Let’s build Edgar a home!!!!

So I have a sad update on Edgar: After a couple of weeks observing him as he transitions to veggies and weans from his formula, have noticed that he was struggling and lost interest in nuts, carrots, cauliflower, etc. He just ate the boo bites I made for him and soft things. About a week ago, he started having a hard time staying latched onto his nipple syringe. Finally, on Saturday, I took him and looked into his mouth for anything that appeared not normal. Edgar has no top teeth. He could have lost them if he fell from his nest, but they usually will grow back if broken like that. Edgar has no sign whatsoever of ever having top teeth. It was most likely a birth defect and the reason that his mom kicked him out of the nest. This can lead to multiple issues. Because he has no top teeth, he is unable to crack open acorns and be able to forage food for himself. The top teeth also serve as a way to hold down sticks and nuts to be able to keep his bottom teeth ground down (they grow continuously and wildlings can successfully do this). If the bottom teeth are allowed to grow, they will eventually grow into his top jaw and into his head. Edgar will need his teeth trimmed every 6-8 weeks to prevent this- for the rest of his life. He will be visiting a vet this week to have this done and I can hopefully learn to do it on my own. This goes without saying, but this makes him a non-releasable squirrel. This breaks my heart. Every time I’m feeding him, since he was a wee one, I tell him about the wildlings and surfing the tree tops and that one day he will be free to do ALL of the things that wildlings do. I’m sad for him, and I’ve shed tears over it....but if I set him free, he will die a horrible, painful death. So here is the plan, we will build Edgar a very large outdoor enclosure for him to live his life in. I’m thinking 6x6x4. He will be provided with a nesting box, and plenty of tree limbs to play on. We just have to decide when to construct this! Sooner than later but it’s going to have costs incurred that weren’t budgeted, especially around Christmas! His food will consist of soft cooked carrots, and other soft veggies, fruits (which he loves but are considered “junk food” in the squirrel world) and boo bites. Boo bites are something that I make for him that provide all of the nutrients that he needs. In fact, Aidan and I have some in the oven now! He’s getting pumpkin/banana/gingerbread/hazelnut boo bites! They are flavored with baby food, so we can change it up for him. The possibilities are endless! They also contain other good stuff like flax seed, coconut flour, ground rodent mineral blocks, ground nuts and his formula (for calcium). So there it is. Edgar will remain a part of our family and live out his 15 years as happy as we can possibly make him. He will be safe from predators, and he will make wildling friends, he will have a warm bed at night and be spoiled rotten with the tastiest meals that a squirrel could ever want!!! I’m sad for him. He deserved to live wild and free, but unfortunately it would kill him to release him. There is no “maybe” in this. It is what it is. I do have the AMAZING support of a licensed rehabber (Dana Jones ) who will, no doubt, be with us through this process. ALSO...I never ask for help like this, but if anyone wants to donate to the outdoor cage that would be super awesome, (we figure that it’s going to cost around $500 to make it) that way we could make it happen sooner than later!!! I’ve given the best care to that little creature and I will continue to do so, as long as he’s here with us. This is going to be quite the adventure!! ❤️