Can Squirrels Be Pets In California

At least one species of squirrel is legal in most states.

Can squirrels be pets in california. It is possible for a squirrel and a human to live together in happiness but it is rare. California ground squirrels are considered to be. Never buy or adopt a ground squirrel or any other animal that was caught in the wild. It s usually illegal to try to domesticate exotic pets and keep them as pets.

Alaska arkansas connecticut georgia idaho iowa illinois kansas kentucky louisiana minnesota mississippi missouri nebraska new hampshire new jersey new york north carolina ohio pennsylvania new mexico rhode island tennessee texas wisconsin and washington. They use their cheek pouches to store food to be consumed at a later date. Play bites can break the skin. If you aren t certain of a squirrel s origin go somewhere else.

They usually include several different species of wildlife such as fish reptiles birds and yes sometimes even squirrels. If you re sure that you can keep a squirrel as a pet legally in your municipality set up a living space for it in a large cage. Keeping a squirrel as a pet is a big commitment. So here is mine for what it s worth.

Exotic pets are usually defined as any pet that is not a dog cat or farm animal. Before killing a squirrel or other animals such as rabbits hares or jackrabbits that can be legally hunted in californa it is best to check with the california department of fish and wildlife to ensure that it is both legal in your county and the proper hunting season. You got to be ready to bleed. California ground squirrels can live up to six years of age.

If the species of squirrel you want to keep is legal in your state then yes. It is rare for a reason. Squirrels are small mammals found in woody areas. California ground squirrels use their cheek pouches to store more food than can be consumed in one sitting.

Hawaii and california are exceptions and there are probably others. The answer is yes and no. If you found a baby squirrel and raised it to 5 6 months of age and it s time to set it free it must change from a pet to a wild animal with instincts necessary for its survival. You can rehab the animal yourself or find a licensed rehabber.

There are a lot of opinions out there as to whether or not a squirrel can be kept successfully as a pet. There is a way to do this. States where flying squirrels are legal to keep as pets are. Well yes there are some states where you need licenses and some others where it is illegal to keep squirrels as pets so if you wish to know can you keep a pet squirrels read on to learn more about squirrels as a pet.

Ideally you should only adopt a squirrel if it lacks the survival skills to return to nature. Making an animal wild again. It takes a special person. Aside from the animal welfare and conservation considerations such a squirrel is highly unlikely to make a good pet.

A california ground squirrel eats a peanut at asilomar state beach in monterey ca. All species of squirrels require a lot of room relative to their size.