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By Olivia Parker•Last Updated April 21, 2025

Squirrels as Pets: What You Need to Know Before Adoption

Squirrels as pets: what you need to know before adoption

The idea of keep a squirrel as a pet can be tempting. Their playful antics, bushy tails, and curious nature make them appear as ideal companions. Nevertheless, the reality of keep squirrels as pets involve complex legal, ethical, and practical considerations that prospective owners must understand.

Legal considerations

Before consider a squirrel as a pet, you must understand the legal framework surround wild animal ownership.

State and federal laws

In most states across the u.s., keep wild squirrels as pets is illegal without proper permits. Wildlife protection laws exist to safeguard both the animals and the ecosystem. The specific regulations vary by state:

Some states entirely prohibit keep any species of squirrels
Others may allow ownership of certain non-native squirrel species with proper permits
A few states might permit keep rehabilitate squirrels that can not be release races into the wild

The migratory bird treaty act and other federal wildlife protection laws may too apply to squirrels, depend on the species. Violate these laws can result in significant fines and yet criminal charges.

Permit requirements

In jurisdictions where squirrel ownership is conditionally permitted, you typically need:

Wildlife rehabilitation permit
Exotic pet licenses
Special exemption documentation

These permits oftentimes require specific training, facilities, and regular inspections. Most permit holders are professional wildlife rehabilitates or educational facilities, not typical pet owners.

Ethical considerations

Beyond legal concerns, ethical questions surround keep wild animals as pets.

Wild vs. Domesticate animals

Squirrels are wild animals, not domesticate pets. Unlike dogs and cats that have undergone thousands of years of selective breeding for companionship, squirrels retain their wild instincts and behaviors. Domestication is a genetic process that occur over many generations, not something that happen to an individual wild animal during its lifetime.

Yet hand raise squirrels maintain their wild nature and oftentimes become more difficult to manage as they mature, and their natural instincts develop amply.

Impact on wildlife populations

Remove squirrels from the wild can disrupt local ecosystems. Squirrels play important ecological roles include:

Seed dispersal for forest regeneration
Contribute to food chains as both predators and prey
Create habitat for other species through nest building and abandon burrows

Take squirrels from their natural environment interfere with these ecological functions and can have ripple effects throughout the ecosystem.

Practical challenges of keep squirrels

Yet if legal and ethical concerns could be address, practical challenges make squirrels difficult pets to maintain.

Housing requirements

Squirrels require specialized housing that mimic their natural habitat while keep them safely contain:

Large, multi level enclosures (minimum 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide )
Climb structures, branches, and platforms
Nest boxes for sleeping and security
Chew materials to maintain dental health
Weather appropriate shelter if keep outside
Predator proof construction

A proper squirrel enclosure cost thousands of dollars to build and maintain. Standard pet cages are completely inadequate and lead to stress behaviors and health problems.

Dietary needs

Squirrels have complex nutritional requirements that change seasonally:

Variety of nuts in their shells (acorns, walnuts, hazelnuts )
Fresh vegetables and leafy greens
Limited fruits as treats
Animal protein sources (insects, eggs )
Supplemental calcium and other minerals
Constant access to fresh water

Commercial rodent food is insufficient for squirrels, and improper diet lead to metabolic bone disease, obesity, and other health conditions.

Behavioral challenges

Squirrel exhibit behaviors that make them challenge household companions:

Chew: squirrels must chew incessantly to maintain their teeth, destroy furniture, wiring, and household items
Mark territory: both male and female squirrels mark with urine and scent glands
Hoarding: the instinct to hide food throughout their environment
Aggression: many squirrels become territorial and aggressive when they reach sexual maturity
Nocturnal activity: some species are almost active when humans prefer to sleep

These natural behaviors can not be trained out of squirrels and oftentimes lead to frustration for both the animal and owner.

Health concerns

Keep squirrels as pets present several health challenges for both the animal and human caretakers.

