Make squirrels good pets?

[schokolibelle]

Hey everyone,

my name is Lisa and i'm brand new to this message board. I used to have many pets and now i decided to help animals in need.

I will get a pine squirrel (american red squirrel) next month. He is 14 weeks old and blind. He won't be able to survive in wildlife. Plus pine squirrels don't live in europe :-)

Hes has no chance to live outdoors and with other squirrels. That's what the squirrel breeder told me. And he has problems to eat on his own. He needs help thats why i want to keep hm as pet.

I'm going to buy an aviary for him.

Do you think red squirrels make good pets?

[CritterMom]

Under normal circumstances, no, they don't, but if you can commit to spending a LOT of time with him and accept all of the things that squirrels do (scratch you up, sometimes bite, chew all the furniture, etc.) the two of you could have a wonderful relationship. He will never be a pet - instead, he will be a little being with whom you co-habitate. And he won't pay any rent, either!

[schokolibelle]

Do all squirrels bite? .. : /

I used to have a chipmunk (common pet in Germany). He became 10 years old. He bit me once and i bled. But it wasn't too bad though..but if a squirrel bites.. ouch..i don't want to know how it might hurt.. noo!

is there a chance to tame the squirrel..so i can take it out?

[schokolibelle]

I have a garden..where i want to put a cage as well. Do squirrels listen to their names?

I was amazed by the following videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/hyoutasennsei


And the this:

http://animal-rehab.livejournal.com/2246.html

[astra]

Do all squirrels bite? .. : /

I used to have a chipmunk (common pet in Germany). He became 10 years old. He bit me once and i bled. But it wasn't too bad though..but if a squirrel bites.. ouch..i don't want to know how it might hurt.. noo!

is there a chance to tame the squirrel..so i can take it out?
:Welcome
everything CrM said.
Squirrels bite, not because they want to bite you necessarily, but because they are wild prey animals and that's what they do - bite and scratch - when they get scared, or upset, or threatened, or just in a bad mood.
They scratch because they have nails, not because they intend to.

If you mean to tame a squirrel to take it out, like you would a dog and expect him to walk by your side - no, no squirrel will ever be tamed to that point. They are wild animals at heart.

However, they can get attached to you and you can have a wonderful friend by your side, and we don't really tame friends, do we?... we try to accept them as they are, right?... same with squirrels - get to know him, his likes and dislikes, his ways of communication and accept him for what he is - a wonderful amazing wild animal that came into your life.

Squirrels chew - so be prepared to see some bite marks on your furniture and other things.

But since he is blind and needs extra care, he might no be as rambunctious as a healthy squirrel would be... he might be more mellow. At the same time, since he is blind, he might be easier to get spooked and react accordingly (i.e., bite;-)).

Do squirrels make good pets? - in 99.99% of cases no.
Can they turn out to be a wonderful friend-animal with whom you can co-exist and have one of the most amazing experiences - yes.

Also, squirrels have very specific nutritional needs that must be met, or a squirrel can become very ill, often fatally, otherwise - tons of info in Nutrition Section here.

There is a lot of information on this board - please help yourself :)

[schokolibelle]

This video is kind of impressing...

They even shower together..oh my gosh..take look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd5Hvghe58k

[schokolibelle]

I read so many things about grey squirrels. But no one seems to have experiences with pine squirrels?

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1734/herevp.jpg

[astra]

we have people here who have experience with red (or pine) squirrels.
:) And they will repeat everything CritterMOm and I have already posted times 100, because reds, by nature, are even more rambunctious, faster, feistier etc. etc. etc
They make even more difficult "pets" than greys.
Yet, with proper care, with a lot of one-on-one time, lots of personal attention they can become one of the most adorable little friends.

Post your questions, read various threads - tons of information

[schokolibelle]

Thanks CritterMom and astra for your informative replies. I appreciate :-)

Now i'm scared that my squirrel will bite me and ruin all my furniture...

