It is common to wonder about the dietary habits of squirrels, particularly regarding whether milk, a staple for many young mammals, is suitable for them. While squirrels are adaptable creatures often seen in human environments, their natural diet and biological makeup differ significantly from domestic animals. Understanding the biological realities behind their nutritional needs is important for their well-being.
Squirrels and Dairy: The Biological Reality
Adult squirrels generally do not consume milk, as it is not a part of their natural diet and can be detrimental to their health. Like many mammals, squirrels are lactose intolerant once they are weaned from their mother’s milk. This means their digestive systems lack the necessary enzyme, lactase, to break down lactose, the sugar found in milk.
Ingesting cow’s milk can lead to significant digestive distress, including diarrhea. Diarrhea can quickly cause dehydration in squirrels.
Cow’s milk also contains protein and fat ratios that are not appropriate for squirrel development, potentially leading to malnutrition. The composition of cow’s milk is specifically designed for calves, not for the nutritional requirements of squirrels. Therefore, offering dairy products like cow’s milk, cheese, or other milk derivatives is not advisable for squirrels.
What Wild Squirrels Naturally Drink
Squirrels primarily hydrate by drinking water from puddles, streams, rivers, and ponds. Additionally, they may consume dew that collects on leaves and grass.
A significant portion of a squirrel’s hydration also comes directly from the food they eat. Their diet, which includes fruits, vegetables, and other plants, provides moisture content that contributes to their daily water intake. While squirrels do drink water, their overall daily requirement is relatively small, as their food often meets some of these needs.
Caring for Orphaned Squirrels: The Right Approach
If an orphaned baby squirrel is found, it is important to avoid giving it cow’s milk, as this can be harmful or even fatal. While baby squirrels do drink their mother’s milk, cow’s milk is unsuitable due to its high lactose content and incorrect nutritional profile for squirrel development.
The most responsible action when encountering an orphaned or injured squirrel is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately. These professionals provide appropriate care.
Until a rehabilitator can be reached, keeping the baby squirrel warm is crucial, as a cold baby cannot properly digest food.
In emergency situations, and only under the guidance of a rehabilitator, specific formulas like puppy milk replacer may be used, but never human baby formula, soy milk, or other non-species-specific milk. It is also important to rehydrate a baby squirrel with an electrolyte solution like unflavored Pedialyte before introducing any formula.