Pet SQUIRRELS?

[RoboDude]

On America's Funniest Home Videos (or some related show) I distinctly remember seeing no fewer than three videos of pet squirrels. Is that legal? If so, where? I've heard that one state has a law against buying a squirrel, but I didn't think it was legal to keep them as pets anywhere.

[counterattackii]

Well, you also should note that squirrels are rats with bushy tails (well, not really..) but technically they are called 'rodents' and so are mice, so if they allow mice as pets, why not squirrels? Just like any other animal, they can be tamed. Maybe not completely, but enough I would imagine.

[RoboDude]

Maybe, though I had always thought of squirrels exclusively as wild animals.

[Jophiel]

http://www.squirrels.org had this to say:
Do squirrels make good pets?

No... Although squirrels can, and do live in captivity. It is an unnatural environment for them. They need to run and climb. They make poor house pets since their sharp claws, and teeth can do a great deal of damage. They can even harm a human unintentionally. It would be cruel to keep a wild animal caged where it cannot mate or interact with other animals. On the other hand, squirrels kept in a cage for study or treatment will often live longer then their wild counterpart, since there are no worries about food, water, or weather. Most Cities, Counties and States have rules about keeping wild animals as pets. A permit is often required. It would be best to inquire before you try to adopt a disabled squirrel.
Keep in mind that squirrels can carry rabies and as such, most cities are unwilling to let people keep them as pets. This pretty much goes for any mammal that is a common carrier and does not have an existing vaccine.

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"I guess it is possible for one person to make a difference, although most of the time they probably shouldn't."

[torq]

We had a squirrel at one time for a couple of days. I don't remember exactly why; I have vague recollections that it had been injured in some way and we were planning on feeding it back to health or something.

As the quote above states, squirrels need to chew. They need to chew a lot. This particular squirrel, after malingering for a day or so, decided to satisfy its urge to chew by eating through some fairly heavy hardware cloth and a two-by-four that was part of its improvised cage, and running amuck in the house for several hours while my family tried to either a) recapture it or b) shoo/lure it outside.

My experience with that one doesn't make me particularly anxious to get another of the bushy-tailed tree rats, legal or not.

[manhattan]

New York’s most famous pet squirrel-having guy? Subway Vigilante Bernhard Goetz (http://www.nypostonline.com/commentary/12029.htm) . Go figure.

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Livin' on Tums, Vitamin E and Rogaine

[SqrlCub]

You rang? Even though I have never had a pet squirrel, you can get them. If you must have a pet like that go for a flying squirrel (actually it is closer to a flying rat) or a sugar glider. This was discussed in MPSIMS a while back.

HUGS!
Sqrl

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Gasoline: As an accompaniement to cereal it made a refreshing change. Glen Baxter

[Mullinator]

There are other reasons to have them, as my sig will attest to.

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Well, shut my mouth. It's also illegal to put squirrels down your pants for the purposes of gambling.

[Rysdad]

I used to like squirrels. That is until a (herd, flock, pack, whatever) of them decided to move into my attic and remodel my house. Rotten little bastards chew like beavers. Hard to get rid of, too. Some traps and "special squirrel yummies" finally did the trick.

I hate squirrels.

[RoboDude]

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Even though I have never had a pet squirrel, you can get them.
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Where? Pet stores obviously don't sell them. Catching a wild one is a bad idea (you might get a rabid one).

[Pippy]

Well *I*, for one, have an incredible cute pair of flying squirrels for sale.

[Big Iron]

For sale, huh, Pip? Why you no keep cute squirrels?

[dasmoocher]

I lost my pet squirrel recently; he's gray, has a bushy tail, likes acorns, and runs away when approached by people. Has anyone seen him?

[NanoByte]

I suppose one could say that those who like squirrels can't be nuts, but I'd never say that.

Ray (Ya seen one in a tree, ya seen 'em all.)

[smilingjaws]

It's illegal to keep game animals as pets in most states. Most southern states do have squirrel seasons so having them as pets would be illegal. Flying squirrels are not game animals.

