Where do I find one?

[squirreladdict]

How have you all gotten squirrels? I really was looking in to getting one but now I'm convinced! I just wanted to know where exactly you found yours at? XXX sells them for $300 come spring but Is there an easier way? I herd it is easy to get a few off a rehabber but is that true?


Any help is appreciated!!

Thanks!

[lookmomchickens]

What type of squirrel are you looking at buying?

A Flying Squirrel?

[squirreladdict]

I was looking into Woodchucks or Southern Flyers...I really want more information on pet woodchucks/groundhogs as the local exotic animal breeder has them in Spring...

[Legomom]

I don't know much about woodchucks, but Southern flying squirrels are wonderful pets! Will your lifestyle allow for it? That's the question.

Please, read this link & consider my questions below:
http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15969

1) These are nocturnal animals.....they love to play all night long. Will you be able to find time to play with it/interact with it each day?

2) The best way to bond with a flyer is to have it in your shirt (in a pouch or not is a personal choice for the flyer. ) Will you be able to properly bond with your flyer?

3) Do you have the resources to provide housing, food & medical care? These tiny babies can be costly.....just like a real kid.

4) Do you have access to a vet who has experience with flying squirrels?

I'm sure there are a lot of other questions that you may or may not have considered. Just be sure! It is a huge commitment to have any kind of pet, especially a flyer.
They are very social & love owning humans!

You can find a lot of info on the National Flying Squirrel Association message board. If you haven't checked it out yet, please do & feel free to ask any & all questions here or there.
Our board tends to be a lot more active, but there are a ton of wonderful people on the NFSA board as well.

Here's a good place to start on the NFSA board:
http://www.nfsa.us/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=5525&sid=c2fca0e3f22723fb4a43 b8250598e190

:Welcome to TSB!

[squirreladdict]

I've made up my mind if I were to get one It would be a woodchuck. I don't like the idea of flyers being nocturnal...I know woodchucks aren't.

I really need some info on them though...

[MsOakley]

Honestly I've never heard of someone keeping a woodchuck as a pet. I personally don't advocate keeping any wildlife as pets unless they're impaired in some way and cannot make it in their natural habitat (non-releasable).

[Tum Tum]

I hate PA good luck finding a new member of the family.

[lookmomchickens]

It says that Woodchucks hibernate all winter...

They live in burrows for their natural habitat.

Can you provide a "natural" burrowing habitat like a large mound of dirt to allow the woodchuck to live like it should? I don't think they would live a happy/healthy life in a cage...

[Jackie in Tampa]

here i go again pushing rabbits!:D

:Welcome :wave123
like others have said, pennsylvania is tough on captive wildlife. in order to do right by a pet, you must be able to have vet care available. unfortunately that is the first brickwall...rehabbers are sworn to uphold their state laws and therefore are usually of no help when emergencies arise.
However, being a bunny owner!!!!!!! They make great pets and can travel too! There are free rabbits adoptions agencies...rescues! They need you! They will love you forever, and so will I! Thanks for considering it!:bowdown

[Mookie's Mom]

Oh, that sounds totaly wrong, a woodchuck is not a domesticated animal. They would be very unhappy in captivity. I am releasing a squirrel this spring, I know what it takes to live with a wild animal. It is very hard and he is unhappy.

[squirreladdict]

didn't mean to get jumped on...Will a flying squirrel be better? Gosh yall just kinda flipped out on me about it. The guy I would've got a groundhog (Which PA keeps as a pet for groundhogs day) off of has had them in captivity for years and says they reproduce every spring...


What makes a flying squirrel better?

[Legomom]

We're not trying to jump on you. Sorry if it seemed like it. Any wild animal is a challenge. Some of us are learning just as much as you are.
To be honest, I've never heard of woodchucks or groundhogs as pets, but I'm in the South, so who knows. :dono

The big thing to remember is the commitment required for any pet. They depend on their owners the same as a child does.....food, shelter, health & love.
Some can be around as long as children....I think there have been some squirrels as old as 12(?) in captivity.

