Keeping squirrels is a big commitment. Ideally, you should only keep a squirrel if the animal in question cannot survive in the wild. If local regulations allow you to keep squirrels, prepare a large cage as a place to live. Feed it a nutritionally balanced diet and keep your squirrel healthy and safe.
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Part 1 of 4: Doing Squirrel Ownership Research
Step 1. Make sure you know the local regulations regarding squirrel care
Contact the district office for pet ownership regulations in your area. Not all areas allow residents to keep squirrels. It's a good idea to gather as much information as possible before deciding to keep a squirrel to avoid fines and penalties for breaking the law.
Step 2. Find a veterinarian who can treat squirrels
Before investing your time, money, and affection in a potential pet, check to see if there is a veterinarian near you who can treat squirrels. Ask if your doctor has ever handled wild or exotic animals. Otherwise, contact an experienced wildlife rehabilitation organization for advice and guidance on caring for a squirrel should your pet need medical attention.
Step 3. Make sure you adopt an age-appropriate squirrel
Ideally, squirrels should be kept less than 9 weeks old. At that age, squirrels have felt alien to humans. If you intend to adopt a stray squirrel, make sure the animal is still young enough to accept you. To be sure, take your squirrel to the vet.
Step 4. Release the squirrel in the wild, if possible
If you find a baby squirrel that is alone and unharmed, try waiting a few hours to confirm the arrival of the mother. Monitor the baby squirrel from a safe distance so you can look after it while it waits. Bring a baby squirrel, if:
- Looks sick or injured.
- The parent dies or won't come back.
- Threatened by other pets.
Part 2 of 4: Feeding Squirrels
Step 1. Buy a rodent block (rodent block)
To make sure your squirrel gets complete nutrition, buy a rodent block at a pet store or online. This block contains most of the nutritional elements that squirrels need. If the squirrels don't seem interested in these blocks, try coating them with peanut butter or rubbing them on apples or grapes for added sweetness.
Give 3-4 rodent blocks per day, and replace the blocks daily to keep them fresh and keep germs at bay
Step 2. Meet the squirrel's daily water needs
Make sure the squirrel can always get clean and fresh water. Dehydration is especially dangerous for young and old squirrels, especially in the summer months. Change the water every day, or more often if the squirrel is very thirsty.
Step 3. Supplement the squirrel's diet
Although rodent blocks make up about 80% of a squirrel's diet, you can supplement it with a variety of foods. Choose natural food for squirrels, such as fruit and insects. Be sure to remove or replace any uneaten food from the squirrel's food plate so bacteria don't grow there.
- Include additional food to increase the squirrel's calcium intake so that the animal has strong bones and teeth.
- Find or buy crickets to give to the squirrels.
- Give the squirrel a variety of fruit, but don't overdo it. You can give berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries) and large pieces of fruit (such as bananas, apples, peaches, and mangoes).
Step 4. Limit your intake of whole grains, corn, and beans
While it may be tempting to give you lots of grains, corn, and nuts, all of these foods are unhealthy for squirrels and can lead to obesity. Think of the food as candy to the squirrel and don't overfeed it. Preferably, this snack is only given a little at night before going to bed because the squirrel has already fulfilled its healthy food quota for that day.
Excessive intake of grains, beans, and corn can also cause nutritional disorders such as metabolic bone disease
Part 3 of 4: Creating the Right Environment
Step 1. Purchase a suitable cage
Pet squirrels need a cage that is at least 60 cm wide, 60 cm long and 1 meter high. Squirrels are active animals and must always move. Provide a hiding place for the squirrel in its cage.
- Squirrels have strong teeth so use a metal cage.
- Make sure you buy a tight cage because squirrels are good at sneaking into small gaps.
Step 2. Provide a climbing area for the squirrel in the cage
To imitate their natural habitat, place objects that your squirrel can climb in the cage, such as logs or clean, sturdy branches. You can also use hanging toys or perches. Make sure everything is firmly seated inside sometime before putting your squirrel in.
Step 3. Give the squirrel an object to squish
Squirrels have strong teeth and a habit of chewing things, so it's a good idea to put some things in the cage for the squirrel to chew on. Try choosing chew bone (chew bone for dogs) because it helps the squirrel's habit of chewing and increases calcium intake for him. You can also use a sturdy chew toy, but clean it weekly to prevent germs from growing.
Step 4. Position the cage near the window
Thus, the squirrel gets a lot of sunlight. Make the contents of the squirrel cage as similar as possible to its natural habitat. Open windows whenever possible so the squirrel can hear and smell the environment outside.
Step 5. Give the squirrel a nest box
Squirrels love a safe and comfortable bed. Get a small cardboard box with a hole on one side big enough for the squirrel to pass through, and put it in the cage. You can also buy nest boxes for squirrels at pet stores or the internet.
Make sure the nest box you buy has a hole big enough for the squirrel to pass through
Step 6. Provide bedding in the squirrel nest
Make a cozy squirrel bed by putting soft materials in it. Don't use an old or terry towel, as squirrel nails can get caught there. It's a good idea to wear a t-shirt, an old fleece blanket, or a newspaper that has been torn into small pieces.
- Replace torn newspapers or old T-shirts every week.
- Remove or replace nest bedding if squirrels chew.
Part 4 of 4: Keeping Squirrels Safe and Healthy
Step 1. Keep other pets away from the squirrel
To keep your squirrel safe, keep it out of reach of dogs and cats. It is difficult to predict squirrel behavior and even the best trainers can still hurt squirrels in self-defense. Squirrels love to bite and also hurt other pets if they are cornered, threatened, or too excited to play.
Step 2. Socialize your squirrel
Treat your squirrel early so it gets used to a human touch. However, reduce physical contact with the squirrel when he is about 6 months old because his teeth and nails are already sharp. Happy squirrels can accidentally hurt your family members.
Step 3. Take the squirrel to the vet for regular checkups
Take your squirrel to an experienced doctor every year for regular checkups. The doctor will provide dietary guidelines, care, and maintenance that must be adhered to. You should also take your squirrel to the vet immediately if it shows signs of illness.
