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TAMING THE SQUIRREL
Squirrels kept from a young age make great pets, but they are vulnerable in their youth
Story by CHOMPOO TRAKULLERTSATHIEN, Photos by AREERAT NAVANUKROH
Lately, squirrels have seen a change in their social status.
The ubiquitous creatures so often seen jumping between branches and even entering homes as uninvited guests have now become popular pets, owing to their adorable looks and small and portable size. The common Pallas squirrel is increasingly the pet of choice for teenagers who like the small yet active creatures.
"Adorable yet a bit naughty, this teeny fluffy friend is able to melt the hearts of countless teenagers who want to share their world with their playful company," said 17-year-old Natrudee, who has taken in two Pallas squirrels as pets. "Many [teenagers] even keep the tiny animals in the house, sharing their bed and couch with the tiny residents."
Not surprisingly, many squirrel web sites and online forums have emerged where enthusiasts exchange information and post photographs of their squirrels showing how lovely and naughty they are.
Pallas squirrels live on fruits, flowers, insects and seeds.
If kept from a young age, Pallas squirrels will become tame and attached to humans. Their owners will be able to release them into the garden and the squirrel will return at night.
With their sharp and strong claws, Pallas squirrels can hang from trees while eating.
Those keeping squirrels in their house often find that one squirrel leads to two, especially as the creatures seek to mate every two months or so. A common response to unexpectedly finding a family present is to give the young squirrels away to friends. Unfortunately, few people know how to care for young squirrels. The animals have a life expectancy of 10 to 13 years, but only if they make it past their first tender months.
In response, vets who specialise in exotic pets are finding themselves busy with sick young squirrels suffering from illnesses ranging from bloating and diarrhoea to constipation and pneumonia. According to veterinarian Chaowaphan Yinharnmingmongkol, from Vet4polyclinic's Exotic Clinic, the Pallas squirrel is his most common exotic patient due to their popularity among youngsters. "Some squirrel keepers just follow the trend. They have no knowledge and skills on how to take care of the sensitive pet. In fact, it is actually quite easy to keep a squirrel as a pet. Owners just need to read and learn more about the species," said the vet.
The Pallas squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus), called kra rok suan in Thai, is found abundantly in the cultivated plantations, gardens and orchards. Pallas's squirrel are medium sized with an olive-brown upper body and a bright red belly.
If kept since a tender age, the red-bellied squirrels will grow up to be tame and become attached to their owners. But it is virtually impossible to befriend an adult squirrel.
Keeping a very young squirrel gives it a better chance of survival and it is recommended to adopt a squirrel aged around two months, when it will still establish a strong bond with its "surrogate" mother. In guessing a squirrel's age, weighing it may help. Squirrels weighing around 60g are an ideal choice for adoption.
"Don't adopt a squirrel whose eyes are not yet open," said Chaowaphan. "[At that age] it must be protected by motherly warmth. If you separate it from its mother it will be stressed, which can effect its immune system and make it vulnerable to disease."
Proper food plays a major role for the survival of young squirrels. If the squirrel was still suckling, feed it goat's milk or puppy or kitten milk formula.
"Normally, puppy milk like Esbilac, kitten milk like Kitten Milk Replacer or goat's milk is suitable for baby squirrels. Baby squirrels should be fed milk every three hours and the milk should be fresh, warm and not too concentrated," said Chaowaphan.
Squirrels over three months can be weaned onto soft foods like banana and papaya and small insects like crickets or mealworm and with egg yolk once or twice a week. Adult squirrels can be fed seeds and nuts or hamster mix. Nuts are rich in protein and seeds and nuts requiring opening help keep the squirrel's claws blunt.
"Some owners want to pamper their pet so they feed them more frequently. But their love can hurt the animal," said Chaowaphan.
According to the vet, his tiny patients often have vitamin deficiencies because their owners only feed them the same food.
"If they are fed a nutritious diet they will be healthy and resistant to disease. Some owners only give them the same fruits and vegetables, making the animal malnourished, which is a life-threatening situation," said the vet.
After the meals, those caring for young squirrels must help them to urinate and defecate and to clean any waste off their bodies, work that would usually be done by the animal's mother. To do this, repeatedly wipe the squirrel's genitals and anus with cotton wool soaked in lukewarm water.
"I once treated a baby squirrel whose belly was covered in red marks. It was because urine had spilled onto its legs and belly and the acidity had affected its sensitive skin. If we don't stimulate a baby squirrel to do its business it won't do it, and it will suffer from a bloated stomach. But the adult squirrel can do it naturally," explained Chaowaphan.
Naturally, special attention also needs to be paid to a pet squirrel's living quarters. A small cage or cardboard box lined with soft towel is fine for grown squirrels, but for young squirrel ensure the room temperature is kept at around 28C. A light bulb can keep a young animal warm, and a small blanket can give it something to snuggle in. If the weather is cold, use a hot water bag and a thick blanket. Keep the living area out of the wind and if it is in an air-conditioned space place it in the warmest corner.
"Baby squirrels can catch colds easily and will die if left untreated. Like human babies, young squirrels need extra care," said the vet.
As they are small, some youngsters like to carry their squirrel around with them. This is hazardous to young squirrels as sudden changes in temperature can make it sick.
"Sometimes, love is not enough. What we have to bear in mind is what is most suitable for a sensitive animal. If we want to keep it as a long-time friend, we have to first understand its likes and dislikes. If we follow the rules, then we can enjoy animal-human friendship," said Chaowaphan.
Next week, Chaowaphan Yinharnmingmongkol will discuss the deadly diseases young squirrels are susceptible to.
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