# Flying Squirrel as a pet **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 25, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915 "2014-04-25T01:50:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/1 "2014-04-25T01:50:20Z")
Mrs. Plant found him curled up on the porch. Apparently he ventured out too early in the Spring, and it was too cold to go home. He is in a small aquarium with the cover left open a crack, wood shavings, eating fruit, hamster food and bird seed. He took raisins from her hand tonight. We’ve searched sites on the web, but I’m interested on advice or comments from folks on the board. We do plan to move him to at least a 20 gallon long aquarium with a wire cover. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/2 "2014-04-25T02:13:20Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Mrs. Plant found him curled up on the porch. Apparently he ventured out too early in the Spring, and it was too cold to go home. He is in a small aquarium with the cover left open a crack, wood shavings, eating fruit, hamster food and bird seed. He took raisins from her hand tonight. > We’ve searched sites on the web, but I’m interested on advice or comments from folks on the board. > We do plan to move him to at least a 20 gallon long aquarium with a wire cover. Call a wildlife rehabilitator. The animal should be assessed by a specialist vet, given required treatment, then released. [Arkansas wildlife rehabilitators PDF.](http://www.agfc.com/species/Documents/rehabilitators_by_county.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/3 "2014-04-25T05:22:09Z")
Dunno why you would keep it. I got a squirrel “friend” by putting food out on a window ledge, then food inside the window with the window open, then from my hand, etc. I trained her to even take food out of my shirt pocket. And one day, to my great surprise and to even greater surprise of a couple of friends with me, she recognized me out on the street, ran to me and climbed up my leg and started rooting for food in my pocket. After that I always carried some food because she would often run up looking for treats when I was coming home or leaving. That’s MUCH cooler than having a prisoner in a box. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/4 "2014-04-25T05:36:18Z")
Flying squirrels are for the most part nocturnal. They do tame down very easily and are not quite as hyper as a red squirrel. I would rehabilitate and release him in the yard, He will probably stay if you leave food for him. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/5 "2014-04-25T07:42:05Z")
Flying squirrels can be tamed and kept as pets in a cage, if you want to go that route. I read a book about them once, that I found in a library. You can play frisbee with them – using the squirrel as the frisbee! They are self-guided. Two people stand on opposite sides of a lawn and toss the squirrel back and forth. The squirrel stretches out his legs and steers himself across the lawn to the other person. Apparently, the squirrel thinks that’s a lot of fun. When they get tired of the game, you’ll know it, because they stop cooperating. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/6 "2014-04-25T11:07:29Z")
I n+1th what everyone else is saying- unless he has some permanent injury or other reason why he can’t be released, he’d be much better off long term back outside. A small aquarium (and a 20 gallon long is still pretty tiny) would be nowhere near big enough for him to be happy once he’s feeling better, they’re active little creatures. If you can get a specialist wildlife vet to have a look at him, please do, but if you’ve had a very cold and changeable spring there’s a good chance he’s just been unable to find food, and he just needs a bit of fattening up. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/7 "2014-04-25T12:03:27Z")
In Virginia, it’s technically illegal to keep a wild squirrel. Dunno about Ark. I have talked to a wildlife rehabber here who said the flying squirrels along the Blue Ridge (which would be the [Southern Flying Squirrel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_flying_squirrel)) are MUCH more sociable with humans than gray squirrels. I got the impression she’d like to have them as pets, but duty forbade. There’s apparently an association dedicated to caring for them in captivity, which might help you keep him or her alive: [National Flying Squirrel Association](http://www.nfsa.us/). There are pages on legalities and caring for orphaned FSs on that site. I’m attracted to the little furballs, but I wouldn’t want to keep one in a cage. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/8 "2014-04-25T20:57:45Z")
When I was a youngster I had a pet flying squirrel. It was a very affectionate little guy; it liked to ride around in my shirt pocket and it would eat from my hand. Unfortunately it got out of its cage one night and got in bed with my grandfather; he threw an absolute fit and my mother made me release it. It hung around for a week or so and then disappeared. Broke my heart to release it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2014, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/9 "2014-04-25T21:02:20Z")
