Escot nature rangers hand rear abandoned baby red squirrel

Flower was abandoned by her mother, Holly, who had her first litter of four kits at Escot. 

Initially, Flower was cared for by her mother but as she got older, the nature rangers noticed that Flower was not getting fed as much as her brothers and sisters and eventually her mother stopped caring for her. 

Nature Rangers, Kerry and Victoria, stepped in to save the baby red squirrel who was getting weaker and weaker and have been successfully hand rearing her.

Just like a human baby Flower initially needed feeding every three to four hours and took her milk from a small syringe which meant that Flower had to go home with one or other of the nature rangers to be fed through the night.  Initially she didn’t like the syringe but soon got the hang of it and was quickly grasping it in her paws to make sure she got every drop!

Now at eight weeks old, Flower is doing well, putting on weight and taking more solid food, which means she no longer has to be fed at night.

“It is very rewarding to care for Flower and to see her developing so well – though I must admit I am pleased that the night feeds are now over” said Kerry, Nature Ranger at Escot.

“Because she did spend a few weeks with her mother and siblings, Flower knows she is a squirrel and does not mistake us for her parents.  It is really great to see her becoming more independent and displaying good squirrel behaviour such as hiding her food, though I will  miss being able to hold her for her daytime feeds.”

Escot Park’s ¾ acre walk-through enclosure is the second only in the UK designed specifically to home free-range red squirrels in an environment protected from American grey squirrels. The red squirrel encounter, opposite the Coach House Restaurant at Escot is free to visit and open daily from 10am-5pm.

John-Michel Kennaway owner of Escot Park is the most recent recipient of a prestigious award as part of the national conservation charity, Red Squirrel Survival Trust’s (RSST) 2014 Volunteer Awards.

Mr Kennaway, known as Mish, has been awarded a Special Award for his outstanding contribution to saving the red squirrel in the UK through the successful breedingprogramme at Escot Park and for opening a free access to all red squirrel encounter at Escot park.

For more inforamtion about Escot Park visit www.escot-devon.co.uk