As a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, you are charged with feeding your babies until they are ready to be released. This can be a daunting task. There is a lot of controversy among experts when it comes to what is the best formula to give.
Feeding is going to vary greatly based on the species and age of the baby. This is why as rehabbers we have to be Jacks/Jills of all trades. It is important to understand the needs of every species you choose to take in.
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MY BEST ADVICE
So, my first bit of advice is to listen to the experts but to most of all closely observe your babies.
Ask yourself:
Are they gaining weight steadily? Weigh them every couple of days when they are small and record the data.
Are they active and exploring at an age-appropriate level?
Do they appear sick or weak?
Any of these may indicate that the formula is not meeting the needs of your babies. Talk to your veterinarian or an experienced wildlife rehabber to decide what changes should be made. Don’t use a wait and see method with tiny babies – it may be too late when you decide to make a change.
Know your species. I’m constantly surprised when rehabilitators don’t know what the needs are of various species. Wild animals have higher metabolisms and so have different nutrient requirements than your puppy or kitten.
Fox Valley has some great information on their website about these requirements. You can make a simple spreadsheet and hang it on a bulletin board.
Using miracle nipples to feed a baby possum.
TRANSITIONS
When your baby came into your center you started them off on fluids. They have had at least 24 hours of rehydration and are ready to start taking in nutrients. Now you are slowly transitioning to formula.
Read our article on Fluids: Dehydration and Rehydration to learn more.
WHAT FORMULA IS BEST?
This is the million-dollar question.
There are several brands of formulas that are commonly used. The most recommended brands are PetAg and Fox Valley. Both these companies have done testing to ensure their products can meet wildlife needs. However, you need to follow the recommended ratios.
PetAg is a large corporation that produces a variety of brands including Esbilac, KMR, Multi-Lac Milk, and Zoologic. One nice thing is that they have a frequent buyer program where you can earn free products.
Fox Valley is headquartered in Illinois and sources local fresh milk to manufacture its products. Fox Valley designs and makes formulas for exotic animals such as wildlife as well as pets. Fox Valley has specialized formulas for almost every wild animal you can imagine. This is great, especially for those species that have specialized nutrition needs such as beavers, bears, and moose.
GOAT MILK
Esbilac Goat Milk or “real” goat’s milk is sometimes used by rehabbers especially if an animal is showing allergy symptoms. However, most rehabilitators do not recommend goat’s milk. In her book, Wild Mammal Babies, Irene Ruth, does not recommend using goat’s milk and states that goat’s milk is too low in protein and fat for most species.
Remember because wildlife has higher metabolism their need for fat and protein is much higher.
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MIX AND MATCH
Should you just buy one type of formula and give it to everyone? NO
Your various babies will all have different nutritional needs. You will have a variety of formulas at your center. At my center, I have given the skunks get Esbilac, the squirrels get Fox Valley, and the fawns get multi-lac.
Now, this does get a bit complicated. Some rehabbers will mix Esbilac and Fox Valley formulas when feeding a particular species. This may be done to provide optimum levels of nutrients or it may be done to cut costs.
Read our article on Feeding Costs in Wildlife Rehabilitation
HOW MUCH FORMULA?
Every species will vary but there is a basic rule of thumb. Weigh the baby using a gram scale. The stomach capacity is generally about 5% of the body weight.
Divide the total body weight by 5%.
For example, if a baby weighs 100 grams then 5% of that is 5ml’s. We use cc’s or ml’s to measure the fluid. After you mix the formula you just draw up the correct amount into a syringe that nicely has the levels marked on it.
WHAT ARE CC’S AND ML’S?
CC stands for cubic centimeter. ML stands for millimeter. They are just two ways that are used to measure volume in the metric system.
CC and ML are interchangeable. When you look at your syringe you want to pay attention to the number – not whether your unit says cc or ml.
MASS MARKET FORMULAS TO AVOID
There are a number of formulas that have been produced for the puppy and kitten market that do not meet the needs of wildlife.
