Animal Stories - People Talking About Pet Squirrels



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Latest Animal Stories on Pet Squirrels (202)

Becky - 2013-04-02
About a month ago my husband comes with a shoebox this little 'thing' in the corner; I thought he was pulling a prank & had a mouse, but he said he found a baby squirrel in his mom's yard across the street. He said look on the internet & find out what to do with it. So I did & found out she was approximately 4-5 weeks old, eyes still closed. I started feeding her puppy milk from a can with a plastic syringe, & she has been doing great. Now she's probably 8 weeks old & I've just fallen in love with her. You bond when you're feeding them like a baby & know that they depend on you so much. She is sweet & has a great appetite! I still feed her some formula, sometimes with whipping cream, apple sauce, or mashed banana. She also eats on her own avocado, strawberry, banana, mango, carrot, & she'll nibble on pecans & cheerios. She doesn't really care much for the rodent block, but nibbles on it a little, but the same piece has been in there for days (I clean her dish everyday, & it doesn't look touched so I put it back in there.) She loves chewing on the sticks in her pen & I saw her nibbling on her calcium stone so was happy about that. She'll try nibbling on ME & I try to discourage her by given her a special stick I bought for them to chew on. She loves to go to sleep in my pocket of my hoodie, so now that's our thing; after I feed her I put a hoodie on with pockets & walk around the house & do stuff for HOURS and she's snoozing away! I love it! We have 2 small dogs & 2 cats inside & I've tried to introduce her to them & the one dog acts like she wants to eat her, & she other is very protective (she would stare when I'd feed her as a baby & sometimes lick the squirrel.) She other dog did more than 'try to lick', she snapped at her! & I said no way, you're staying away from her!! The one cat doesn't really pay attention to her & the other one watches with interest (not sure what's she thinking though!)Rocky (the squirrel) is running around a lot more & will scamper around on the couch & I have to watch her closely so the other animals don't get any ideas. Tillie, the one cat who shows interest, swatted toward her a couple times, I think playing, but still being careful. And the protective dog, Precious, doesn't know what to think with her bouncing around; it startles her & I have to watch to make sure she doesn't step on Rocky trying to get away from her. I love Rocky & so glad she's part of our lives! She's soft, fuzzy, and just a blessing to me, because I've never raised a small animal like that so it feels good that I've done well so far and she's alive & healthy. I like finding out about other people who raise squirrels & learning more about what to do to keep her happy! Sorry so long, just had a lot to say about my girl! :)

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Anonymous - 2013-04-18
I have 2... brother and sister. They are about 2-3 months old and very friendly! They have free run of a bedroom with a HUGE cage that has a nesting box in it, I just keep the cage door open and they come in and out as they want. My question is this... what are you doing about 'potty arraingments'?

ike - 2013-05-14
i found a week old baby squirrel and hand fed him for about 8 weeks he was eating nuts and doing great i left the other day to help someone out to come home to find him dead his name was rocky and he was the best pet id ever had i always want him to be remembered love you rocky and we miss you sweetheart our house just is not a home anymore with out you love dad

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Clarice Brough - 2013-05-14
I am so sorry. What a wonderful experience raising him, but such a loss. My deepest condolences.

Anonymous - 2013-04-20
Need help!! My 9 week old flyer is in the house and I can't Find him.:( how do I catch him when I can't find him?

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Milla - 2013-05-04
You should put something out what he likes because I think he can easily sniff it out. Squirrels are good at smeling things out. Just try(; From milla to Anonymous

Anonymous - 2013-04-30
We rescued a red squirrel that a friend found on the ground. I took it due to the feeding schedule required. He is doing great and all the wounds are healing nicley. We even had to lance his one toe, but doing great. The animal rescue said they would put him down do to injuries. So we tried our best and it paid off. I am concerned about the strong smell of pee and can't stand animals that will go in the house, so I'm wondering how they can run and play in house without peeing everywhere.

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Clarice Brough - 2013-05-01
It's said that potty training squirrels is about the same as for a cat or dog. But they are just not quite as excellent at it, because they do have occasional accidents.

Velcro - 2013-04-29
Hi again, I just posted below, a question concerning my pet squirrel, Velcro. I just wanted to let you know that you could go to You Tube and see that I have 3 videos out there of Velcro, and the most recent being a couple of weeks ago with his first day that he went outside to play. Thank you. Go to YouTube, then put: channel/UCEJq9ZC718ca3FP720pm7Qw or just look up Videos named Velcro's first day outside, or Velcro the squirrel, so playful and another Velcro, our pet squirrel, so sweet! -s bradley

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Clarice Brough - 2013-04-30
Hey Velcro, if you sign in with facebook, you can post your YouTube video here too... and that would be awesome!