[JakesLittlePrincess]

We have had some furniture chewed, remotes, tv's & cable boxes destroyed, cell phones mangled. They like to chew. Their teeth grow a lot and they keep them down by chewing. It seems like they also test what things are by chewing them. They are quite expensive to feed as well. Definitely go to the nutrition section here as most beginners accidentally feed their squirrels the wrong things and they end up with MBD. We spend about $75.00 a month on one squirrel making sure she has the proper nutrition. Everything Crittermom and Astra said is absolutely true. If you don't want to look like freddy krueger mangle your arms you will need to wear long sleeve shirts. You have to adapt to them as much as they adapt to you. Read as much as you can here. Lots of luck! And :Welcome !!!

[astra]

he won't bite you to bite you and he won't be biting you all the time.
it's just that you need to be aware that he might bite you occasionally. He might bite you if he gets spooked, or hurt, or scared, or unsafe, or just in a bad mood...
Some squirrels never bite at all... some bite more than others.

All this information does not mean that he WILL bite you all the time, but so that you don't get scared when and if he does...

As for furniture and things - cover what you want to protect and hide things...

All this information is not intended to scare you, but to prepare you and help you be aware of everything.
Keeping any animal, be it a domestic dog or a wild squirrel, especially, one that is compromised, is a privilege, honour and responsibility and one of the most amazing experiences one might have.

[schokolibelle]

Thanks for all your replies. I already love it here..lol

do you have better experiences with female or male squirrels?

[schokolibelle]

I will keep you informed about my squirrel. I'll take photos, too!

So her squirrel is an exception, right?
http://animal-rehab.livejournal.com/2246.html

[rusty's mom]

try and run as many electric cords a you can throw pc pipe and any things with buttons like remotes put in old socks. and keep your potato chips on top of the fridge.:rotfl

[schokolibelle]

try and run as many electric cords a you can throw pc pipe and any things with buttons like remotes put in old socks. and keep your potato chips on top of the fridge.:rotfl


haha.. thats awesome!! you're fierce..literally

[stepnstone]

Under normal circumstances, no, they don't, but if you can commit to spending a LOT of time with him and accept all of the things that squirrels do (scratch you up, sometimes bite, chew all the furniture, etc.) the two of you could have a wonderful relationship.

He will never be a pet - instead, he will be a little being with whom you co-habitate. And he won't pay any rent, either!

:poke Nope, don't pay rent but cost you for their stay. :rotfl

[crazysquirrels]

You may have a shot with this one. Since he is blind it maybe easier for him to bond. He will also remember very fast that your voice means food. Hoping for the best. Since you are from Germany I may need you to go slap a few BMW engineers every now and again for me.

[Pierre]

Regarding biting, I think once he bonds with you, he won't bite you often, maybe never at all. My boy, who is almost 1 year old, has never bitten me or even come close. Every squirrel is their own little being though with their own little personality. Your blind squirrel might well be a total angel because he knows he is handicapped and once he bonds, might be a very trusting sweet baby. Of course, something could startle him and he might do something accidentally.

The more likely scenario could be that he rarely or never bites you, but might well bite your friends or family members. Squirrels usually bond to one person and are not too nice to others...

You're wonderful for wanting to love this special needs baby!! :grouphug

[CritterMom]

The board here (and his loving family) just lost one of the sweetest little babies anyone has ever seen, a little red (pine) squirrel named Jeffrey. In his two years on earth he never once bit anybody. My gray squirrel bites as part of his rough housing play, but never hard - he holds on with his mouth. I just wanted you to know that it is always a chance, and your best option to have a squirrel be your friend is to spend lots of time with him loving him and getting him used to you.

[BeeFernandez22]

In regards to the biting.. my two never bite me unless they are playing and wrestling with my hands. They do the same with each other. I've had to hold them down to remove things from their curious little mouths and have gotten a ton of grumpy feedback but never once a bite. That being said, you'll find a lot of people who have older squirrels will tell you most turn into one person animals. My mother has been bitten while visiting my home, as well as my boyfriend. Just something to keep in mind for the future.

[schokolibelle]

Wow. Thanks for all of your messages. I really do appreciate :-)

I need as much of information as i can absorb...like a sponge!!