Do a thorough background on any breeder that you are considering. Ask for the names of former customers & try to contact them. Check the better business bureau for comments/complaints (if it's a business). PA is a tricky state, so ask for proof of licensing. (Do you have an info on the breeder that you were considering?? Maybe someone in the PA/NY area might have some info if you're willing to share the name.)

Again, please, don't feel 'picked' on....that is not the intention of TSB. We like to educate & learn as well. :thankyou for looking for info & help! :grouphug

[Mookie's Mom]

It's just the way you said "I've made up my mind" about a woodchuck. Doesn't sound like you want opinions. You say you need info about them, we know about squirrels. I'm not sure anyone here has kept a woodchuck as a pet.

[Ardilla]

I don't think anyone jumped on you. It's just that you live in a state that is VERY unfriendly towards wildlife, and you also asked about making a pet of an animal that none of us has even heard of keeping as a pet (and people here are extremely knowledgable). I'm sure that the people who tend to the groundhog day animal don't keep it as an actual pet, and they have permits to keep it captive.

As far as a flyer, they are the only squirrels that are easy to tame if born to pet parents and hand-raised. They also form very strong bonds to humans, and do not "wild up" the way other squirrels do. You'll see a lot of pet squirrels here, but the vast majority were raised from pinkies after falling out of nest, and are unreleasable for one reason or another. In fact, most of the rescues are eventually released because they "wild up."

However, I would not recommend one of those for you because of the state you live in. You would not be able to get vet care if needed, and you would also be in danger of having it confiscated and destroyed.

[lookmomchickens]

Sorry if it seemed we were jumping on you... totally not our intention.

Flying squirrels a great little creatures with loads of personality. =) You can browse through some of the flyer threads and meet the squirrels & their humans. :thumbsup

[Mads]

Can't you just consider a dog?
I shutter to think about squirrels being sold for $300.00 a piece. I have to wonder, with that price tag, as to where are they really coming from. I suspect that with a average litter of 3 babies in a nest, so visable alot of time from the ground, $1,000. average for climbing a tree would be quite attractive to some people!

In hearing more about the chimp attack last night here in CT, originally when I heard of this attack, I felt such sadness for everyone involved, the chimp, of course, and Sandra Herold the owner and of course, the victim, Charla Nash.
But, what I had read last night indicated, and of course, I can't be sure that this is actually truth of this situation because I think the press distorts much of what is written, but I read that this Sandra Herold had seeked out to "buy" a chimpanzee for a Pet. That to me puts a whole different light to this situation if that is in fact the truth. If she wanted to buy a chimp, she supported a kidnapping of a wild baby from a family that certainly would of defended the infant to their own death. These poachers will take out several adults to get the infants. And it is my opinion that if this was the case, then Sandra Herold should be held criminally responsible for this attack on Charla Nash.
Stealing babies is just wrong, so please be sure that if you take on a baby, that you really know where it is coming from.
I have never heard of having a ground hog for a pet???

[Mookie's Mom]

Good point Mads! and I don't understand this:

"The guy I would've got a groundhog (Which PA keeps as a pet for groundhogs day) off of has had them in captivity for years and says they reproduce every spring..."


Why does he reproduce them??!!!??? to sell????? I truly shudder at this whole thing!

[Sqrl]

I have asked the same question and have gotten no answer, I would llike to fine a good breeder, one that will let me come and see what and where they breed. I would like to get a babie and but am having a hard time finding a breeder.

Please help!!

Thanks T

[island rehabber]

I hate to put a damper on things, too, but in NY state groundhogs are RVS -- Rabies Vector Species. They can be susceptible to, and carry, rabies. It is absolutely illegal to even rehabilitate them, let alone have them as a pet, without a special federal license and being subject to 'spot inspections'. I'm not sure if this is the case in PA but you should check it out. Again, as others have mentioned, PA is particularly awful because few, if any, veterinarians will treat wildlife there. (It is, however, apparently legal to shoot anything you like. :shakehead) I've never known anyone to keep a groundhog/woodchuck as a pet. As for the ones used once a year in photo ops for local officials, God only knows how those animals are obtained or kept. For a one day photo op, do you think they really care?

[squirreladdict]

They guy breeds them...He has pictures of the parents and everything...

