Bestest Comments: Eastern Gray Squirrel

I found my squirrel in May. He was in my driveway and couldn't move either hind leg or his tail. He was not a baby, but not full grown either. He was scared and needless to say not very friendly toward people. I caught him and after a month or two he became more and more trusting. He has since regained use of one leg and his tail but still drags one leg around. He runs all over the house while I'm home, watches TV with me, listens to music, and naps with me. He really has become the most awesome companion! He is not particularly friendly to anyone else (though he is not aggressive) but he has become a great pet and friend to me. I can't believe that such an affectionate, intelligent and clean animal has been around all my life and I never took particular notice...never heard of anyone who had a pet squirrel until now. I am always worrying that I am not educated enough about him and his needs so I am always surfing trying to learn more...thanks for your website!

Are any squirrels legal in ontario, Canada.

That page is so great because it has info about what you need to know, like interesting info about squirrels.

Hi. I have a pet squirrel and her name is pickles. she is 2 and a half. recently pickles has been scratching her face and acting like it hurts. We looked in her mouth and realized that she has another front tooth growing in!! Has any one with a pet squirrel had this sort of thing happen. If you could please give me some advice on what to do i would greatly appreciate it!!

"Pet" squirrels MUST have Full Spectrum Lighting, and a healthy diet, which includes green, leafy, high calcium veggies...endive, kale, escarole, dandelions, and LITTLE fruit. Too much natural sugars in them. Also 70-80% of your squirrels daily diet should be Rodent Block. We have a specially made formula of rodent Block just for squirrels, that has been approved by Dr. Christopher Calvert, of the Animal Science Department at the University of California, Davis, and coauthor of the "Nutrient Requirements of Laboratory Animals, Fourth Revised Edition, 1995", and several of his colleagues as well, who are in the field of zoo diets. If you want EXPERT advice from MANY rehabbers, and very knowledgeable people with pet squirrels, please come to www.thesquirrelboard.com. Thank You!

Can anyone give me direction as to where to find the laws pertaining to wildlife in Western Washington? Looking for specific RCW or Federal codes that name the animals and penalties. Some people tell me it's illegal to keep an injured crow too injured to release, some say it's legal. Same with squirrels. What about an Eastern Gray squirrel in the Pacific Northwest. If someone rehabs it can it be released even though it's considered non native to this area? And if it's taken to a wildlife center would it be fed to the raptors as a recently turned in injured rock pigeon was? Thanks.

In Sept. 2007 I was having quiet time on the porch when I heard a plop and a screech. My cat investigated and was as bewildered as I was over the screeching naked "thing" that dropped out of a tree. The night before I told my girlfriend that there is nothing so satisfying as connecting with nature. I was thinking of a baby fawn. After my husband identified this naked "thing" as a squirrel, I rushed to the drug store and purchased an eye-dropper and fed the baby soy milk mixed with rice crispies. After six weeks, we left the cage open by the tree it fell out of and it returned to it's home nest. Husband said it was male. I disagreed but didn't argue. Every morning and around dusk he comes to the porch for his nuts or popcorn. We keep a water bottle secured to his oak tree. Since we live in a very rural area, we hope to have him around for a good while. Today, to my husband's embarrassment, he discovered our "Rocky-boy" is Mrs. Rockette and is feeding her young. We are hoping she will introduce us to her babies soon. This has been so much fun having Rockette come when we call, scampering up and down our trouser legs to perch on our shoulders. The cat knows she is part of the family and we don't have too many confrontations. Our visitors and grandchildren just love to brag about this crazy old couple that can call the squirrels down from the tree! Susan and David Greensboro, Georgia

We rescued a baby squirrel from the cat up the street about 3 months ago. I bottle fed her until she could eat on her own. I have contacted a small mammal rehabilitator about releasing her into the wild. The rehabilitator informed me that if she has been with us for several months then she has conformed to us and not wild life. She also told me that they live in groups and if she has not been raised by other squirrels then she will not properly communicate with them and they will kill her. This was a shock, and I decided to keep her safe in our home. She has become quite a comedian and enjoys everyone. I do feel bad that she can't go out and climb trees but it's better safe inside than dead. We have lined her nest with branches and she loves to climb and chew on them and we put her cage out on the porch on good days. Just a 'for your information' for anyone looking to release a squirrel into the wild, try and find a rehabilitator

i have a pet baby grey squirrel, he is about 1 month and a half old, i have bottle-fed him since he was a few weeks old, now he follows me everywhwere and comes when i snap my fingers. whenever he sees me, he comes up to the cage door and begs to play and maybe have a treat, as soon as i open the door, he leaps onto my shoulder and makes a purring noise similar to a cat, he is a super friend!!! :)

I have an eastern gray squirrel that we have had for almost 6 months. She came to us fully furred with only the top or bottom teeth - can't remember now. She couldn't have eaten for days. She and two other squirrels finally fell out of a palm tree after their mother had died in the round 5-7 days prior. I gave her sugar water when I first took her in. She slept for the next 22 hours. This gave me time to research and buy esbilac, karo syrup, electrolyte water and whipping cream. She liked everyone, at first, but now, she only likes myself and my son. She will bite anyone else! We love her and spoil her rotten. She eats everything that she should - avocado, squash, apple, pear, grapes, spinach, brussels, carrots, sweet/potato, snow/snap pea, kiwi, celery, corn, oranges, strawberry, banana and nuts of course! She takes a nap in the middle of the day and sleeps at night. I would not recommend this animal as a pet for everyone, but it has worked out just fine for us. We have a lot of time on our hands!

Today I saved a baby gray squirrel from a cat. When I showed him to my kids we decided to keep him as a pet. I wasn't sure until reading all the wonderful things people have said about them on this website. We have named him Mr. Snuggles and look forward to making many fond memeroies with him.

I have just gotten my first official squirrel about 3 weeks ago. His name is Dizzy.He fell out of a tree and ever since he kind of lost some of his coordination. I figured it would be safer for him not to be out in the wild on his own, for fear of what could happen to him at great heights. He is the most lovable pet I have ever had. When I am home I let him roam and when I call for him, he actually comes running to me, like he knows his name! I am purchasing a squirrel to put with him so he's not lonely. He loves to lay on peoples laps and he rolls over for me to scratch his belly like a dog. Every day seems to be better as far as his balance and coordination. Hopefully my next squirrel will be as loving as Dizzy. Thanks for all the info. Christine and Dizzy

HI, My name is lauren and thanks to your website i can now keep my baby squirrel. I have had my baby for a few weeks now and he had fallen out of a palm tree in my neighbors yard. My friend and I were walking just for no apparent reason. She talks way too much, so when she said she saw something fall out of that tree i told her to just keep walking! She said, "No Lauren, really it looks like a baby raccoon". Little does she know it wasnt a raccoon, it was my baby. I felt that day there was no apparent reason that we walked around, but it was for my baby and me to come together. When we found my baby, whos name ended up being rocky, he didnt have alot of fur on him and was shaking and he didnt have his eyes open! And that joyous day that he opened his eyes he finally stopped walking into stuff! Now everyday when i go to school i dont have to think about my parents bringing him somewhere else. Now i know that when i go home he'll be there waiting for me and i'll be waiting for him! I'm so happy i looked at this website, and i'm so happy you made this website! For me and my baby! Thank You so much! You have made my day! Sincerely, Rocky and Lauren