[DrMatrix]

Can I keep a pet Sqrl if i start training it as a Cub?

HUGS!

DrMatrix

[PunditLisa]

My parents have *tamed* a wild squirrel somewhat. My dad leaves peanuts out for "Charlie" on the deck. If my dad forgets, Charlie gets in front of the sliding glass door and basically hollers for my dad, who is so amused that he complies.

Two weeks ago, however, there was a squirrel fight. Seems Charlie, or an imposter, came to the door demanding his food, and after my dad left the peanuts outside, a squirrel fight ensued. Fur was flying! Now everytime the squirrel comes for his food, they don't know if it's the *real* Charlie or the evil imposter who killed Charlie in a bloody coup d'etat.

[Mr Thin Skin]

I have 4 60' pecan trees in my back yard, and a 70' oak tree. Lots of squirrels. Lousy chattering bastards. Burying pecans and acorns in my yard all fall long. My dogs are worthless. They're, like, good friends with the squirrels. Squirrels, you know, drop nuts on you if you don't watch it. Boots, my idiot dog, likes the taste of squirrel spit, so after a squirrel buries a nut, he excavates a crater to get at it. Want a squirrel as a pet? I have a large collection of never-owned squirrels for you to choose from.

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Take responsibility for your actions, but only after begin shamefully drug out from under the bed.

-Advice from my dog

[SqrlCub]

DrMatrix, you can keep this squirrel as long as you promise to bury nuts in the backyard with me. ;) hahah cheap sexual innuendo.

HUGS!
Sqrl

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Gasoline: As an accompaniement to cereal it made a refreshing change. Glen Baxter

[Polycarp]

Sqrl, stop that gambling immediately!! And whose pants are those; they look way too long for you.... ;)

[SqrlCub]

Well, you know Poly, there is a big problem with people trying to gamble with the likes of me. I have no idea why...perhaps I am good at getting into pants. I would rather get under the skin or in the hair though. ;)

hehehehe
HUGS!
Sqrl

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Gasoline: As an accompaniement to cereal it made a refreshing change. Glen Baxter

[DougC]

- - - A gradeschool friend's mother raised a litter of baby squirrels after their tree fell down in a storm and momma squirrel vanished. They were as tame as you'd expect. They didn't like to be "held" by strangers but they would climb all over you if she put them on you. Mostly they were very jittery; they'd usually run out of reach if you tried to do anything they didn't think they'd like. I don't know if she had to have any special permit or anything like that.
- - - Finding animals that are carrying rabies or distemper isn't likely. Of all the time I spent playing in the woods in the last twenty years or so, I have only seen 2 infected animals; both raccoons. IIRC skunks are infected more than any other wild animal in North America. - MC

[mr john]

Counter is right, squirells is tree rats that found a sugar daddy. the rest of you is plain squirelly, the Dude asks a straight question and next thing you know cub is gamboling in folks pants! 3 to 1 on drmat.( at least no one opened a jar of pickles in the street)647, I saw your squirel last night it was layin on a bed of brown rice on my table, uh, it's not here anymore though.
Mc yore rite about the incedence of rabies , trouble is the only wild animals the average person is going to be able to find, and maybe pick up for a pet is not gonna be feelin too well. So don't be tryin to 'help' the poor lil critters folks. In texas some counties classify squirels as game and are protected as such, some classify them as vermon and they ar 'controlled' as such, some classify them as both at the same time! Which ever they are hard to spell Skwee R U L.

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"Pardon me while I have a strange interlude."-Marx

[CatInHat]

There is a squirrel who lives near our house, who takes a very proprietary attitude towards it. We frequently see him sitting on the back deck, surveying the house with a speculative eye ("Hmm, how much do you suppose I could get for this place?"). He occasionally eats out of the bird feeder. The (indoor) cats sit by the window and gaze at him, fascinated.

We also found a dead squirrel in the attic when we moved in. Maybe the deck-sitting squirrel is plotting revenge, or trying to figure out how to break in to rescue a fellow squirrel in distress.

I am finding that "squirrel" is a hard word to type, for some reason. Anyone else finding this?