Does everyone on here enjoy chasing new people off with rude and nasty comments and attitudes?

And do you think the baby squirrel (or whatever) would be better off with anyone off the street or me who actually put's an effort into researching the animal and does think that it'd be better off with me than someone who'd put it in a hamster cage and give it rabbit food or whatever. I understand the commitment and proper diet!! I'm getting offended by the way people think I should get a puppy and leave this matter go!

I have a 6' cage that would provide a good environment for it. I know you can't go release something that isn't from the wild. Yes it's still a wild animal and it's original parents may be from the wild but it itself is captive bred.

I would rather it with me who would raise it to the best that someone else who would treat it like a hamster.


That's my input

I came to TSB in hope of some support helping out one of these babies, instead I got attacked by people who think they're the only one's allowed to own a squirrel.

Please don't ban me because you don't want to here my explanation...

Thanks

[Ardilla]

squirreladdict, nobody here is attacking you or threatening to ban you. We're just concerned about 1) the state in which you live being notoriously non-squirrel-friendly, and 2) the keeping and bredding of groundhogs being unheard-of.

Please listen to what we are saying. Despite what this person is telling you about how he has been breeding groundhogs for some time, it is a horribly bad idea to do so.

If you were in a squirrel-friendly state, I would recommend a flyer. However, were you to get a flyer, I would be very, very concerned about it being taken from you and destroyed. it would also be next to impossible for you to find any medical care for one, regardless of the type of squirrel.

[squirreladdict]

again...

The guy give's you a receipt that says it's from a USDA breeder and not taken out of the wild.

The law for PA says that you need proof you got it in the state from a USDA licensed breeder.

He said he knows of a vet I could go to.

I've done my research...

ETA: I want a Flying Squirrel. Woodchucks was a consideration.

[Mads]

Please, I certainly did not mean to offend anyone. I raised 5 infants last year and released them. It was an extremely hard and a worrisome experience. I love that they visit me everyday, even now as I write this, I have about 10 nut eating squirrels on my deck. I personally feel that they are not good pets, as they deserve to live in the trees as was intended for them in nature. I know there are people that feel differently, and that's fine. But, I do have issues with the selling of animals , especially wild animals. I mean, certainly, I could come up with several photo's of my own of squirrels in my yard, and tell somebody I've raised these parents....and I breed squirrels...I mean, is somebody really going to say to a potential buyer that they take a ladder and grab babies from a drey..? Most likely not.... In PA where it's difficult to have and own wildlife, and find vet care, does it really make sense that somebody is able to raise and sell squirrels legally? I guess I just wouldn't trust that.

I would not ignore a baby squirrel if it needed help, but I certainly would never want one as a pet. Just the proper sunlight they need to stay healthy is a problem for inside squirrels. It's not an easy task, and I think often people don't really realize what they are truly getting themselves into when they take on wildlife.

I'm sorry you feel attacked, but I don't think it is the intention of anyone here on the board. I guess when You have a squirrel, or have had squirrels, you really do have insight in what it all really is about, and so, just really trying to give you the best information possible.

[lookmomchickens]

I looked at this site... it worries me that there are so many wild animals. I think this guy is just trying to make a profit by nest robbing from his "pets".

We aren't trying to ban you or attack you. The people on this board that do have (tree) squirrels as "pets" didn't steal them from the nest. We didn't buy/sell/trade or barter for them. They fell into our hands due to mother nature or they are considered non-releasable for health reasons. Please, don't take offense to the opinions of the TSB members. Squirrels, woodchucks, raccoons, etc are wild animals.

"Yes it's still a wild animal and it's original parents may be from the wild but it itself is captive bred."

This doesn't mean that the baby will be a sweet tender loving animal. It still has wild instincts whether it was born in a cage or in a tree.

Like I stated before, if you are considering a groundhog: would you be able to provide it with a LARGE mound of dirt for it to burrow in? Are you Okay with the fact that they hibernate? I don't think a groundhog would live a healthy life in a 6ft wire cage.