According to Irene Ruth DO NOT USE Hartz, Mothers Helper, Nurtural or other like brands.
HOMEMADE FORMULAS FOR WILDLIFE
Please don’t use homemade formulas for wildlife. I don’t care if you have raised a hundred baby squirrels on mamaw’s homemade puppy formula. Studies have shown that deficiencies as babies can cause issues later in life.
Homemade formulas aren’t balanced based on what that species needs and may not work. Nutritional-related problems such as MBD and Angel Wing often take months to manifest themselves.
PUTTING SUPPLEMENTS IN THE FORMULA
Sometimes wildlife rehabilitators will add supplements to the formula. They do this because they feel the baby needs something a bit “more”. In some cases, health issues may be a reason.
You may also talk to rehabbers who start adding things to prepare the baby for transitioning to solids.
Yogurt, applesauce, and human baby cereal, are all things that may be added. Vitamins can also be added.
In general, it is felt that if you are using a good quality formula and feeding the correct amounts then you don’t need to add things to the formula. The above foods can all be used as transition foods for babies who are merging to solids.
Vitamins and herbal supplements are things I have used with animals who are having health issues. They may have come in emaciated or with wounds. It’s done on a case-by-case method and never takes the place of regular feedings.
Probiotics are another commonly given supplement that can be added to the formula. Bene-Bac is a good brand that I have used. Fox Valley makes one called LA200.
Talk to your veterinarian if you have questions about health and nutrition.
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COLOSTRUM
I consider colostrum a supplement. Colostrum is the pre-milk, or first milk produced by mammals when young are born. Colostrum contains a high level of nutrients as well as antibodies. It helps protect the newborn from diseases.
Colostrum is also a mild laxative that helps to stimulate the digestive system and waste elimination. In addition, it increases the beneficial microflora in the digestive tract.
Newborn or neonate babies may benefit from having colostrum added to their formula. I like Wholistic Pet’s brand from Amazon. You can purchase bovine colostrum at places like Tractor Supply or your local feed store.
CARE OF FORMULA
The formula is perishable and needs to be treated like food. Store it in a cool dry location. The nutrients in the formula may decrease when it is exposed to hot and or humid weather.
Buying formula in bulk is very cost-effective however make sure you can store it properly. The cost savings don’t help if you get to the bottom of the barrel and the formula is of poor quality.
You should make enough formula for 24 hours and then store it in the fridge.
MIXING FORMULA
Formula needs to be mixed well and allowed to settle so that the air bubbles dissipate. You can use a food processor or blender to combine ingredients well.
They also make mixer bottles that people use for sports drinks that contain a wire whisk ball. When you shake up the water and formula the ball mixes them together.
Add formula to warm water so that it dissolves better.
PetAg recommends you refrigerate powdered formula after opening for up to three months.
KEEPING FORMULA WARM
Keeping the formula warm during feeding can be tricky as it cools off in the syringe quickly. You can have warmed water available in a bowl to set your syringes in. You can also use a human baby bottle warmer or a slow cooker.
Check out my series on Wildlife Rehabilitation!
BUT SOMEONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA SAID…
There is always a lot of crazy and untrue information floating around the various social media channels. This is no different for wildlife rehabilitation.
Don’t get information from a social media platform. I have done a search a couple times for people in prominent social media groups. Turns out they weren’t even listed or licensed wildlife rehabilitators in their state.
If you hear an influencer or guru giving information message them personally. Build relationships with other rehabilitators in your area so that you can learn and grow together.
TAKE AWAY
The most important advice I can give you is to use a quality formula and monitor the babies closely.
Author, Ame Vanorio, is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator and the director of Fox Run. Check out her books on Amazon.
One of the most lifesaving skills you can have in wildlife rehabilitation is the ability to assess hydration levels and give fluids. Dehydration will kill an animal faster than a lack of food.
The process of rehydration begins after warming the baby for thirty to sixty minutes.