Velcro - 2013-04-29
Hi, I've been raising Velcro since he was 4 1/2 weeks old. Eyes were not even open yet. He is so sweet. He loves me and my son, and has changed toward others. He doesn't like anyone else around like he used to, but my son and I, he loves. He's never bitten anyone tho. He just makes the noises at others letting them know to leave him alone. Ha! He was 4 1/2 months old during the winter and knew I couldn't release him then. He is now 10 months old, and has actually been outside to play all day 4 times now. And comes back to me. I then put him back in his cage. He seems to be wanting out more, but really worried about how to go about it. He don't know how to build his own nest, etc. Anyone have any suggestions on what to do if I'd let him stay out now. I actually built him a nest house, and was thinking of nailing it up in the tree, but just hoping he uses it when it's there. Just don't want to do wrong with him. Just seems so happy when he's out running tho, and he seems sad now when caged. Please, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

kim rogers-moore - 2013-04-18
Potty training advice for a squirrel would be greatly appreciated.

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Clarice Brough - 2013-04-23
It's said that potty training squirrels is about the same as for a cat or dog. But they are just not quite as excellent at it, because they do have occasional accidents.

Anonymous - 2013-04-18
For anyone that lets their squirrel have free run of the house....here is my question.....Does anyone have any knowledge on 'potty training'?

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Clarice Brough - 2013-04-23
From what I've read, they can be potty trained with methods similar to how you would train a cat or dog. Provide a box with 3-4' high sides and using Carefresh litter is said to work well. Then it's all about showing them the appropriate place to go and re-affireming them with praise and treats. Once trained it is suggested there is about a 90% success in them using the box for pee, and about an 80 - 90% success rate with poo. Apparently poo sometimes just happens!

Victoria - 2013-04-14
Hello, I found a baby flying squirrel at my fiance's parent's house yesterday. My fiance's mother informed me that the dog and cats had messed with it and he even got bitten on the leg. My fiance's dad also accidentally sucked him into the vacuum cleaner. The poor little guy was really scared and so he bit me which is understandable. I got a little fish aquarium to keep him in for the time being and I purchased food for a hamster which has nuts, corn, and dried fruits in it. I am not really sure what he needs to drink. He is about six weeks old. I have a very big cage that my old monkey lived in for him to live in. I don't want him to die. He has been through a lot already so I want to make sure that I am doing things correctly. Any tips??

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Clarice Brough - 2013-04-14
I would be concerned about broken bones or internal injuries, but it sounds like he may be okay as you didn't say if he's having any trouble getting around or acting funny. The comments from re-habbers and other folks above have some great info on what they drink and other baby foods! Good luck

James Peter - 2011-11-29
My squirrel Zosi 'Zosimos for survivor' is my best friend and beloved companion. He was rescued on freezing Octorber night when I heard a presistent crying outside my window. He was no bigger than my thumb with eyes still closed. He couldnt move on his own and was 20 feet from the tree canopy and 2 feet from his mothers remains '1 paw and a tail' It's clear that she had been fleeing with Zosi in her mouth when she was caught. 'I think a red-tailed hawk was responsible' because she fled the tree. Zosi is 3 years old now and our bond is stronger than titanium. He sleeps with me every night and we spend nearly 24/7 together. We go on walks and bike rides 'where he rides on top of my head' already he's warmed the hearts of hundreds of people and children that he meets while were out and about. Even for a raised squirrel, he's unusually affectionate and loyal. I have had dozens of previous squirrel owners that have expressed amazement in Zosi and often ask me what my secret is. 'You'd have to ask Zosi that one.' :) If you want to see Zosi, you can see some videos I posted on youtube 'search Zosi squirrel.' I wanted to share this for any squirrel lovers out there and anyone that has rescued one and is wondering what it's like. I'll be more than happy to answer any questions or give advice on these matters. :)

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Charlie Roche - 2011-11-30
That is awesome. I didn't know they could be that tame. My grandma had one and you could pet and hold it. Hung out in the house and then would go out the window but not ride on my head on a bicycle. Wish I had known. Thank you.
sarah - 2011-12-11
Did Zosi ever play too roughly? My squirrel has my arms all scratched up fromo rough play. He's only four months old. I'm hoping maybe he'll outgrow it? Thank you!
James Peter - 2011-12-16
As for the scratching, you'll probably just have to get used to that one :) if i wear a thin shirt, it hurts like a sob when he climbs up my back and such, don't ever get caught without a shirt on, lol that SUCKS. the scratch marks I get from zosi are always minor and usually on the back of my neck.
James Peter - 2011-12-16
Nope, He plays very energetically but NEVER over does it, he's very conscious about how hard he bites HOWEVER he jumped on my face once while I was laying down watching a movie and scratched my eye and put a long scratch on my forehead because of my reaction. He can annoying though when he wants attention because he'll relentlessly bite and tug gently but it can hurt when he grabs the underside of my forarm or something. He'll also bite at my feet while I'm walking thru the house if he's in a real playful mood, this can be a little annoying too and also makes me a bit worried about stepping on him.