Since you are only 16, please take into consideration that NO ONE will be able to care for your "pet" because they are ONE person animals... they can be very nasty to other people and cause harm. They require a lot of time and dedication - they can live up to 15 years in captivity! - and at 16, you are probably still in school and college will soon be coming into play. Who will take care of it when you leave for school? Dorms don't allow animals so then what? We are just concerned with the welfare of the animal.

[squirreladdict]

Who the heck told you my age?

[Caglemedic]

I just had alady call me today asking if I knew how to get a flying squirrel. To be honest I was offended and rude, also because I just fell asleep. But I know that we do not mean to be, if you could just see some of the problems. I see people who saved a baby then think its a pet but they know little of thier needs and complications.

The main point is if you use the word "squirrel" and "pet" in the same sentence it gets us all uptight. We work so hard at saving and releasing, the thouht of captive is painful. Everyone here is truly kind and mean only the best. They can give you so much encouragement and information. I released 11 babies last year, here is nothing like the joy of it and I am forever addicted.:jump

[Mrs. Jack]

hi, are the guy you know's groundhogs friendly? Seems like every year I read about the official one taking a nip out of someone... Maybe he's just very grouchy being bothered every year... I always wanted a hedgehog.. I don't know why, they're so cute. No clue if they're pet animals though, I've never investigated...

[muffinsquirrel]

They guy breeds them...He has pictures of the parents and everything...

Does everyone on here enjoy chasing new people off with rude and nasty comments and attitudes? .......................
I have a 6' cage that would provide a good environment for it.

I came to TSB in hope of some support helping out one of these babies, instead I got attacked by people who think they're the only one's allowed to own a squirrel.

Please don't ban me because you don't want to here my explanation...

Thanks


I'm sorry if you felt unwelcome here. Please remember that we are passionate in our love and concern for squirrels, and therefore we tend to "tell it like it is", without regard for the feelings of the person asking the questions! And I seriously doubt that we will change - we get a lot of people that think it would be 'cool' to have a squirrel for a pet. The reason I got into rehabbing squirrels in the first place is that there were so many people that had gotten a flyer from a person near here that 'harvested' flyers from the wild, and then sold them to unsuspecting people as 'tame' squirrels. When the people couldn't handle them, I would get them and wild them up, and release them back into the wild.

I am a hobby breeder of flying squirrels, and am very picky about who gets one of my babies. If I feel, for whatever reason, that someone would not make a good owner, then I don't sell to them. A squirrel is a commitment of the next 15 or so years of your life. You will have to give up vacations and any hopes of a 'normal' life. Feeding them is expensive. In many states they are illegal, and you can not find a vet to treat them. If you DO find a vet, they may not have any experience at all in working with squirrels. Tree squirrels tend to bond with only one person (and they make the choice of who) and so you can't just go off and leave them with a pet sitter. If you are not their person of choice, they are just as likely to attact you as look at you. Squrrels have very powerful wepons in their claws and teeth.

They can't just be put in a cage and fed - they need out-of-cage time, and interaction with their human. They have to have a large amount of exercise. And you can't just get tired of them and throw them out in the yard and expect them to survive. The have to be taught how to be a wild squirrel again, and build a nest and get along with other squirrels.

I guess we figure that if you make it through our 'trial by fire', and still stick around, that you are willing to spend a couple of months getting ready to own a squirrel! If you stay here, you will learn an awful lot.

Good luck with your decision on whether or not to get a squirrel, or any exotic animal, as a pet. It's a decision that only you can make - just be sure to give it a lot of thought. You also might want to consider working with a licensed rehabber, to more or less 'get your feet wet. Baby season is coming fast, and rehabbers are going to need all the help they can get.

muffinsquirrel

[island rehabber]

I always wanted a hedgehog.. I don't know why, they're so cute. No clue if they're pet animals though, I've never investigated...

Actually MrsJ since you brought up the subject of hedgehogs -- (SO adorable!!!) -- they are a perfect example of wildlife that should not be kept as pets. They've become very popular as pets, unfortunately, in the UK and now the US also, and they are full of problems. They succumb to something called WHS (Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome), similar to Multiple Sclerosis in humans. It's incurable, and its cause is unknown. Experts suggest it comes from inbreeding for the purpose of domestication.

