michelle and jason - 2006-10-21 About 3 weeks ago my husband was cutting down a tree and out fell four baby eastern gray squirrels. the mother got killed in the tree fall. he brought them home and i took three to the spca and kept a little girl for myself. she is 8 weeks old and loves me and my husband. is very playful. but is NOT a pet. she will be released spring 2007.
Anonymous - 2006-10-20 I believe that squirrels, when cared for correctly, make very sweet, curious pets. I have rehabilitated five orphaned squirrels. My first set was a litter of four babies, only two weeks old. I still have two of them who are tame and friendly. I released the other two because they did not enjoy the my company very much, and seemed to like it better outside. I am glad I did this and think that if an animal wishes to be free, it should be set free. My other two returned to me when they were given the option to leave (even after a dog chased one up a tree!) The two I still have now are the best little guys. They have only bonded with me, since I raised them. They are not very fond of anyone else and do not appreciate being held by other people. Neither of them have bitten me in the three years that I have had them. I have had both males and females and the females are definitely more loving and friendly. I love the little critters to death! I handle mine every night to keep them friendly. They always love a little scratch under the neck and stretch their arm back really far. Its very cute to watch.
Tigersoul - 2006-09-08 Yes, Squirrels CAN be pets. Please note: I would never suggest that a person TAKE one from the wild, but if fate drops one in your path, and you and the squirrel are willing to walk a ways together, then enjoy it. Not everyone who finds a squirrel will be able to locate a wildlife rescue organization before the little critter dies from cold and lack of nutrition.
Peanut is a 7 week old Western Gray that was brought into our home by one of our cats late at night. We can only guess that he was shoved out of the nest by a sibling, found by the cat, brought into the home, found alive by my middle kid, and then nursed back to health by me.
I guess I am lucky to have a degree in Veterninary Assisting, because we were provided with a rather extensive education on emergent situations. I am NOT a vet, and there is only so much I can do. So, I turned to the internet, and found everything I needed to know within a very short time.
He has become quite an affectionate little critter, and is a delight to come home to. We are all very fond of him, and I will be acquiring a license to keep him.
There is a reason that these creatures come to us, and so long as we are dedicated in their care and happiness, then enjoy your little bit of wildlife, and take many pictures ~*~
Anonymous - 2006-08-06 Squirrels are not pets. They are wild animals, and having raised two orphans I can attest to this. Everywhere in the US that I know of, they are illegal to keep and you need a permit from USF&W to get one. Just a note for people who think getting a squirrel would be "cute."
adeline - 2006-05-27 i have a pet baby grey squirrel, he is about 1 month and a half old, i have bottle-fed him since he was a few weeks old, now he follows me everywhwere and comes when i snap my fingers. whenever he sees me, he comes up to the cage door and begs to play and maybe have a treat, as soon as i open the door, he leaps onto my shoulder and makes a purring noise similar to a cat, he is a super friend!!! :)
steve - 2006-03-19 I am a lineman who accidently destroyed a grey squirrels nest while replacing some lines that had been chewed through.(they do that a lot) I called my wife and had her call a rehab center to find out if the mother would abandon the destroyed nest. They said "she would likely not return to the nest". I put him in my beany hat and brought him home a week ago. A 1 to 2 week old pinky we named "scooter". We called a vet and they said to feed him "kitten formula" So for a week we have been feeding him evedently the wrong food. Some sites say kitten formula will kill them and others say its "not good for them". So today I will get puppy formula and pray the change will not kill him.
chela - 2006-02-28 My best friend has always had a soft spot for squirrels, so when we found one about 5 weeks old that probally lost his family in a bad storm we decided to keep him and see how it goes in raising him. We named him Nutso. We live in a dorm so he is constantly interacting with other people and receives a ton of attention. He loves to go outside and sit on our shoulders.
Chris & Alice - 2006-01-21 My wife and I have "Rocky" an eastern gray. He is an adult picked up off the road with two broken legs, a fractured skull, fracture over his eye socket, broken incisors and several cuts and contusions. It had to be a miracle he recovered. It took several months of intense therapy to get him healthy. He is not a pet, he is our companion and wonderful friend. Rocky contradicts all the horror stories we have read about squirrels not assimilating to human interaction. That written, one may say it was the result of his injuries. Then we got Jesse when he escaped from the talons of a hawk and dropped in the road in front of my car. He had no significant injuries. We introduced him to Rocky. They are best of friends. They are both mature males. They both assimilate with my wife & I and our German shepherd, Red. Our experience is, they are, gentle, kind, loyal, very intellegent and not a mean bone between them over the last 4 years.