Thank You astra, JakesLittlePrincess, rusty's mom, BeeFernandez22, CritterMom, Pierre, stepnstone

I am newbie when it comes to squirrel.. so i'm thankful for every honest advice

The squirrel is used to the squirrel breeder? He feeds him. But he will give him to me very soon. He lives farther away..Hopefully he get used to me..

'cause the owner raised him.. : //

[schokolibelle]

The board here (and his loving family) just lost one of the sweetest little babies anyone has ever seen, a little red (pine) squirrel named Jeffrey. In his two years on earth he never once bit anybody. My gray squirrel bites as part of his rough housing play, but never hard - he holds on with his mouth. I just wanted you to know that it is always a chance, and your best option to have a squirrel be your friend is to spend lots of time with him loving him and getting him used to you.

R.I.P Jeffrey. Why did he die? :-(

[schokolibelle]

In regards to the biting.. my two never bite me unless they are playing and wrestling with my hands. They do the same with each other. I've had to hold them down to remove things from their curious little mouths and have gotten a ton of grumpy feedback but never once a bite. That being said, you'll find a lot of people who have older squirrels will tell you most turn into one person animals. My mother has been bitten while visiting my home, as well as my boyfriend. Just something to keep in mind for the future.


WOW.. so your squirrel attacks your boyfriend and mother.. even if they dont touch her/him?

So my squirrel can't be surrounded by family members..

[rusty's mom]

I've also had squirrels that don't bite my hands hard or my face but beware they were also my toe bitters a lot of them just don't like feet.:D

[gardenfairyjen]

My girls are just over 4 mos. old at this point so i'm not speaking from a lot of experience, but they have never bitten any one...however they do quite often pee on our houseguests when given the chance.:rotfl I'm not sure if it's because they get excited that there are new humans in the house, or if they just think the new humans smell funny and they need to fix it...but it happens a lot! Whatever the case may be, congrats on becoming owned by a squirrel:) They are wonderful creatures.

[island rehabber]

My personal answer to the title of this thread is: NO.

I rehabilitate squirrels and release them, but I have had one squirrel as a pet and have "overwintered" several squirrels who could not be released right away. In the year that my Squirli lived with us, cage-free, he destroyed the following:
* A yamaha electronic keyboard
* A Casio electronic keyboard
* 4 remotes
* two cell phones
* the toggle pulls of a brand new winter jacket
* countless phone and answering machine wires
* the framing of the bedroom door
* the framing of the bathroom door
* a gorgeous, one-of-a kind slice of tourmaline & micah from a Gem Show that can never ever be replaced....
* and last but not least, the HARD DRIVE of my PC which then got me in trouble with the IRS because I had lost all records of my business from 2004, 1st & 2nd quarters.

Oh, yeah -- and he bit two neighbors and they reported it, and caused me all kinds of stupid grief. Still think we're kidding? :shakehead

[schokolibelle]

My personal answer to the title of this thread is: NO.

I rehabilitate squirrels and release them, but I have had one squirrel as a pet and have "overwintered" several squirrels who could not be released right away. In the year that my Squirli lived with us, cage-free, he destroyed the following:
* A yamaha electronic keyboard
* A Casio electronic keyboard
* 4 remotes
* two cell phones
* the toggle pulls of a brand new winter jacket
* countless phone and answering machine wires
* the framing of the bedroom door
* the framing of the bathroom door
* a gorgeous, one-of-a kind slice of tourmaline & micah from a Gem Show that can never ever be replaced....
* and last but not least, the HARD DRIVE of my PC which then got me in trouble with the IRS because I had lost all records of my business from 2004, 1st & 2nd quarters.

Oh, yeah -- and he bit two neighbors and they reported it, and caused me all kinds of stupid grief. Still think we're kidding? :shakehead


WOW.. you're squirrel is super expensive... he damaged so many things..

i think i won't let my squirrel to live in my appartment.. he ha to live in a giant cage in my garden! :-) there is not too much to damage..

i think it would break my heart if my squirrel damages my keyboard.. i love music so much ;D i can't live without music..haha

@ island rehabber: But you help squirrels..who live outside..in the nature!

my squirrel is bred.. his generations have been held in captive

they get their food....


