There's more to Steve than you think

Wanted to give you an update on our foster squirrel Steve.  He is growing up just fine!  Sort of amazing how he is progressing, learning, and growing.
  Here's how the past few weeks have gone:  Steve loves the quiet and the warmth, he buries himself in blankets when he naps.  He has weened himself off of formula!  Totally cool- he went from chugging it big time to quitting cold turkey. Amazing...   SO, he eats a rodent block, peanuts, toast, and walnuts.  Also, he taught himself to drink water out of a bowl.  He never took water from a rabbit style water bottle- just from the bowl.
  Last week, Christa and I transformed a kennel into a squirrel wonderland.  We wrapped the kennel with "poultry fencing" so he wouldn't escape.  Ps. apparently chicken wire is now poultry fencing (just in case you needed to know).
  Steve's wonderland is filled with a hanging nest, sticks of all sizes, his food and water.

  Here Steve is soaking in some window sun, chillin' with a nut.

  Well, we're moving forward- have some preparations for his soon coming release and constructing a nesting box for his transfer.  Apparently we'll be doing lots of research because there's more to Steve than you think!

And then there's Steve

Yes- and then there's Steve, our foster squirrel.


    I guess there should be a back story for how we have a foster squirrel- here it is...

    Last week as Christa was waiting for our son at the bus stop, she saw a baby squirrel.   The little guy was quite small, alone, scared and wondering a bit.  So, my wife observed him for 20 minutes while waiting on the bus.  The road here at our bus stop is being paved and so the atmosphere is quite loud.  My wife (the animal lover) absolutely couldn't leave the little guy, and so being worried for his well being- brought him home.
  That night, by the time I got home, she had done more research on raising foster squirrels than most vets.  Being presented with the research- I obviously could not say no.
  So we have a 5 week old foster squirrel who hopefully will be ready to return to the real world at about 12 weeks.  We are raising him on puppy formula, and rodent blocks to chew on.
  Steve?  We decided to name him Steve after the movie "Over The Hedge" and in honor of Steve Carell.

  I expect it to be a journey!  He's been with us for 6 short days and is already comfortable with us, feeding, relieving himself, exploring, climbing and balancing.  It probably won't be easy, but we think it's worth the experience.  We have an 8 year old son, five fish, a dog named Bailey, and then there's Steve..

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