theeffects ofimprinting and hence require more timeand protectionbeforetheyare
completelyindependent.A soft release, which permits them to return to security until
theyare ready for completeindependence, thus maximizes theirchances of survival.
The young must always whenever possible, bereleased in theirnatural environments,
at or close to thelocationof rescue. This not onlymaximizes theanimal’s survival but
also keeps a checkon the contrived spread of parasites, diseases and geneticmaterials
within wildpopulations.Forest species must onlybe released in suitableforested
locationswhere the species naturally occurs.
N.B. Once theprocess of acclimatizationandrelease begins and hesquirrels start
interacting with wildsquirrels outside, theymust be handled carefully. Avoid startling
them as theymay instinctively bite.
Soft Release – allowing access
An access dooror window to theenclosure can be left openfor the squirrels. Theaccess
doorshould beslightlybiggerthanthesquirrels to allow easy and comfortable
movement through it.Preferably, theopening shouldn’t be too big so as to prevent
access to larger predators. Wherever possible,theopening shouldtakethesquirrels
onto higherground to facilitateescapefrom terrestrial predatorsin case of a sudden
threat.Windows are therefore preferableto doors for this purpose.
To provideoutdooraccess for theyoung from an apartment, a makeshift ramp may be
used to connect thewindow to a tree outside.This is extremely effective for a soft
release. Theramp can be made ofwooden planks or by twining ropearound a piece of
bamboo and must be secured firmly so it doesn’t dislodgeaccidentally.Thesurface or
theramp mustn’t besmooth or slippery.The squirrels use the ramp with ease and play
in the gardenand return homewhen theyneed to.This is extremelyhelpfulfor
enhancing theirmotor skills and boosting theiragility.
The ramp is not recommended as a safe optionfor apartments higherthanthefirst
flooras young squirrels in theinitialstages of theirexplorationand excitement,
sometimes fall off theramp.
The kitsmust always have access to a safe area to return to when theyare threatened
as therewill be many predatorslike cats, dogs, shikras (small hawks), crows, snakes,
etc. that can threaten a young squirrel. When leaving an access window/door open for

18. thesquirrels, especiallyfrom an outdoorenclosure, it is extremely important to shut the
access after sunset to prevent access to nocturnal predators.The access doormust be
reopened at sunrise for thesquirrels to belet out again.
The enclosure can be closed or shifted out by thetimethe kitsare 4 to 4 ½ months of
age. Thekits are independent enough to survive on their own by this age. Additionally,
temporarynest boxes can be placed in the vicinityof release as a placefor the squirrels
to return to until theyfind a more permanent space.
Soft release from an apartment building
Young squirrels may be released from apartment buildingstoo.It is not uncommon to
find squirrels scaling thewalls of rough surfaced buildings. In fact, squirrels in some
apartment colonieshave littleaccess to tress, but live on buildings,nest abovewindows
and/or ACs and thriveon themercy of foodprovided bykind people. Example ofa
rough surfaced wall
The main considerations to be kept in mind when releasing thesquirrels from
apartment buildingsis,
1. The texture of theouter surface of thebuilding
It goeswithout saying that such an optionis onlyavailableto peoplewhose apartment
buildingsare rough-surfaced on theoutside. This is definitelynot a perfect optionbut a
goodindicationofwhetheror not your buildings is suitablefor squirrels would be the
presence of wildsquirrels in and around your building.In all cases, you would not want
to release your squirrel in an environment where it is theonly one.
2. The ageof thesquirrels during release
Another primary considerationto be kept in mind is that it is not safe or easy to run on
vertical surfaces that don’t provideadequate footing andit takes a lot of agilityand
practicefrom even an adult squirrel so it doesn’t falloff. Young squirrels are yet to
acquire thisagilityandsense of balancebefore expecting them to confidentlyscale
buildings.In my experience and understanding, if opting for such a release, theyoung
squirrel must be at least 2 ½–3 months of agebefore allowing it to run on theoutside
walls.
3. Marking theexits/access for safe return
Lastly, you must remember that all apartments in a building lookexactlythesame from
theoutside. Once outside, it is difficult for thesquirrels to locateYOUR balconyor
window and return home. Often, the squirrels get confused and end up at somebody

19. else’s place. If you have ever been lost in a new and unfamiliar housing complex,with
no markings or directionswhatsoever, you willknow what I am making a reference to.
An apartment building – everything looks thesame
It is imperative here to mark your balconyor access opening and let the squirrel
familiarize itselfwith themarking for at least a week or two beforepermitting it to play
outside. Themarking, for examplea bed sheet or netlon, must be tied outsideand
preferablyprotruding from thebalconyso it can be easilyspotted from a distance when
on thebuilding.Although thisisn’t perfect science, we have found it extremelyhelpful
in previous experiences.
Territoriality:
Territoriality,though rarelyobserved in palm squirrels, is often dependent upon the
availabilityofresources. Although some adultsdo displayterritorialbehaviour,theyare
rarely viciously aggressive towards othersquirrels.
Letting go
One of themost challenging aspects of being a rehabilitatororany foster parent is
letting go of theyoung when theyare ready for release. Even though thisis primarily
out ofa concern for theirsafety and well-being, it is important to realize and suitably
respond to the young one’s needs. The young must be released at theright timeas
theirmind and bodiesare best suited for adapting to novelenvironments and
surroundings at that age. Once theyare past that age,theytoo become set in theirin
theirways and needs and find it very difficult to adapt to theirnatural surroundings.
Wildanimals do not make goodpets.Theyhave an innate need for freedom and
explorationthat cannot be placated byoffering themthesecurity of a safe, sheltered
and comfortablelifestyle.This need is most pronounced when theyoung mature
sexually. There isn’t a sorrier sight that watching a wild animal pacing in an enclosure or
sitting endlessly beside a window and staring at themyriad opportunitiesthat await
him/her outside.Moreover, there is no greater joythan watching your very own hand-
raised young be happyandfree outside, and return periodicallyfor treats or to just say
hello!
Many thanks to the websites and peopleused for reference:
Henry’s HealthyPets
Chris’s Squirrels and More
Squirrelrehabilitation.com
Nutsaboutsquirrels.net
ArcforWildlife.com
Rehabbers Den
SL Nilu

20. This table is for reference purposes. Please remember that
a weight will be the most accurate way to calculate the amount
to feed. You can also use this to cross reference if you are unsure
of the babies actual age.
Age Characteristics Care
0-1 week naked, 'pinkies', eyes closed 0.05-0.1 ml per feed
ears pinned back 9 feeds per day
1-2 weeks fur and incisors begin to erupt 0.2-0.4 ml per feed
poor thermoregulation 8 feeds per day
2-4 weeks eyes open, ears unfold, may introduce boiled egg yolk
respond to sight and sound to formula, lots of warmth needed
5-6 weeks thicker fur coat, bushy tail, introduce blocks and veggies,
plays after feeds greens and water
7-8 weeks teething, rapid motor may offer others solids and
development, curious begin to reduce formula feeds
8-10 weeks becoming independent, begin the weaning, mostly
need space and freedom solid foods, reduce formula amounts
10-12 weeks adult fur coat, diurnal should be completely weaned and
activity, plays on trees begin to reduce human contact
12-16 weeks territorial behavior, full acclimation and get ready to
set of adult teeth begin steps for soft release
16-18 weeks reaching 90% of adult size release, post-release and
and 80% of adulty weight monitoring