[squirreladdict]

Turns out I'm getting one in 3 days! I found a pet store that sells them and I'm getting one from them. They are approx. 10 weeks old now! I'm getting a male!

So let's get passed the fact I can't have one and worry about other things.

I have to find my old nesting box and go get some fresh food.

Thanks everyone...you've "helped" out a lot!

[Mrs. Jack]

Actually MrsJ since you brought up the subject of hedgehogs -- (SO adorable!!!) -- they are a perfect example of wildlife that should not be kept as pets. They've become very popular as pets, unfortunately, in the UK and now the US also, and they are full of problems. They succumb to something called WHS (Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome), similar to Multiple Sclerosis in humans. It's incurable, and its cause is unknown. Experts suggest it comes from inbreeding for the purpose of domestication.


ah poor little hedgehogs :( I'd hate to have one go wobbly. Thanks for the info. I'll be content with my plush one, Harold. :thumbsup

[island rehabber]

Turns out I'm getting one in 3 days! I found a pet store that sells them and I'm getting one from them. They are approx. 10 weeks old now! I'm getting a male!

So let's get passed the fact I can't have one and worry about other things.

I have to find my old nesting box and go get some fresh food.

Thanks everyone...you've "helped" out a lot!

Well, good luck to you with him. I'm sure you'll find everything we've said here to be true, and hopefully it will actually help you. The truth is such a pain, sometimes. :D :peace

[Ardilla]

Turns out I'm getting one in 3 days! I found a pet store that sells them and I'm getting one from them. They are approx. 10 weeks old now! I'm getting a male!

So let's get passed the fact I can't have one and worry about other things.

I have to find my old nesting box and go get some fresh food.

Thanks everyone...you've "helped" out a lot!

Is it a flyer?

If so, there is a lot of good info on the NFSA board.

Housing
http://www.nfsa.us/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=27

Bonding
http://www.nfsa.us/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=16

Raising & Feeding Pups
http://www.nfsa.us/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=8

Adult Diet (for ideas of foods to introduce)
http://www.nfsa.us/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=10

NFSA is a great resource. However they are not as active as TBS. Feel free to ask for any advice or info as needed. We'd also love to see your baby when you get it, so start a thread in one of the breed specific forums.

Good luck :)

[Mads]

Very Good advice Muffinsquirrel! I'm sure there are many rehabbers in need of a hand.

Squirreladdict, I had no idea you were 16 until it was just mentioned! Honey, you really should pay close attention to the advice here. I totally understand your wanting to have a small animal to love and care for. I remember feeling the same when I was young and just "animal crazy". It certainly isn't a bad thing, but it does tie you down in such a big way. You have plenty of time in the future for animals, but right now at this age, you should be selfish and only think about you and where your going in life.

The other thing I wanted to mention was you could just buy a few nesting squirrel boxes , which will encourage squirrels in your trees and just have them as yard buddies. They can continue their life as free roaming squirrels, but you can feed and enjoy their wonderful lively personalities daily. We have had the same squirrels during the winter here for years, you get to know them by certain "Battle wounds" they get in life. LIke I have 1 squirrel with 1/2 a tail, and one of my 5 squirrels is now blind in one eye, so he gets more nuts than anyone else...but it's fun feeding them and watching them live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6lTPQE5pRY&feature=channel_page
:grouphug :grouphug

[Mads]

oops...well so much for advice....

Good luck to you. Hope it works out for you.


:osnap :osnap :osnap :osnap :osnap :osnap :osnap :osnap :osnap :osnap

[Tomo]

Turns out I'm getting one in 3 days! I found a pet store that sells them and I'm getting one from them. They are approx. 10 weeks old now! I'm getting a male!

So let's get passed the fact I can't have one and worry about other things.

I have to find my old nesting box and go get some fresh food.

Thanks everyone...you've "helped" out a lot!


