Its coat is short and yellowish-orange in color, with a black mouth and white ears and throat. This can be a pretty painful experience. These squirrels are stunningly beautiful and have a better disposition as a pet than grey squirrels. Once you domesticate them, they cannot be released back into the wild. This is a huge responsibility if you domesticate one to trust you. You will need to set up a big cage or living environment with branches, to mimic the outside environment. Even if you have this animal from a youngster, taming it as it grows, it will still be a wild animal, and there will be certain reflexes it won't be able to steer away from. They may even come up to you and grab a nut or other food item from your hand. My brother had a pet rat when we were kids. My hope is to help you see how wonderful these critters can be. As you can see, there’s a lot to consider before you fall in love with your backyard critters and invite them inside. The good news is squirrels’ behavior can be changed and they can be taught the skills needed for survival in the wild. Be sure to fully research their care and your local laws before committing to purchase or adopt any species of squirrel. The debate is huge on whether or not you should even try to train a squirrel to be a pet. Of course, like in many cases, there are exceptions to the rule where squirrels that grow up in captivity just refuse to go into the wild. A lot of people will end up befriending them, eventually, the squirrel starts trusting them. By the way, read this article to help you understand what to do if you find one: Found A Baby Squirrel. Yes and no. They cannot be declawed. So cute! Some types of squirrels (such as flying squirrels) can be domesticated, but it takes a great amount of time and care to acclimate them to humans. Today, it’s illegal to keep a squirrel as a pet in many states. Squirrels are fun animals to watch, whether they are playing chase or burying their latest foraging discovery. In family portraits, in paintings and museums, squirrels were everywhere. Now that your squirrel has started this behavior, it is unlikely to stop. They are unfortunately hard to find these days and will cost around $1000 if you do find one. To keep your pet squirrel safe, keep dogs and cats away from it. Whether you have a squirrel as a pet or feed them in the wild, it's essential to understand what they can eat. It is illegal to have a squirrel as a pet in Colorado. Some captive squirrels can become pretty tame, but many do not. Making an Animal Wild Again If you found a baby squirrel and raised it to around 5 to 6 months of age and it’s time to set it free, it must change from a pet to a wild animal with instincts necessary for its survival. As they approach 6 months old, their claws and teeth are much longer and sharper, and they can unintentionally inflict harm on humans, pets and furniture. A furry backyard visitor raised the question: Do squirrels make good pets? They are opportunistic feeders and an instilled behavior that helps them survive out in the wild. If you have a dog, you call a family, friend or hire a pet sitter to come to watch them while you’re away. The good news is squirrels’ behavior can be changed and they can be taught the skills needed for survival in the wild. They will beg, plead, and even steal food. It’s important to take them out of the cage at least 2-3 hours per day. If you found a baby squirrel and raised it to 5–6 months of age and it’s time to set it free, it must change from a pet to a wild animal with instincts necessary for its survival. Do Squirrels Make Good Pets? However, it is illegal in most states to have one as a pet. Also, squirrel breeders sell babies as pets for those who are willing to take on the challenge. They usually feed on nuts, fruits, seeds or scraps. Do squirrels make good pets? One day as I was going to my mailbox, a baby squirrel came walking toward me. This site is owned and operated by Suzan and is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Within the first 6 months of life, squirrels acclimate to humans, show affection and become dependent on us for food. Set Up A Cage These critters eat anything, it’s not uncommon to see videos of them eating junk food. A general rule is that if the animal is considered wildlife, than it is illegal to keep one as a pet. There is a way to do this: You can rehab the animal yourself or find a licensed rehabber. Getting one as a pet is NOT like getting a family dog. There are a lot of things that you need to take into consideration to help you understand if … Some people who have raised one as a pet will say that their squirrel will “playful bite” them. Maybe you’re one of those types of people who have thought about keeping a squirrel as a pet? It is going to be hard to find a pet sitter who will gladly stay and watch your pet squirrel. We evaluate their possibility as household pets. SquirrelEnthusiast.com  is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Because the process is not guaranteed to be effective, and even simple mistakes can lead to an animal causing serious injury as it matures, I