I've heard of MANY of people with squirrels that had serious problems with aggression toward other people, even others that shared the same household. I've come to believe that this behavior is more common among females, especially when they consider their caretaker to be their nest. One women I met, her squirrel had nested in her cleavage and would attack anyone who got near her.
Kathy Lee - 2012-02-22
Rescued a baby eastern gray squirrel when he was about a month old. Bottle fed him until he could eat on his own. He's about 7 months old and seems very healthy and happy. He is very tame and rides around on our shoulders. Curious about one behavior of his, moving his bed around his cage. He has a HUGE cage and has a bed in his hammock, his house and in each corner. We tore up t-shirts and he moves the strips around to a different location weekly. We have noticed that he stashes his pecans in his beds. Any reason he moves around?
Charlie Roche - 2012-03-02
In the wild, squirrels move around. They move because of weather changes, to keep their young safe, to keep themselves safe. They can change nests quite frequently. I think, even though, your little guy is safe in your home and probably not major storms and rain inside the house, they sense a storm coming or seasons changing. Just their nature to move and remain safe from predators and sheltered. Because they are indoors, some of this innate behavior would go away but not all of it.
James Peter - 2012-03-02
I don't know why he moves around, but I can tell you that my squirrel does the same thing. I've tried to 'designate' his nesting location, but that never worked. He chooses where it will be. So far he's changed nests 3 times averaging every year
Nickie - 2012-04-30
I rescued a gray squirrel, we named her Figit. There is not many people around where I live that know alot about keeping her as a pet. How much exercise does she need a day? She is about 12 weeks old now, we have had her since she was 5 weeks old. She loves to climb me and my husband, but if you don't have long sleeves on it tends to hurt!! She eats apples, lettuce, broccoli,carrots,mice food mix and nuts. I give her branchs to chew on and dirt to play in. I let her out of her cage twice a day for about an hour each time, she has branches to climb on and she loves to look out the windows. Is all this okay?
jason - 2012-05-06
yes are u allowed to keep a squirrel in pa, if so how do I go about it. I DONT WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE OR ANY THING. I was thinking on getting one for a pet if it wasn't to much trouble
JENNIFER - 2012-12-06
I want to say that I love reading all the stories of pets rescued. In august I rescued a little eastern gray Peanut NUTNUT for short haha..... and although I have 2 dogs and a cat this little guy has lightened up my life and letting him go into the wild would be insane considering he has a brother boxer named Whiskey and a a sister named Pixe bluetick/choc lab and a tabby cat named Matilda. He would not manage. I don't think but his diet consist of 4 hickory nuts 2 walnuts and 2 big acorns cracked and ready to eat every morning noon and night. He also likes mushrooms (alot) and pumpkin seeds alot and not a big fan of cooked meals at all. I however am just curious about his own personal set of nuts they seemed to have dropped all of the sudden want to make sure nothing is wrong:)
Charlie Roche - 2012-12-06
Yep, it is normal. He is a boy and his testicles dropped.
Diana - 2012-12-10
My pet grey squirrel is iching himself raw. He has iched himself so bad he makes himself bleed. He's losing hair where he is inching himslf! He's not losing anywight yet. That's a good thing! Please help me find a way to help him!!! I am so worried about him!:(
Becky - 2013-04-02
@James Peter--Zosi sounds Awesome!! That is so neat that y'all have such a good bond! I have a squirrel Rocky (I thought it was a boy but is really a girl, but I still call her Rocky)& I've raised her from a plastic syringe & I'd hold her & she'd snuggle in the crook of my arm. Now I'm weaning her, she loves fruit & our thing is, after she eats, I'll have a hoodie on & I'll put her in my pocket & she'll stay there sleeping for hours! :) I'll even vacuum, walk around, & she's cool. I've thought about going out in public with her in my pocket, but not sure what people would think:/ She likes to climb in my shirt too and I try to discourage that but it's cute too (except for the scratching). Oh, & she'll bite on the tips of my finger a little (I think she thinks I'm the plastic syringe that has the formula) & I'll try to discourage that habit by giving her this fruit/nut flavored stick made for them to chew on. I'm trying to get her litter trained because I read it's possible. I put a small box that jewelry came in in her pen to test out until I get a proper box, & she did poop & pee in it a few times, but also poops in her food bowl after she finishes eating. Poop's tiny so I just clean it up, but want to try to get her trained. I love my Rocky! She has really lit up my world:D

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