Buzz
Owning a squirrel as a pet is a significant responsibility. It's advisable to only take in a squirrel if it lacks the ability to survive in the wild. If you're certain that owning a pet squirrel is legal in your area, create a spacious enclosure for it to live in. Provide it with a well-balanced diet and ensure its safety and health.
Guidelines
Exploring Squirrel Ownership
Familiarize yourself with the applicable regulations in your locality. Reach out to your local municipal office to learn more about the regulations governing pet ownership in your region. Keeping a pet squirrel may be prohibited in some areas, while others may require a permit. It's wise to educate yourself before acquiring a pet squirrel to avoid penalties and the possibility of having to relinquish your pet.
Find veterinarians willing to care for a squirrel. Before dedicating your time, money, and affection to a squirrel, reach out to local veterinarians to ensure they're willing to provide care. Inquire about their experience with wildlife or exotic animals. Alternatively, seek advice from seasoned wildlife rehabilitators regarding squirrel care in case of medical emergencies.
Ensure you adopt a squirrel at the appropriate age. Squirrels older than nine weeks may struggle to adjust to new caregivers. If considering adopting an abandoned squirrel, verify that it's young enough to bond with you. For accurate age assessment, consult a veterinarian.
Allow the squirrel to remain in its natural habitat if possible. If encountering a solitary and uninjured baby squirrel, refrain from immediate intervention. Give its mother several hours to locate it. Monitor the squirrel from a safe distance during this period. Intervene only if:
- The squirrel appears sick or injured.
- Its mother is absent or deceased.
- It's threatened by household pets.
Feeding Your Squirrel
- Feed your squirrel 3-4 blocks daily, replacing uneaten ones daily to maintain freshness and hygiene.
Ensure a consistent water supply. Always provide your squirrel with access to fresh, clean water. Dehydration poses a significant risk to both young and adult squirrels, especially during hot summer periods. Refill the water dish daily, or more frequently if your squirrel drinks a lot.
Enhance your squirrel's diet. While rodent blocks should constitute the majority of your squirrel's diet, you can diversify it with supplementary items. Opt for foods resembling those found in their natural habitat, such as fruits or insects. Dispose of any uneaten fresh foods promptly to prevent bacterial growth.
- Introducing additional food sources can bolster your squirrel's calcium intake, crucial for maintaining sturdy bones and teeth.
- Purchase crickets from a local pet store to provide variety in their diet.
- Offer a selection of fruits in moderation, including berries (e.g., blueberries, blackberries, strawberries) and sliced pieces of larger fruits (e.g., banana, apple, peach, mango).
Restrict seeds, corn, and nuts. Despite the temptation to feed squirrels large quantities of seeds, corn, and nuts, these are not optimal choices and can lead to obesity over time. Treat these foods like squirrel candy and offer them sparingly. Reserve small portions of these treats for your squirrel, ideally towards the end of the day, after they've consumed healthier options.
- Excessive consumption of seeds, nuts, and corn can also heighten the risk of nutritional ailments like metabolic bone disease.
Setting Up the Ideal Habitat
Invest in an appropriate enclosure. A suitable cage for a pet squirrel should be at least two feet wide, two feet deep, and several feet tall (approximately 0.6 meters wide, 0.6 meters deep, and at least one meter tall). Squirrels are active creatures requiring ample space to move around. Ensure the cage provides sheltered areas for your squirrel to retreat when needed.
- Due to their strong teeth, opt for a metal cage rather than wood or plastic.
- Choose a secure cage as squirrels are adept at squeezing through small openings.
Provide climbing structures for your squirrel. Ensure your squirrel has access to items to climb on, resembling its natural habitat, such as wooden pieces or sturdy branches. Hanging parrot toys and perches are also suitable options. Ensure any hanging toys are securely attached to the cage before allowing your squirrel to explore them.
Offer chew items for your squirrel. Given squirrels' robust teeth and innate chewing behavior, supply them with appropriate chew items. Chew bones enable your squirrel to wear down its incisors without causing damage, potentially supplementing its calcium intake. Additionally, durable chew toys are beneficial, but remember to clean them weekly to prevent bacterial growth.
Place the cage by a window. Position your squirrel's cage near a window to provide access to sunlight, mimicking its natural habitat. Opening the window when feasible allows your squirrel to engage with outdoor sights and scents.
Offer a cozy nesting space for your squirrel. Squirrels seek secure and snug sleeping areas. Introduce a small cardboard box into the cage, featuring an entrance hole large enough for your squirrel to enter and exit. Alternatively, consider purchasing a wooden nesting box from a pet store or online.
- Ensure the purchased nesting box has an appropriately sized entrance for your squirrel.
Provide nesting material for your squirrel. Enhance your squirrel's nesting box with soft bedding materials. Avoid materials with fabric loops, like old towels or terrycloth, which can trap your squirrel's nails. Opt for alternatives such as an old t-shirt, fleece blanket, or shredded newspaper.
- Replace shredded newspaper weekly or launder t-shirts and blankets.
- Replace chewed fabric from the nesting box promptly.
Ensuring Squirrel Safety and Well-being
Keep other household pets separate from the squirrel. To safeguard your pet squirrel, prevent interaction with dogs and cats. Squirrel behavior can be unpredictable, and even well-trained pets may inadvertently harm it. Squirrels may resort to biting and may also pose a threat to other pets if they feel threatened or engage in rough play.
Introduce your squirrel to socialization. Begin handling your squirrel at a young age to acclimate it to human contact. However, reduce physical interaction once the squirrel reaches approximately six months old, as its teeth and claws become sharper. A content squirrel may inadvertently cause injury to you or your family members.
Schedule regular vet appointments for your squirrel. Ensure your squirrel receives yearly check-ups from a veterinarian experienced in squirrel care. Adhere closely to the veterinarian's guidance regarding diet, care, and medical treatment. Promptly consult a veterinarian if your squirrel displays any signs of illness.
Recommendations
The insights shared in this segment reflect the firsthand experiences of Mytour readers like yourself. If you have a valuable tip to contribute to Mytour, please share it using the provided field below.
- Regularly weigh baby squirrels each morning using a secure container (with a lid to prevent escapes) until they are fully weaned. Formula intake should be approximately 5% to 7% of their body weight. After feeding, promptly clean off any formula residue to prevent 'milk burn,' which can lead to discomfort and hair loss around the squirrel's face due to crusting.
- Incorporate a variety of vegetables and fruits into squirrels' diets, while monitoring phosphorus levels in each food item. Certain foods may diminish squirrels' calcium levels, such as peanuts, corn, sunflower seeds, and excessive nuts. To bolster calcium levels, consider adding foods like kale, collard greens, turnips, broccoli, papaya, blackberries, and oranges alongside rodent blocks.
