What do Baby Squirrels Eat?
Have you ever found a tiny, fuzzy squirrel that fell from its nest? Or maybe you’ve just wondered how these little creatures survive their first weeks of life? One of the most important questions is: what do baby squirrels eat? The diet of baby squirrels is quite specific and changes as they grow. Understanding their nutritional needs is crucial, especially if you’ve found an orphaned baby squirrel that needs temporary care until wildlife rehabilitation is possible. If you love to read about what different animals and insects eat, take a look at the following:
So, What Do They has prepared this blog so you’ll learn the answer to the question: What do Baby Squirrels Eat? Let’s find out how careful we have to be with baby squirrels!
The Natural Diet of Baby Squirrels
In nature, baby squirrels rely completely on their mother’s milk for the first few weeks of life. Here’s how their diet develops naturally:
Newborn to 4 Weeks
During this early stage, baby squirrels (called kits or kittens) consume only their mother’s milk. They’re born blind, deaf, and hairless, completely dependent on their mother. What do baby squirrels eat at this vulnerable stage? Nothing but milk, which provides all the nutrients they need for rapid growth.
5-6 Weeks
Around this time, baby squirrels begin opening their eyes and growing fur. While still primarily nursing, they might start showing interest in solid foods. In the wild, the mother squirrel may bring soft plant material back to the nest.
7-8 Weeks
Baby squirrels at this age begin venturing outside the nest and sampling solid foods while still nursing occasionally. What do baby squirrels eat when they first try solid food? They typically start with soft, easily digestible items like:
- Tender buds
- Soft nuts that mom has chewed first
- Soft fruits
- Plant shoots
9-12 Weeks
By this age, baby squirrels are weaned and eating a diet similar to adult squirrels, though they may still be learning foraging skills from their mother. They’re now eating:
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Berries
- Fungi
- Tree bark
- Insects (occasionally)
What to Feed an Orphaned Baby Squirrel
If you’ve found an orphaned baby squirrel, it’s always best to contact a wildlife rehabilitator immediately. However, understanding what do baby squirrels eat can help you provide emergency care until professional help is available.
Emergency Formula for Baby Squirrels
For very young babies (under 5 weeks), they need a special formula that mimics squirrel milk:
Important Note: Regular cow’s milk or human baby formula can be harmful or fatal to baby squirrels! Only use these emergency options for very short periods (less than 24 hours) until you can get proper squirrel formula or reach a wildlife rehabilitator.
In a true emergency, for very short-term feeding only:
- Pedialyte (unflavored) for hydration
- Esbilac puppy formula mixed according to package directions
For longer-term care (only under guidance from a wildlife professional):
- Fox Valley 32/40 formula (made specifically for squirrels)
- Esbilac powder mixed with a small amount of heavy whipping cream
Feeding Methods
What do baby squirrels eat from when being hand-raised? The feeding method depends on their age:
- Under 5 weeks: Use a small syringe (1cc or 3cc) with a nipple designed for wildlife, or in an emergency, a small paintbrush
- 5-7 weeks: Small syringe or shallow dish
- Over 7 weeks: Shallow dish for formula, plus introduction of solid foods
Feeding Schedule
Baby squirrels need frequent feedings:
- 0-2 weeks: Every 2-3 hours, including overnight
- 3-4 weeks: Every 3-4 hours, including overnight
- 5-6 weeks: Every 4 hours, can skip middle-of-night feeding
- 7+ weeks: 3-4 times per day
Transitioning to Solid Foods
As baby squirrels grow, you’ll need to introduce solid foods. What do baby squirrels eat when transitioning to solids? Here’s the progression:
First Solid Foods (7-8 weeks)
- Small pieces of apple or banana
- Thawed frozen peas or corn
- Small pieces of romaine lettuce
- Plain, unsalted nuts crushed into tiny pieces
- Rodent block soaked in formula
Growing Juveniles (9+ weeks)
- Variety of nuts (especially walnuts, pecans, almonds)
- Pieces of sweet potato or pumpkin
- Broccoli florets
- Sunflower seeds
- Healthy rodent blocks
- Pieces of animal bones to chew (for calcium)
- Corn on the cob
Foods to Avoid
Understanding what do baby squirrels eat also means knowing what they shouldn’t eat:
Never Feed Baby Squirrels:
- Bread or processed grains
- Peanuts (can contain harmful fungi)
- Sunflower seed shells
- Dried corn (risk of fungal contamination)
- Human snack foods
- Foods with added salt, sugar, or spices
- Raw peanuts
- Dairy products (except in specialized formulas)
- Avocado
- Chocolate
- Caffeine-containing items
Special Nutritional Needs
Baby squirrels have some specific nutritional requirements:
Calcium
Developing squirrels need calcium for proper bone growth. In the wild, what do baby squirrels eat to get calcium? They might chew on bones or antlers. For orphaned babies, you can:
- Add a tiny pinch of calcium powder to their food
- Provide a small piece of cuttlebone to chew
- Offer a small chunk of natural bone
Hydration
Baby squirrels need proper hydration:
- Formula provides hydration for younger babies
- Older babies should have access to fresh water in a shallow dish
- Dehydrated babies may need Pedialyte before regular feedings
Preparing for Release
If you’re temporarily caring for a baby squirrel with the goal of release, you’ll need to gradually introduce foods they’ll find in the wild. What do baby squirrels eat in preparation for release? They should practice with:
- Nuts in shells (walnuts, acorns, pecans)
- Pine cones with seeds
- Native berries
- Local plant materials they’ll encounter
So the Answer to What do Baby Squirrels Eat is…
The answer to what do baby squirrels eat depends greatly on their age, starting with mother’s milk exclusively, then transitioning to soft foods, and finally adopting an adult squirrel diet of nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetation. If you find yourself temporarily caring for an orphaned baby squirrel, remember that their nutritional needs are very specific, and professional wildlife rehabilitation is always the best option.
While this information can help in emergency situations, it’s crucial to get baby squirrels to wildlife experts as soon as possible. They have the specialized knowledge, proper formulas, and facilities to give these little ones the best chance at returning to the wild. Remember that in most places, it’s also illegal to keep wildlife without proper permits, even with the best intentions.
With proper nutrition and care, baby squirrels can grow into healthy adults ready to return to their natural habitat, where they play an important role in forest ecosystems by planting thousands of trees through their forgotten buried nuts!
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