am not comfortable recommending them as pets. As long as you provide food, water, and shelter, the squirrel will be deceivingly cute. Could someone tell me? Squirrels, however, have been kept as pets in the Americas since colonial times because if tamed as babies they are gentle, affectionate and amusing pets that have been known to live up to fifteen years in captivity. Some states and countries have outlawed keeping squirrels as pets. Do Squirrels Make Good Pets? I love feeding them, but I found myself wondering “do squirrels make good pets?” I’ll share everything I found to help you realize whether or not you should get one. It’s easy to think that you can train them to be a pet. Kale is a superfood and is an excellent source of... My name is Suzan and I absolutely love feeding squirrels. A squirrel’s incisors grow 6 inches per year. Most vets do not treat wild animals as pets. A squirrel cannot survive without the necessary skills needed in the wild, such as finding food, avoiding predators, establishing its place within a territory and finding a potential mating partner. (and plus some extra info like what it eats and needs!) Believe it or not, more and more people are choosing to keep these rodents as pets. Besides their unique movements, flying squirrels are recognizable by their large eyes, grey or chestnut body, and a white belly. It is 750 to 1100 gm in weight. By the way, read this article to help you understand what to do if you find one: Found A Baby Squirrel. In most cases, it is illegal to keep squirrels as pets, but most importantly, it is inhumane as well. However, I know that some people love having rodents or exotic animals as pets. Your pet squirrel will likely see you to the thing closest to a tree, and she will jump, climb, and dig her claws into you. A squirrel can be kept as a pet but, it is a very very high maintenance animal. Squirrels and other wild animals make lousy pets for numerous reasons. Susan also participates in affiliate programs with Bluehost, Clickbank, CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. A pet squirrel doesn’t stand much of a chance if released directly into the wild or into a park. Beginning in the early 20th century, people saw squirrels as pests, not pets. Another thing is that squirrels bite. Flying squirrels make adorable pet rodents for the right person. If you found a baby squirrel and raised it to 5–6 months of age and it’s time to … It’s not uncommon to see more and more YouTube videos popping up with people who are raising squirrels as house pets. Depending on the age of the squirrel, they require different levels of care. 5 thoughts on “ Squirrels do not Make Good Pets ” SHI says: April 30, 2013 at 4:39 pm OMG I LOVE SQUIRRELS!!!! Squirrels were protected in wildlife conservation and exotic pet laws. They are very active … Can squirrels eat kale? Southern Flying Squirrels are the smallest of all the tree squirrel species. This is NOT your usual pet and that’s why we found out everything you need to consider good and bad to help you decide if it’s the right type of pet. Only in very specific cases, such as when the animal is seriously injured and would not be able to survive on its own. They won’t survive if they do not show any signs of fear towards humans, dogs, and cats. Regardless of where you stand, more and more people are raising squirrels as pets. Alan Cleland says: September 7, 2013 at 3:58 am My wife and I have had 3 pet squirrels over the last 15 years. Squirrels are prone to biting and may also harm your other pets is cornered, threatened, or playing roughly. My neighbor thinks he’s cute and wants to keep him as a pet, but do squirrels make good pets? Squirrels and other wild animals make lousy pets for numerous reasons. They need their freedom and space, so the process of trying to domesticate them will be highly stressful. One that visits my backyard regularly has a huge fluffy tail and is quite entertaining to watch as he hops around, but he also climbs wood fences and trees with astounding ease. It will be hard to find someone to watch your squirrel so you can get out of the house for a while. However, the ones that are living in captivity are known to live up to 20 years. Baby squirrels are incredibly adorable and hard to resist keeping as pets, but looks can be deceiving. They do not know to stay away from people or predators. But first, watch this video from someone who decided to rescue a baby squirrel and ended up keeping it as a pet. I live in so california The squirrel brain is the size of a walnut. Like other tree squirrels, they still have very sharp claws, and they love to climb up their owner's body. Do Squirrels Make Good Pets? After feeding this squirrel several times outside my house, now he became our pet :) he is not shy, very friendly (sometimes :)) ) he likes to play. I hated it, but he loved it and raised it as a family pet. An area overpopulated with squirrels can mean an increase in diseases (like Lyme disease ) that can be transmitted to pets, humans and other rodents (like more squirrels). Still, these are only exceptions. Do Squirrels Make Good Pets