so it might be a little different..to get a bred one..i don't know

they still have their wild instincts though

[island rehabber]

i think it would break my heart if my squirrel damages my keyboard.. i love music so much ;D i can't live without music..haha

@ island rehabber: But you help squirrels..who live outside..in the nature!

my squirrel is bred.. his generations have been held in captive

they get their food....


so it might be a little different..to get a bred one..i don't know

they still have their wild instincts though

Very expensive! :rotfl
Yes, my BF and I both love music but he is the real keyboard artist in the house...although he loved Squirli, he was very VERY upset about those instruments. Me, I just sing so the squirrel could not damage that. :rotfl
I've never dealt with captive-bred squirrels before, so I can't really answer your question. I don't personally believe a few generations can make a wild animal domestic, though. They have tried that with wolves and dingo dogs, and people find out the hard way that they are still very, very much wild. :peace

[Rhapsody]

My Answer...
N.O.P.E .... not a regular squirrel

[CritterMom]

May I request that everyone go back to post number one and re-read it before responding? This is a little BLIND squirrel that is NR and also may be neuro as it has problems eating as well. A lot of folks on here have squirrels in similar situations - usually for the same reason - it will be put down if they don't. I think maybe some help and encouragement would be really appreciated, and this is certainly the place to get that kind of help, since lots of people have actual first hand experience with it.:thumbsup

[Rhapsody]

He is 14 weeks old and blind.
He won't be able to survive in wildlife.
Pine squirrels don't live in europe
He has problems to eat on his own.


My Answer...
Y.E.P. and.... (sorry)

[Rhapsody]

I have a 3 month old that has become our NEW FAMILY PET due to being a NR as he has Malocclusion, a Cleft Palate and Possible Eye Problem in the Right EYE.... Marven would NEVER SURVIVE in the WILD just like your LITTLE GUY. :Love_Icon

Thank YOU for wanting t DEDICATE your TIME and HEART to a SQUIRREL!! :grouphug

[astra]

Hi schokolibelle,:wave123

I didn't get to look through all the posts, but I just would like to make sure that you understand that there is a difference between healthy wild squirrels that want and should be in the trees and handicapped guys just like yours who will not survive in the trees and need our care and protection.

:) Both can bite, BUT again: some squirrels NEVER BITE, others bite only strangers but not their human, yet others tend to be feistier, they are different - just like people.
BUT OVERALL NON-RELEASABLE SQUIRRELS WITH DISABILITIES TEND TO HAVE MUCH MORE MELLOW DISPOSITION AND ARE MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE.

What is absolutely important for the squirrels with disabilities who will be kept as pets is a lot of contact and interaction with their human (that is you).
Since he cannot survive on his own, you are his only hope and support.
He is completely dependent upon you for everything: food, shelter, medical care, security, safety, comfort etc etc etc.
Therefore, he needs to develop trust in you, as complete as it can get for a wild animal, so that if he needs medical care, he will allow you to pick him up, to handle him, to give him medication etc etc etc.
Moreover, squirrels are very sensitive and highly intelligent and need constant stimulation and interaction. And since you are the only other creature he can interact and bond with, it's up to you to provide that.
They can get bored, lonely and depressed without it.

So, I am not sure that keeping him in a cage all the time is a good idea... :thinking especially, since he is blind and has difficulty eating...
Most NR (non-releasable) squirrels are kept indoors. All of them have large cages, some of them spend more time outside of it than others (depending on their condition and their owners' circumstances), but he will need time outside of the cage. He needs to play.
Of course, that doesn't mean you have to give him the run of your entire apartment/house, but at least one room - squirrel-proof (i.e, all dangerous spots etc are taken care of, no electrical cords for him to chew and get electrocuted accidentally, no holes to fall into or get stuck and so on) - he needs to be able to run free for at least a couple of hours a day.

I am sure those who have NRs will be able to share their own experiences.
It's just for a blind squirrel who has difficulty eating staying all by himself in an outside cage all the time might not be the best solution.

Of course, it's understandable that you have to work around your capabilities and what you have available, but if there is a way to have him indoors that might be better.:)

[BeeFernandez22]

WOW.. so your squirrel attacks your boyfriend and mother.. even if they dont touch her/him?

