[violaine]

i had a very long post composed earlier, and just came back to check about the squirrel- only to find my above post lacking in information!

we kept squirrels in a warm room where we could keep an eye on them. mainly, you will want to make sure the squirrel does not feel cold to the touch; place an old dish towel or t-shirt in with him. it would be ideal if he had a habitat similar to what is natural to wild squirrels; they are typically very active [understatement], and need branches upon which to hang, climb, and chew. pine cones and oak leaves are a good idea if you can find some.

their diet in the wild does not consist soley of peanuts and/or acorns- in fact, too many of these throw the calcium/phosphorus ratio off nutritional track, contribute to MBD [metabolic bone disease]. they like to eat leafy green plants, bird eggs, insects, et c. during my work on a state permit with the DNR in indiana, the formula we fed young - teen squirrels was a mixture we syringe fed warm, and it takes a few attemps to get the technique down- some are harder to feed than others. the chow was primate food. they take the aforementioned along with other foods to compliment their diet as close to living in the wild [before being released]. your squirrel may not be able to return to the wild, and so it's a good idea to discuss options with an expert in the field.

very important = he or she will need to keep hydrated, and it's easy enough to check by lightly pinching skin on the back of his/her neck or else on his back. squirrels have very sharp teeth and nails. they can cause serious damage to delicate human skin.

i cannot place enough emphasis on locating a wildlife rehabilitator in your area. a lot of times, people who work with squirrels also rehab rabbits so make sure to check this on the net also. i may have left off some things, as i am writing this for the second time and it's getting late. hopefully the link i sent to you will be of some help.

all the best,
belle