Veterinary care

Find appropriate medical care for squirrels is difficult:

Few veterinarians have expertise in treat squirrels
Exotic animal specialists are rare and expensive
Regular health assessments require anesthesia due to squirrels’ nervous nature
Medications and treatments must be particularly formulated

Without proper veterinary care, captive squirrels frequently suffer from preventable diseases and conditions.

Zoonotic disease risk

Squirrels can carry diseases transmissible to humans:

Salmonellosis
Leptospirosis
Tularemia
Rabies (though rare in squirrels, it rremainsa concern)
Various parasites include fleas, ticks, and mites

These health risks are specially concern for households with children, elderly individuals, or immunocompromised people.

Alternatives to keep squirrels as pets

For those fascinate by squirrels, several ethical alternatives exist to keep them as pets.

Wildlife appreciation

Enjoy squirrels in their natural habitat provide satisfaction without the legal and ethical concerns:

Create a squirrel friendly backyard with native plants
Install squirrel feeder outside from bird feeding stations
Set up wildlife cameras to observe natural behaviors
Join citizen science projects track squirrel populations

These activities allow for interaction with squirrels while respect their wild nature.

Wildlife rehabilitation volunteering

For hands-on experience with squirrels:

Volunteer with licensed wildlife rehabilitates
Support orphan baby squirrel care under professional guidance
Assist with release programs for rehabilitated animals
Help build habitat for injure squirrels that can not be release

This approach provide education and experience while contribute to wildlife conservation.

Similar pet options

If you’re drawn to squirrel like pets, consider lawfully domesticate alternatives:

Rats: intelligent, social, and domesticate for generations
Degas: social rodents with squirrel like behaviors
Chinchillas: farseeing live, active rodents with bushy tails
Sugar gliders: arboreal marsupials (legal in some states )

These animals have been breed in captivity for many generations and adapt advantageously to life as pets.

What happen when people keep squirrels illicitly

Despite legal prohibitions, some people attempt to keep wild squirrels as pets, oftentimes with unfortunate outcomes.

Confiscation and legal consequences

When authorities discover illicitly keep squirrels:

Animals are typically confiscated
Owners face fines range from hundreds to thousands of dollars
Repeat offenders may face criminal charges
Confiscate animals frequently can not be return to the wild

These enforcement actions protect both wildlife populations and individual animals from improper care.

Abandonment issues

When squirrel owners become overwhelmed:

Some attempt to release pet squirrels into the wild
Hand raise squirrels typically lack survival skills
Release pets oftentimes die from predation, starvation, or exposure
They may introduce diseases to wild populations

This intimately intention but misguided action seldom end intimately for the animal.

Special circumstances: orphan and injured squirrels

Occasionally, people encounter orphan or injure squirrels and wonder about their care.

Find a wildlife rehabilitation

The appropriate response to find a distressed squirrel:

Contact a license wildlife rehabilitation instantly
Call your state’s wildlife agency for referrals
Reach out to local nature centers for guidance
Follow professional advice for temporary care until transfer

Wildlife rehabilitates have the expertise, facilities, and legal authorization to provide proper care.

Temporary emergency care

If immediate professional help isn’t available:

Keep the squirrel warm in a quiet, dark container
Avoid handling except when necessary
Do not attempt to feed unless direct by a professional
Document where and when you find the animal
Transfer to professional care as presently as possible

Remember that yet temporary possession of wildlife may require permission from authorities.

Conclusion

While squirrels are undeniably charming and fascinating creatures, they’re not suitable pets for several compelling reasons:

Legal restrictions in most jurisdictions
Ethical concerns about keep wild animals captive
Practical challenges in provide appropriate care
Health risks to both squirrels and humans
Better alternatives for appreciate these animals

Alternatively of attempt to keep squirrels as pets, consider support wildlife conservation efforts, create squirrel friendly habitats, volunteer with wildlife rehabilitates, or choose legal, domesticate pets that advantageously adapt to live with humans.

The nearly compassionate approach to squirrels is appreciated them in their natural habitat, where they can express their full range of natural behaviors and fulfill their ecological roles. By respect wildlife as wildlife, we contribute to conservation efforts and ensure these remarkable animals continue to thrive in our shared environment.