Can Squirrels Be Pets Uk

This is a popular question often asked of veterinarians.

Can squirrels be pets uk. Red squirrels are a protected species and cannot be legally taken from the wild so no to being kept as pets. The debate is huge on whether or not you should even try to train a squirrel to be a pet. Yes any animal can be aggressive but there s a difference between wild animals and domestic animals. We see squirrels become very active in winter at the start of their mating season.

You should not try to capture and keep an adult squirrel. Common complaints from squirrel infestations is when they take residence in loft spaces. Can squirrels kept as pets in the uk. At pestuk we are often asked are squirrels pests our answer is that grey squirrels are considered an alien species and classed as vermin and therefore can be treated by us.

Wild animals are more aggressive. They can make a tremendous amount of noise and are much more destructive than rats or mice. Regardless of where you stand more and more people are raising squirrels as pets. The red squirrel is a protected species in the uk and is included in schedules 5 and 6 of the wildlife countryside act 1981 wca amended by the countryside rights of way act 2000.

Are pet squirrels legal in the uk. While they may not be the typical pets we re used to like cats or dogs. In recent years many people opt for a squirrel pet. Squirrels are wild animals and are happiest and healthiest in the wild.

The pet owner must provide a healthy varied diet sunflower seeds peanuts acorns. Grey squirrels are classified as vermin so if you could get one you could keep it as a pet however it is illegal to release it into the wild. A squirrel needs a large cage with enough space to climb and jump. Some people swear that domesticated squirrels make great pets.

The short answer is no. You re far better off to get a hamster or something else. Can you have squirrels as pets. Baby squirrels are incredibly adorable and hard to resist keeping as pets but looks can be deceiving.

Still they are hard to look after. So in the end we do not recommend keeping squirrels as pets. It also needs at least 2 hours a day outside the cage. A lot of people ask can you keep a squirrel as a pet but really the question ought to be should you and the answer to that is a definite no.

Within the first 6 months of life squirrels acclimate to humans show affection and become dependent on us for food. They are cute clean and playful. They don t make very good pets though as they need to jump around in the trees and.