has anyone ever heard of anyone having or trying to have a squirrel as a pet?

Question

not that I would want one im just curious if anyone has or why nobody does and why.

Answer 1

I HAD A SQUIRREL AS A PET FOR A TIME. IT HAD FALLEN 40FT FROM IT'S NEST BEFORE IT'S EYE'S WERE EVEN OPENED. MY SON BROUGHT IT IN AND WANTED TO KEEP IT. IT HAD A LITTLE BLOOD ON IT'S NOSE AND I THOUGHT IT WAS PROBABLY GOING TO DIE. I HAD ALWAYS FED IT'S MOM PEANUTS SO I MADE A BATCH OF FORMULA FOR THE BABY AND INCLUDED SOME PEANUT BUTTER AS WELL HOPING IT WOULD REMIND HIM OF MOM. BELIEVE IT OR NOT HE SURVIVED. HIS MOM WOULD COME UP ON OUR PORCH TO CHECK ON HIM TOO. WE TAUGHT HIM TO FORAGE OR FOOD BY HIDING NUTS IN HIS CAGE. HE HAD A SHOE BOX THAT HE COULD CLIMB INTO AND HE'S PULL A PIECE OF TOWEL OVER HIM LIKE A BLANKET. ABSOLUTELY PRECIOUS!!! WHEN HE WAS ABOUT TWO MONTHS WE STARTED TO LET HIM OUT TO CLIMB TREE'S HE WOULD HAVE HIS FUN THEN RETURN TO HIS CAGE. ONE DAY IT STARTED RAINING WHILE HE WAS OUT, HE CLIMBED TO HIS OLD NEST AND STARTED TO REPAIR IT. HE MOVED BACK THERE THAT DAY. AFTER THAT HE WOULD COME DOWN FROM THE TREE TO SEE US BUT NEVER LET US TOUCH HIM AGAIN. THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO THIS STORY, WHICH I COULD TELL IT ALL.

Answer 2

Squirrels are very high strung and rarely calm down in captivity. Thus they make bad pets because (1) they are highly stressed and will be in constant poor health and (2) they possess formidable weapons in the form of teeth and claws which can cause really nasty lacerations to the unwary handler.

It is sometimes possible (as with any animal) to raise an individual from a very young age and domesticate it. However there is the issue of obtaining it (i.e. taking it from the nest), which can be daunting enough, but also the prognosis is not good once you've done this. The animal may calm down and become a decent pet, but it may not. And if it doesn't, it will be between a rock and a hard place, because it will be frightened and nervous in captivity, but will lack the survival skills necessary to make it in the wild, having been hand-fed all its life.

The only way they could be made to be reliable pets is if domesticated individuals could be bred to produce a line of captive bred, and thus, captive raised individuals, as is the case with hamsters, mice, rats, guinea pigs, ferrets, and all other small furry woodland critters you see in pet stores.

A likely reason that it hasn't been done with squirrels is because there are more desireable rodents out there that can't inflict the kinds of physical damage to their owners that squirrels are capable of. With their talon-like claws, a squirrel could gash you even without meaning to, let alone what it could do if it got pissed off at you.

Answer 3

I knew 2 people with pet squirrel's. One had a flying squirrel that I believe was rescued and then she took him in. and the other was my cousin who by accident ran over a squirrel's tail, so he nursed it back to health and the squirrel stayed around for years and eventually moved on. But i used to feed him all the time.

Answer 4

I have known some people that tried. The problem is squirrels are totally wild and will bite. They also carry diseases so there is an additional risk of being bitten by a squirrel. Lastly, it's illegal in most states.

Answer 5

LOL!!!!! No it gained't artwork. Kittens ought to haven't any result on squirrels. we've a ton in our decrease back backyard and the cats do not chase after them. The squirrels come interior 10' of them and are not afraid. Your pal's mom probably only needs kittens and is utilising the squirrels as an excuse.

Answer 6

Yes my sister in law had a squirrel as a pet

Answer 7

you know this is a funny question. i have a story. this was years ago. my uncle was walking in the woods and a little baby squirrel fell out of a tree so my uncle picked him up and tried to find a nest or something to put him back. anyways he brought him home with him and they put him in a hamster cage and fed him till he got a little bigger. well then they put him outside in a tree but he wouldn't leave. the kids named him rocky and he would come if you called his name. he actually became the family pet. TRUE STORY. we were all sad when that stupid f'ing cat from next door got ahold of him and killed him.

Answer 8

Yes..I don't recommend it. We used to rescue them at the parks department and they're really just not suited to captivity. They definitely don't thrive. I highly recommend against a wild caught one as it's simply cruel and of course you can't find them tame because, well, they just don't make good pets. Same with racoons...they're funny but extremely destructive. If you're looking for a fun "exotic" pet, try a ferret..once you get past the smell (yes, they do still smell after descenting) they make fun pets. Good luck and happy holidays!

Answer 9

I have two flying squirrels rescued as newborns from two separate tree removal accidents (my neighbor is an arborist). To my surprise, they know and respond to and seek out their people, and love to run all over us when they are let out of their cage.

I hear that grey squirrels are different in that regard.

Answer 10

The were common household (mostly the children's) pets during the 19th century, maybe the 20th as well. I guess like rats they can be trained to obey using food?