How did you house him, Louis? ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/10 "2014-04-26T11:14:13Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > Unfortunately it got out of its cage one night and got in bed with my grandfather; he threw an absolute fit and my mother made me release it. Did he jump out of bed shouting “Hallelujah!”, get himself re-baptized whether he needed it or not, and volunteer for a mission in the Congo? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/11 "2014-04-26T13:16:35Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Did he jump out of bed shouting “Hallelujah!”, get himself re-baptized whether he needed it or not, and volunteer for a mission in the Congo? I want to know what Sister Bertha better than you had to say. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/12 "2014-04-26T15:20:54Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > You can play frisbee with them – using the squirrel as the frisbee! They are self-guided. Two people stand on opposite sides of a lawn and toss the squirrel back and forth. The squirrel stretches out his legs and steers himself across the lawn to the other person. Apparently, the squirrel thinks that’s a lot of fun. When they get tired of the game, you’ll know it, because they stop cooperating. I want video!!! ---
**Author:** ![Hermione](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cdc98d/32.png) [@Hermione](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermione)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/13 "2014-04-26T16:15:16Z")
Well, you should at least adopt a moose to keep him company. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/14 "2014-04-26T19:27:50Z")
> [@Hermione](#): > > Well, you should at least adopt a moose to keep him company. > > 😃 He\* is\* named Rocky. 🙂 We have a ferret cage that we will cover with screen. It is high enough for him to have a tree. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/15 "2014-04-26T23:31:10Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > How did you house him, Louis? In a hamster cage; it was empty after the hamster got out and my mother’s cat chomped it. The hamster got out because I forgot to lock the cage. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2014, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/16 "2014-04-26T23:33:38Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Did he jump out of bed shouting “Hallelujah!”, get himself re-baptized whether he needed it or not, and volunteer for a mission in the Congo? He flung the poor guy across the room and loudly proclaimed that he was sick and tired of his house being used as a pet shop. It was his house after all. But, when I came up with a red squirrel he helped me build an outdoor cage for it----it wasn’t allowed in the house. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/17 "2014-04-27T01:40:40Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Flying squirrels can be tamed and kept as pets in a cage, if you want to go that route. I read a book about them once, that I found in a library. > > You can play frisbee with them – using the squirrel as the frisbee! They are self-guided. Two people stand on opposite sides of a lawn and toss the squirrel back and forth. The squirrel stretches out his legs and steers himself across the lawn to the other person. Apparently, the squirrel thinks that’s a lot of fun. When they get tired of the game, you’ll know it, because they stop cooperating. My brother’s GF had a pet bat (her dad was a flight researcher and it had been part of a flight experiment). It played this game, indoors. Another odd bat fact: they purr somewhat like cats when stroked. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/18 "2014-04-27T01:57:01Z")
They do seem to be inquisitive. One night, my cat was running all over the house while I was surfing the internet. I looked over at him- he had been chasing a flying squirrel that had gotten inside somehow, probably through a chimney. Squirrel just comfortably sat atop my bedroom door while I took his picture, posted it on Facebook, and had a conversation about him. I feared he was plotting a glide to my bed or other locations, so I walked right past him, got a broom, and clubbed him. Tossed the body outside using kitchen tongs- it was gone in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/19 "2014-04-27T01:58:10Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > In a hamster cage; it was empty after the hamster got out and my mother’s cat chomped it. The hamster got out because I forgot to lock the cage. Ah, man, bummer. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915/20 "2014-04-28T04:18:57Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Did he jump out of bed shouting “Hallelujah!”, get himself re-baptized whether he needed it or not, and volunteer for a mission in the Congo? > [@running\_coach](#): > > I want to know what Sister Bertha better than you had to say. 😉 > [@LouisB](#): > > He flung the poor guy across the room and loudly proclaimed that he was sick and tired of his house being used as a pet shop. It was his house after all. But, when I came up with a red squirrel he helped me build an outdoor cage for it----it wasn’t allowed in the house. Sorry kids. Louis doesn’t know Ray.☹ Louis - [Meet Ray](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K16fG1sDagU&feature=kp) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-squirrel-as-a-pet/686915.md?page=2)