What You Should Expect. These critters live in various parts of the world, excluding Antarctica and Australia. They are fun to watch, cute, fast, but the one thing they are not, is a good pet. Squirrels may also exhibit aggressive and harmful behavior during mating seasons. These mammals have sharp claws and teeth, in order to survive in the wilderness. Baby squirrels have no teeth or hair and are blind for up to 8 weeks. Squirrels are members of the rodent (Rodentia) family that have existed for 50 million years and have adapted to coexist with humans. Do squirrels make good pets? Can you keep a squirrel as a pet? I’ve done my best to put together some of the best squirrel information you need for feeding them and raising them as pets. That’s why I wanted to share some things that you need to consider. As adorable as they are, pet squirrels are definitely not for everyone. Ground squirrels are primarily omnivores.They munch mainly on plant-based foods like nuts, berries, flowers, and acorns, though they also have … It is illegal to own a pet squirrel throughout most of the United States; you will need to check your state’s specific laws before acquiring one. They will nest high in trees between branches strong enough to support their nest or in trees with hollow entries. There are literally over 200 species of squirrels. It is difficult to predict a squirrel's behaviour and even the most well-trained pet may cause it harm in self-defense. They haven’t learned to find the food and water they need. or a breeder? Last update: Jun 6, 2020 1 answer. Their skittish behavior is what helps them survive from their predators. Keep other pets away from the squirrel. Is It A Good Food for Squirrels. So, you're probably wondering, 'Can you have a pet... Can Squirrels Eat Kale? But I don't know if there good pets. As youngsters, these animals might seem like everything you could possibly want from a pet. Most squirrels don’t have long lifespans out in the wild. If you do decide to keep one as a pet, be sure to browse this site. Getting one as a pet is NOT like getting a family dog. It’s not hard enough to draw blood, but it can still be somewhat painful because of their sharp incisors. Most people are scared of them because they know that they bite. They are primarily nocturnal, so their large eyes help them see at night. The major reason is that simply they are not domestic animals. Posted: (9 days ago) Do squirrels make good pets What You Should Expect. Squirrel food generally consists of nuts; fruits; seeds; tree flowers and … What do pet squirrels eat? To help you mak… Kayla October 31, 2016 Based on what I’ve seen online, more and more people are keeping: People have realized that these rodents are not dangerous and can be kept as pets if they find an orphaned baby squirrel. Don’t be surprised if they steal food from your countertops, plate or anywhere else. I stopped to see what he would do. Remember, you can tame a squirrel, but it will always be a wild animal. Do Squirrels Make Good Pets? This website is about sharing everything I learn about these amazing wild creatures, so you can enjoy feeding them while still protecting your property.. I beg to differ with the author, but they do make a wonderful pet. However, I know that some people will still try keeping one as a pet. At this point, most people think it’s time for the squirrel to be reintroduced to the wild, but unfortunately that is a death sentence for the animal. He walked right up and crawled onto my shoe and settled down. Even if you raise one from a baby, they still develop that biting defense mechanism. I know that it’s easy to fall in love with these bushy-tailed critters if you feed them. But then after some time, people realized that squirrels are wild animals and are pretty tough to be kept as pets. His claws look nothing short of talons, and I can’t imagine the damage he could inflict in my home. Because squirrels as pets is a really bad idea, as you are now finding out. Posted: (7 days ago) It’s not uncommon to see more and more YouTube videos popping up with people who are raising squirrels as house pets. You’ll need to make sure that you find a vet that is licensed to care for wild animals. The Early Months. However, it is illegal in most states to have one as a pet. This animal’s average size is about 25 to 35 cm, with a tail of 35 to 42 cm length. Im thinking of trying to tame a squirrel or find someone with a baby squirrel. Do squirrels make good pets? That endless food supply attracts more squirrels, none of which have any intention of giving up the good life. Susan is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Of course, your definition of a pet may be totally different from mine. Pet Squirrels should not be released directly back into the wild or into neighborhoods. The exciting and entertaining activities of the squirrel in your backyard will not only make you want to start feeding it but own it as a pet. There are so many reasons why squirrels do not make for good pets, and one of those reasons is because the humble squirrel is a WILD animal. Then in the 18th century, it