Elaine - 2006-01-18 I found a nest of 3 babies when the limb their nest was in fell, no hair, eyes closed, on 09/09/05. One female died immediately, most likely from internal injuries, but the other female and male I raised successfully, thanks to the internet and directions I received. Since they are supposed to open their eyes at 5 weeks, I estimated their birth date at 08/25/05... making them 4 months old Christmas Day. I have a nice 4 story cage for them, and turned them loose in my house during the day... and dearly loved them. They were soooo funny... and had their affectionate moments... but they are also VERY curious and into things they shouldn't be. I picked up the phone to make a call and it was dead... they chewed through the wire. Later, they chewed through 2 lamp wires, one while it was on. I heard this ominous snap, crackle, pop, ran in there and the lamp wire was a goner, and the squirrel was furiously rubbing its mouth on the carpet. I finally drug the cage outside, and after letting them get used to outdoors, opened the door. The cage is still by the big oak, and I leave snacks for them. They still come to me, and tolerate my petting them... the female more so than the male, she is much more affectionate and sociable. They sleep in the big oak, and one rainy night she returned to the cage and her warm dry nest, but he roughed it in the tree. I cried and cried when I let them go, and I'm usually out there before daylight waiting on the sun to come up so I can greet them... they brought me a LOT of pleasure and joy... and I fear that something will get them... but they seem a lot happier out there. I did bring the female inside to visit one day, and she enjoyed visiting her old haunts, and crawled in my lap and cuddled for a while, but then she would go back and forth to the door, and as time went on she'd get more frantic... so she was very happy to go back out to her tree. For now, I have to be content with them visiting me often and letting me pet them and feed them snacks. I did fall totally in love with them and would love to do it again. And again.
Rocky and the Youngs - 2005-11-26 I just lost my pet squirrel Rocky :( We only had him for a week but his eyes were open and he had all his hair when my friend brought him to me to care for. I along with the kids and my wife fell in love instantly. He was just cutting his top teeth and nursing perfectly, preferred to sleep in my pocket and loved to sleep curled up in a little ball. He was so gentle, loving and left a big hole in our lives when he passed away suddenly just 3 days ago. After all the tears had been shed we held a small private graveside service followed by a song from my daughter. I explained to my kids that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, at 6 and 8 years old they completely understood! Don't take your pet for granted, and give him a little extra squeeze for the Young family!
The Gray Squirrel is perhaps the most familiar of all squirrels!
About 3 weeks ago my husband was cutting down a tree and out fell four baby eastern gray squirrels. the mother got killed in the tree fall. he brought them home and i took three to the spca and kept a little girl for myself. she is 8 weeks old and loves me and my husband. is very playful. but is NOT a pet. she will be released spring 2007.
I believe that squirrels, when cared for correctly, make very sweet, curious pets. I have rehabilitated five orphaned squirrels. My first set was a litter of four babies, only two weeks old. I still have two of them who are tame and friendly. I released the other two because they did not enjoy the my company very much, and seemed to like it better outside. I am glad I did this and think that if an animal wishes to be free, it should be set free. My other two returned to me when they were given the option to leave (even after a dog chased one up a tree!) The two I still have now are the best little guys. They have only bonded with me, since I raised them. They are not very fond of anyone else and do not appreciate being held by other people. Neither of them have bitten me in the three years that I have had them. I have had both males and females and the females are definitely more loving and friendly. I love the little critters to death! I handle mine every night to keep them friendly. They always love a little scratch under the neck and stretch their arm back really far. Its very cute to watch.
Yes, Squirrels CAN be pets. Please note: I would never suggest that a person TAKE one from the wild, but if fate drops one in your path, and you and the squirrel are willing to walk a ways together, then enjoy it. Not everyone who finds a squirrel will be able to locate a wildlife rescue organization before the little critter dies from cold and lack of nutrition.
Peanut is a 7 week old Western Gray that was brought into our home by one of our cats late at night. We can only guess that he was shoved out of the nest by a sibling, found by the cat, brought into the home, found alive by my middle kid, and then nursed back to health by me.
I guess I am lucky to have a degree in Veterninary Assisting, because we were provided with a rather extensive education on emergent situations. I am NOT a vet, and there is only so much I can do. So, I turned to the internet, and found everything I needed to know within a very short time.
He has become quite an affectionate little critter, and is a delight to come home to. We are all very fond of him, and I will be acquiring a license to keep him.
