Do they hibernate in the winter? Can he live on acorns? Is there any serious disease that squirrels carry or get? Any other things I should know?
Squirrels do not hibernate in Winter. I feed my backyard ones all year round. Squirrels are diurnal, meaning active during the day. MBD (Metabolic Bone Disease) is a fatal disease squirrels can get. It means not enough calcium. They should ideally get between 5 to 7 servings a day of foods high in calcium such as carrots, celery and squash. They should also get between 2 to 3 servings of other vegetables such as cauliflower, green beans and peas. Rodent Lab Blocks are also very good for them, as they contain many nutrients all in one. Lab Blocks make it so the animal eats everything, rather than pick through the "good stuff". For a more detailed list of what foods make up a balanced diet for an adult squirrel, please see the following link:
http://www.squirrel-rescue.com/squirrel- ... pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Regarding MBD, the above site has a section describing in depth what it is, and how to prevent it. (It is why you cannot feed him acorns alone.) Also, the site has a wealth of other squirrel information pertinent to raising a healthy and happy squirrel.
You will need to check your state as suggested to see if squirrels are allowed as pets. Not all of them allow it.
If you are trying to save a baby squirrel that you found, the above site can be of help. The following two links should also be of help. The first is for caring for orphan squirrels. The second is an international wildlife center. Please note for the first link KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement formula) can be used in place of the Esbilac powder. The links are as follows:
http://www.awrc.org/Flying% 20Squirrels.h ... http://www.wildlifeinternational.org/EN/... pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
ADDENDUM: I was very unhappy to read about the wildlife center. I had a bad experience with the city animal department, also, which is why I will NEVER, EVER call the general city one again. I will find one catering to the animal in question. (I was going out and saw a squirrel had gotten hit by a car. He had suffered neurological damage. The poor animal could not do anything but move in circles. I sat on the curb for over 2 hours waiting for someone from the city to come thinking they would get him help or humanely euthanize him, only to have them finally show up and toss him into a wire basket. I later found out they go by the creed, "Let nature take its course," meaning they do nothing but let the animal die.) I really am sorry you had a bad experience, too. I truly hope your little one makes it, as I share your philosophy on animals.
I will give you one more link I just found that you may enjoy since nobody else has posted since yesterday. It is more for learning interesting facts than anything else. Please see both the immediate link, and also click the "History" link under the first question:
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com http://www.squirrels.org/faq.html # index
The only reasons
You should keep a pet squirrel are:
Your neighbors want
To exterminate them from the neighborhood
2) You hit it or someone else hits it with a car
3) It can't survive on it's own in the wild because perhaps it has a injury or the mommy squirrel abandoned it
Don't just go outside and catch squirrel and keep it
They are wild animals and can't survive 24 hours in a humane home.
But if the reason you want to have one is legitimate like the reasons I specified, call a vet ad ask for assistance
:) Good luck!!
It's illegal to keep a squirrel as a pet.