Hi there Squirreladdict! Glad to have you with us. I will put my two cents in here. If you're getting a gray, red, or fox squirrel, at the age of 10 weeks, they've already developed their own little personalities and may not bond with you, so please be prepared to have a wild animal on your hands that won't want anything to do with you. Now if it's a flyer, it may not be too late for this breed to bond with you, but I'm not certain. You must realize that squirrels (of any breed) usually get attached to only one human in their lifetime. That means you will have this little pet for anywhere from 10-20 years. And considering your youthfulness, that means that you will have to have this animal with you until it passes on. That means you'll have to take it to college, have it when you get married, have to rush home to feed it and take it to the doctor when it's sick, etc. This all costs money as well, so I imagine you are independently wealthy to take on such an expensive pet. But you must also already know that animals are not disposable. You cannot just dump the animal out when you don't have time or get tired of it. So, just be prepared that squirrel parenting may not be what you think...and if it isn't, just send me a private message and I'll see what I can do to help you out.

But for now, Congratulations on your upcoming baby and please keep in touch with us - we may seem strict, but we have a great deal of knowledge that can make your life with your new baby much, much easier! :)

[Ardilla]

It's possible to bond with a 10 week old flyer. However, it's much easier if the flyer has already spent bonding time with another human...at that age they can still transfer the bond quite easily (I'm talking specifically about flyers here). Penny was about 9 to 9 1/2 weeks old when I got her and transferred her bond very easily to me, but muffinsquirrel spends LOTS of bonding time with her baby flyers.

However, since this baby is coming from a pet store, it is very likely it has been handled rarely if at all, and it will be a good idea to be prepared for a slow, painful process of taming and bonding.

There's a thread around here that I'll go bump up and find the link to..

[Mookie's Mom]

squirreladdict, what do your parents think of all this? Do they know they will have to "babysit" your squirrel and probably get bit because they only have one owner? I really wish you would listen to all of us. We know all that is involved.

[Ardilla]

OK, I bumped up a thread in the General Flying Squirrel Forum, and here's the link:

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14935

Assuming it's a flyer you're getting.

In that thread, someone had bought a baby flyer, age 6-8 weeks, from a pet store, and it was very frightened and skittish because it had not been properly socialized to humans.

Are you getting a flyer or something else? It would help if I knew whether or not to keep looking for more information for you.

[squirreladdict]

I'm getting a Flyer...

My mom is with me on my decision. My 6 year old sugar glider, Mango (which WAS illegal) just died of cancer in Dec. My Uncle who lives in NJ took him to a vet several times for me.

He was amazing but we knew when we adopted 2 years back him that his little lump was possibly cancerous.

It was devastating but after reading that personality and bonding wise sugar gliders and SFS are similar I figured it would be a better if I got a flyer (Which is legal) than a glider (which isn't)

Hopefully this resolves whether or not I'll be a good pet parent.

[Ardilla]

Yes, a flyer is very similar to a glider. Just make sure you read up on specifics for flyer dietary needs, because they are not the same as gliders (although I am sure there is some overlap). Those NFSA links I gave you earlier are a great resource for flyer info--be sure to check out the whole site.

Also make sure that you get all the proper documentation from the pet store so that you do not have your flyer confiscated later.

I assume the cage you mentioned earlier was for your glider (so sorry you lost him)? That'll be great for a flyer.:thumbsup

[squirreladdict]

yes it's the same cage...do they also enjoy fleece things? I have about 12-20 fleece "toys"

[Ardilla]

Yes, fleece is perfect. They can't get their little toes and nails caught in it. Penny has some fleece pouches and "flying saucers" in addition to her wooden nest box, and I even use fleece at the bottom of her cage.

[kimpamwright]

My 2 cents, I think admin should delete this thread, and squirreladdict should start a new one in three days after getting his squirrel and start anew from there. This has got out of hand on both sides, let back up and start over guys. JUST MY 2 CENTS- KIM

[Mookie's Mom]

Sounds good! I was just upset about the woodchuck idea.

[Mads]

good idea. It's been quite confusing to me as well. In reading all the posts posted by squirreladdict, not just on this thread, I must say, I really don't understand, so need to stay quiet....

:dono :dono :dono

[island rehabber]

I can always delete the controversial ones if squirreladdict wishes me to, but I'm inclined to be the 'freedom of speech' type unless things really get ugly. As everyone has said, squirreladdict, we're here to help! And we are also ALL squirrel addicts in this place. :thumbsup

[Secret Squirrel]

Just so you know....groundhogs, woodchucks and prairie dogs are all ground dwellers. They have a need to burrow-constantly.
I have seen some of our rescues (prariedogs) at the local center first hand.
It's a sad existence for them in captivity. The need for them to burrow is what makes them undesirable to the human owners. (poor owner!!!)

