00:00Why does a baby squirrel refuse of feeding, even when it clearly seems hungry?
00:04Most people try changing the type of milk or increasing the amount,
00:07and that actually makes the problem worse.
00:10The real answer is usually not about the food itself.
00:13It's about the baby's body temperature.
00:15Baby squirrels can't regulate their own body temperature until around 5 weeks of age,
00:21relying entirely on the warmth of their mother or littermates in the nest.
00:25If a baby squirrel gets cold, its digestive system essentially shuts down,
00:30a condition called hypothermia,
00:32and any milk that enters its stomach at that point doesn't move or get digested,
00:37turning what should help into a real danger instead.
00:39That's why the first step before any feeding is making sure the baby is actually warm.
00:45Touch its ears and paws.
00:47If they're cold, you need to warm it up first with a warm, not hot,
00:51cloth for 15 to 20 minutes before attempting to feed it.
00:54Feeding a cold baby is the most common mistake that leads to its death,
00:58more so than the type of milk itself.
01:00So the right question isn't, why won't it eat?
01:03The right question is, is it warm enough to even digest in the first place?
01:08So, have you ever tried helping a baby animal but forgot a basic step like this one?
01:13Share your experience with me.
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