Flying squirrels, with their distinctive gliding ability and nocturnal habits, spark curiosity, especially regarding the early life of their young. Understanding the dietary needs of baby flying squirrels, known as kits, is important for their healthy development and survival. Their diet evolves from birth through independence.
Initial Diet of Newborn Flying Squirrels
Newborn flying squirrels are born blind, deaf, and hairless. During their first several weeks of life, their entire nutritional intake comes exclusively from their mother’s milk. This milk provides all the necessary proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals for their rapid growth and development. The foundational nutrition from maternal milk is crucial for these kits.
This period of exclusive milk consumption typically lasts for four to six weeks. The mother diligently nurses her young, ensuring they receive consistent nourishment and warmth. Her milk supports their initial development, including fur growth and eye opening, which usually occurs between 24 and 30 days of age.
Transition to Solid Foods
As baby flying squirrels mature, they begin a gradual process of weaning from their mother’s milk to solid foods, typically around six to eight weeks of age. During this transition, the mother brings solid food items back to the nest for her young to sample. This initial exposure allows the kits to explore new textures and tastes.
The introduction of solid foods is a slow process, with the young gradually reducing their reliance on milk as their intake of diverse foods increases. The mother also guides her offspring in developing foraging skills, teaching them how to locate and identify food sources. This period prepares the young squirrels for an independent existence.
Natural Foraging for Young Flying Squirrels
Once young flying squirrels are weaned and forage independently, their diet becomes varied as they are omnivores. They consume a wide range of foods, adapting intake based on seasonal availability. Nuts form a significant part of their diet, including acorns, hickory nuts, beechnuts, and pecans. Various seeds, such as sunflower and pine seeds, are also eaten.
Fungi are another important food source, with young flying squirrels seeking out mushrooms and subterranean truffles, which provide nutrients like vitamin D. Fruits, such as berries, apples, and pears, contribute to their diet when available. Flying squirrels also consume insects, including cicadas, crickets, grasshoppers, moths, larvae, and beetles, providing a protein source. Some species are more carnivorous, supplementing their diet with bird eggs, small birds, shrews, mice, or carrion. Other dietary components include inner bark, buds, blossoms, tree sap, and lichens, especially during leaner months.
Care and Feeding for Orphaned Babies
If an orphaned baby flying squirrel is found, the first step is to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. These professionals have the specialized knowledge and resources for the complex care and eventual release of wild animals. Attempting to raise a wild animal without expert guidance can cause harm or health issues.
For temporary care, specific milk replacement formulas are necessary. Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacement or Fox Valley formulas are recommended, as they meet the nutritional needs of growing mammals. Never use cow’s milk or human infant formula; these lack proper nutrients and can cause severe digestive problems, potentially leading to fatality. Warm the formula to a comfortable temperature and administer slowly using a syringe or eyedropper, holding the baby upright to prevent aspiration.
Before introducing formula, rehydration is often necessary, especially for babies without care for some time. Unflavored Pedialyte or a homemade rehydration solution can be given in small amounts. As orphaned kits approach weaning age, around six to eight weeks, soft solid foods can be gradually introduced. These may include finely chopped or mashed fruits, vegetables, or specially formulated rodent blocks, always under the guidance of a wildlife rehabilitator. Proper care is essential for their survival and successful reintroduction to the wild.