There is a reason that these creatures come to us, and so long as we are dedicated in their care and happiness, then enjoy your little bit of wildlife, and take many pictures ~*~
Squirrels are not pets. They are wild animals, and having raised two orphans I can attest to this. Everywhere in the US that I know of, they are illegal to keep and you need a permit from USF&W to get one. Just a note for people who think getting a squirrel would be "cute."
i have a pet baby grey squirrel, he is about 1 month and a half old, i have bottle-fed him since he was a few weeks old, now he follows me everywhwere and comes when i snap my fingers. whenever he sees me, he comes up to the cage door and begs to play and maybe have a treat, as soon as i open the door, he leaps onto my shoulder and makes a purring noise similar to a cat, he is a super friend!!! :)
I am a lineman who accidently destroyed a grey squirrels nest while replacing some lines that had been chewed through.(they do that a lot) I called my wife and had her call a rehab center to find out if the mother would abandon the destroyed nest. They said "she would likely not return to the nest". I put him in my beany hat and brought him home a week ago. A 1 to 2 week old pinky we named "scooter".
We called a vet and they said to feed him "kitten formula" So for a week we have been feeding him evedently the wrong food. Some sites say kitten formula will kill them and others say its "not good for them". So today I will get puppy formula and pray the change will not kill him.
My best friend has always had a soft spot for squirrels, so when we found one about 5 weeks old that probally lost his family in a bad storm we decided to keep him and see how it goes in raising him. We named him Nutso. We live in a dorm so he is constantly interacting with other people and receives a ton of attention. He loves to go outside and sit on our shoulders.
My wife and I have "Rocky" an eastern gray. He is an adult picked up off the road with two broken legs, a fractured skull, fracture over his eye socket, broken incisors and several cuts and contusions. It had to be a miracle he recovered. It took several months of intense therapy to get him healthy. He is not a pet, he is our companion and wonderful friend. Rocky contradicts all the horror stories we have read about squirrels not assimilating to human interaction. That written, one may say it was the result of his injuries. Then we got Jesse when he escaped from the talons of a hawk and dropped in the road in front of my car. He had no significant injuries. We introduced him to Rocky. They are best of friends. They are both mature males. They both assimilate with my wife & I and our German shepherd, Red. Our experience is, they are, gentle, kind, loyal, very intellegent and not a mean bone between them over the last 4 years.
I found a nest of 3 babies when the limb their nest was in fell, no hair, eyes closed, on 09/09/05. One female died immediately, most likely from internal injuries, but the other female and male I raised successfully, thanks to the internet and directions I received. Since they are supposed to open their eyes at 5 weeks, I estimated their birth date at 08/25/05... making them 4 months old Christmas Day. I have a nice 4 story cage for them, and turned them loose in my house during the day... and dearly loved them. They were soooo funny... and had their affectionate moments... but they are also VERY curious and into things they shouldn't be. I picked up the phone to make a call and it was dead... they chewed through the wire. Later, they chewed through 2 lamp wires, one while it was on. I heard this ominous snap, crackle, pop, ran in there and the lamp wire was a goner, and the squirrel was furiously rubbing its mouth on the carpet. I finally drug the cage outside, and after letting them get used to outdoors, opened the door. The cage is still by the big oak, and I leave snacks for them. They still come to me, and tolerate my petting them... the female more so than the male, she is much more affectionate and sociable. They sleep in the big oak, and one rainy night she returned to the cage and her warm dry nest, but he roughed it in the tree. I cried and cried when I let them go, and I'm usually out there before daylight waiting on the sun to come up so I can greet them... they brought me a LOT of pleasure and joy... and I fear that something will get them... but they seem a lot happier out there. I did bring the female inside to visit one day, and she enjoyed visiting her old haunts, and crawled in my lap and cuddled for a while, but then she would go back and forth to the door, and as time went on she'd get more frantic... so she was very happy to go back out to her tree. For now, I have to be content with them visiting me often and letting me pet them and feed them snacks. I did fall totally in love with them and would love to do it again. And again.
I just lost my pet squirrel Rocky :( We only had him for a week but his eyes were open and he had all his hair when my friend brought him to me to care for. I along with the kids and my wife fell in love instantly. He was just cutting his top teeth and nursing perfectly, preferred to sleep in my pocket and loved to sleep curled up in a little ball. He was so gentle, loving and left a big hole in our lives when he passed away suddenly just 3 days ago. After all the tears had been shed we held a small private graveside service followed by a song from my daughter. I explained to my kids that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all, at 6 and 8 years old they completely understood! Don't take your pet for granted, and give him a little extra squeeze for the Young family!