The prarie dog will naturally burrow and most cages are too small for them to burrow safely. The "head banging" or packing dirt is how they burrow and a natural activity for them 24/7.
The heads can get pretty banged up in the process when doing this action. You cant stop them...and boy it can get noisy,disturbing and down right frustrating to the unsuspecting owner.
It takes a long time for the head to heal...because they keep wanting to pack.

How about a Guinea pig...they are cute and have quite a special personality. Easy to care for too. There are lots of adoption site available on the web. I don't suggest using a pet store because the animals are not socialized or handled properly.

Good luck...there are soooo many good choices for you.....just look around.:grouphug

[rippie-n-lilgirlsmom]

I think I know the person you are buying from and have yet to find out anything positive of his legality, just becareful. This is one big rotten state when it comes to wildlife, make sure you have a vet who will treat. Being legal I still have yet to find one who will.:dono

[Mookie's Mom]

Secret Squirrel, how so very sad to hear about the life of a captive woodchuck!!!!! Their instincts are so strong......they are wild animals.

[lizharrell1]

All I can say is.........WOW:shakehead

[Tomo]

I'm getting a Flyer...

My mom is with me on my decision. My 6 year old sugar glider, Mango (which WAS illegal) just died of cancer in Dec. My Uncle who lives in NJ took him to a vet several times for me.

He was amazing but we knew when we adopted 2 years back him that his little lump was possibly cancerous.

It was devastating but after reading that personality and bonding wise sugar gliders and SFS are similar I figured it would be a better if I got a flyer (Which is legal) than a glider (which isn't)

Hopefully this resolves whether or not I'll be a good pet parent.

Sorry to hear about your sweet little Mango, but you read us wrong. Not worried about you being a good parent, worried about squirrel being a good child.

[rygel1hardt]

If you watch every groundhog day the men that handle the groundhog wear heavy gloves!!! There is a very good reason for that, If he were to get bit he would no doubt lose several finger or worse. Their teeth grow throughout their lives just like a grey squirrels and they have a much bigger set of them. I know a rehabber that has done several and she would be the first to tell you they wouldnt make a good pet even if raised from infanc!!. Stacey



I hate to put a damper on things, too, but in NY state groundhogs are RVS -- Rabies Vector Species. They can be susceptible to, and carry, rabies. It is absolutely illegal to even rehabilitate them, let alone have them as a pet, without a special federal license and being subject to 'spot inspections'. I'm not sure if this is the case in PA but you should check it out. Again, as others have mentioned, PA is particularly awful because few, if any, veterinarians will treat wildlife there. (It is, however, apparently legal to shoot anything you like. :shakehead) I've never known anyone to keep a groundhog/woodchuck as a pet. As for the ones used once a year in photo ops for local officials, God only knows how those animals are obtained or kept. For a one day photo op, do you think they really care?

[Mookie's Mom]

If you watch every groundhog day the men that handle the groundhog wear heavy gloves!!! There is a very good reason for that, If he were to get bit he would no doubt lose several finger or worse. Their teeth grow throughout their lives just like a grey squirrels and they have a much bigger set of them. I know a rehabber that has done several and she would be the first to tell you they wouldnt make a good pet even if raised from infanc!!. Stacey


I have no doubt about that!!! I would love to know what that guy does with them after he has "reproduced" them?! Don't you only need one for groundhog day? Poor thing!

[psychotic feather]

prairie dog's, ground hogs, and wood chuck thingies are very popular pets in Spain which is something that I never really understood. They always looked so unhappy in the pet stores :shakehead

[island rehabber]

And I'm sure that was because they WERE unhappy. Stuck in a cage, with no ground to burrow into....nothing to do.....fed the cheapest garbage food to save overhead money for the store....really, a fate worse than death. Spain has never had much concern for animal welfare, except for their money-making horses.

[psychotic feather]

They don't even treat their horses well :shakehead