became so renowned that people started selling squirrels as a pet. No, not usually. We see squirrels become very active in winter at the start of their mating season. Females in the wild breed only once with a male and will never breed with that specific squirrel again. Many people who keep them as pets have claimed that they have to be tolerable of the sharp nails. There has been much debate concerning the legalization of domesticating squirrels. Usually, you won’t be able to train them not to use their energy for destructive purposes. A baby squirrel will require tons of care and can die if it is not properly cared for. These critters love to jump, climb, and run. I want a new pet and i was thinking I could get a squirrel. Within the first 6 months of life, squirrels acclimate to humans, show affection and become dependent... Making an Animal Wild Again. So before you decide to get a bushy-tailed rodent and raise it as a pet, visit the U.S Fish and Wildlife Website to see if you need a permit or not. Before making this decision, it is a good idea to find out what will be needed to raise healthy, well-adapted baby squirrels as pets. They are not as docile as dogs nor as independent as cats, and extra care will be required. The canopy of the tropical forests of central and south America is the home of the squirrel monkey. Is a Squirrel Monkey a Good Pet? These cute rodents are just that rodents. Habitat and Habits: Flying Squirrels have special cages that are available online. There are a lot of things that you need to take into consideration to help you understand if it would be a wise choice. However, I wanted to share some things that you should consider besides the pet squirrel laws in your state. They bite very very hard and can even hit the bone. Best Answer. Even though they are high-energy, nocturnal rodents who love to climb and glide, as pets they also require many hours of hands-on attention and socializing with their owner. link to Can You Have a Pet Squirrel In Tennessee? Squirrels are a lot of things. Posted: (5 days ago) By the way, read this article to help you understand what to do if you find one: Found A Baby Squirrel. Check out this video as a curious cat watches a furry visitor: The average squirrel litter produces 4 offspring. In many states it's illegal to keep them as pets, some states require licenses, and in other states people are required to have wildlife rehabilitator training. And even in the case of the squirrel being injured, it would probably be better off in the hands of a trained animal rehab expert. Best Answer. They are the smallest of the tree squirrels. Like the holy book says: The truth will set you free! We believe that they should be left out in the wild. Hi Kayla, You may have noticed that the title of this article is "Squirrels as Pets: A Really Bad Idea." While they are not aggressive, the truth is that that they don’t make the best pets. Well, let’s take a look at the types that have been raised as tame animals. Basically, you won’t own your squirrel, but they will own you. Last update: Nov 11, 2020 1 answer. Top Sites About Squirrels Make Good Pets. Some people swear that domesticated squirrels make great pets. Male tree squirrels are the cleanest animals in the rodent family because they take twice as long as females to clean and groom themselves. do they make ok pets/ does anyone know a good way to tame one? According to the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Association, captive squirrels are constantly looking for a way out and that behavior can’t be changed. Northern flying squirrels require similar care to that of sugar gliders and even pet birds, but they do have their own unique requirements. Over time, you will find out that it’s easier to adopt a cat or a dog than it is to take care of an animal that belongs in the wild. They are wild animals and do NOT make the best pets for families. Reply. Squirrels are not known to bite people, but biting is one of the defense mechanisms they use out in the wild. However, when you consider the consequences of having a squirrel for a pet, it’s not a good decision for most of us. Is It A Good Food for Squirrels, Why It May Not Be Suitable to Have A Squirrel For A Pet, 7 Things to Consider When Keeping A Squirrel As Pet, Related Articles for Keeping Squirrels As Pets, Rock Squirrels (not as common, but there are some videos out there). Pet squirrels have also been over socialized. This means that they need a huge living area where they can “be a squirrel.”. What to Know. The animals may not know their own strength or mean harm, but most are simply not equipped to be a safe animal for domestication from the wild. In many states it's illegal to keep them as pets, some states require licenses, and in other states people are required to have wildlife rehabilitator training. While they may not be the typical pets we’re used to like cats or dogs. Read this article to read more about: What Eats Squirrels. Several reports support these facts, and in one case a child was bitten on the finger down to the bone. 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