So my squirrel can't be surrounded by family members..

No, not always. He just much prefers me, since I am his primary caretaker.

[Kristal]

I've never dealt with captive-bred squirrels before, so I can't really answer your question. I don't personally believe a few generations can make a wild animal domestic, though. They have tried that with wolves and dingo dogs, and people find out the hard way that they are still very, very much wild. :peace


You know, I read about this interesting experiment in Russia where they selectively bred a "domestic" version of blue foxes in just a few generations. I am pretty sure it was less than 10. They did it only by picking the foxes that would approach humans more often and used no other criteria to select them. It was to explore how wolves could have become dogs. The current theory is that the wolves chose us, at first, because early human hunter-gatherers threw away yummy bones. And then we chose them when it was discovered that they are super useful as an early warning system, etc.

Anyway, that was interesting. You can breed a "domestic" - meaning gentle, friendly and trainable - animal out of a wild species pretty quickly and easily.

But I think the problem with breeders is that they are not so concerned about selecting out bad traits or even about inbreeding. I remember one TSB member who had a HORRIBLE and very bitey siberian chipmunk. She returned her to the breeder who then used her as a mom for his next generation of pets :shakehead So breeders are probably mostly irresponsible about it that way since their primary goal is the cash$$ and not necessarily to foster generations of healthy and well adjusted "exotic pets".

As to the bites, they are kind of inevitable and absolutely not a big deal. Squirrels have very clean mouths, and they almost never bite with their full strength. I have had quite a few cranky nips and a very few genuine bites. They heal quickly and cleanly. It's no worse than stubbing a toe.

[island rehabber]

Apologies from me for not getting that the squirrel in question is blind. It is entirely possible that many of the usual 'problems' won't be an issue here. On the other hand, it will be a challenge to keep a blind squirrel healthy, well-exercised and out of danger, and I think you are an exceptionally wonderful person, schokolibelle, for wanting to give him a good life! :bowdown :)

[Pierre]

Hi schokolibelle,:wave123

I didn't get to look through all the posts, but I just would like to make sure that you understand that there is a difference between healthy wild squirrels that want and should be in the trees and handicapped guys just like yours who will not survive in the trees and need our care and protection.

:) Both can bite, BUT again: some squirrels NEVER BITE, others bite only strangers but not their human, yet others tend to be feistier, they are different - just like people.
BUT OVERALL NON-RELEASABLE SQUIRRELS WITH DISABILITIES TEND TO HAVE MUCH MORE MELLOW DISPOSITION AND ARE MUCH MORE MANAGEABLE.

What is absolutely important for the squirrels with disabilities who will be kept as pets is a lot of contact and interaction with their human (that is you).
Since he cannot survive on his own, you are his only hope and support.
He is completely dependent upon you for everything: food, shelter, medical care, security, safety, comfort etc etc etc.
Therefore, he needs to develop trust in you, as complete as it can get for a wild animal, so that if he needs medical care, he will allow you to pick him up, to handle him, to give him medication etc etc etc.
Moreover, squirrels are very sensitive and highly intelligent and need constant stimulation and interaction. And since you are the only other creature he can interact and bond with, it's up to you to provide that.
They can get bored, lonely and depressed without it.

So, I am not sure that keeping him in a cage all the time is a good idea... :thinking especially, since he is blind and has difficulty eating...
Most NR (non-releasable) squirrels are kept indoors. All of them have large cages, some of them spend more time outside of it than others (depending on their condition and their owners' circumstances), but he will need time outside of the cage. He needs to play.
Of course, that doesn't mean you have to give him the run of your entire apartment/house, but at least one room - squirrel-proof (i.e, all dangerous spots etc are taken care of, no electrical cords for him to chew and get electrocuted accidentally, no holes to fall into or get stuck and so on) - he needs to be able to run free for at least a couple of hours a day.

I am sure those who have NRs will be able to share their own experiences.
It's just for a blind squirrel who has difficulty eating staying all by himself in an outside cage all the time might not be the best solution.

Of course, it's understandable that you have to work around your capabilities and what you have available, but if there is a way to have him indoors that might be better.:)

:goodpost