How to Build an Indoor Habitat for a Pet Squirrel

Squirrels can make wonderful pets if you adopt them at an early age. However, if you keep one in the house, you must give him his own space. Building an indoor habitat will provide him with a place to chill.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• One inch non-sanded lumber
• Saw
• Hammer
• Nails
• Cloth (cotton or fleece)
• Animal hammock
• Animal toys
• Wood chew
• Jumbo animal exercise wheel
• Glass, ceramic or stainless steel bowl
• Shredded newspaper

1. Gather the necessary supplies to build a squirrel house. Cut entrance holes at least three inches in diameter. Nail corner walls together. Hinge at least one wall for caretaker access.

2. Provide the cage with a safe, cozy place for a pet squirrel to nest. Either a wooden nesting box or a small cardboard box with a hole for entry is appropriate. Cushion the nest with pieces of soft t-shirt or fleece cloth.

3. Furnish the cage with a hanging pet hammock, naturally stuffed pet toys, a hard wood chew and a bolted down jumbo animal exercise wheel.

4. Supply food and water bowls made of either glass, ceramic, or stainless steel. The squirrel may chew through anything that's plastic.

5. Garnish the floor of the squirrel house with shredded newspaper for waste matter absorption and cover

6. Instead of constructing a squirrel house, consider purchasing a pre-made animal cage of at least three feet tall such as an aviator or ferret cage with shelves and ladders. Animal cages may be purchased at a pet store or online.

Tips & Warnings

• Baby squirrels require a smaller squirrel house in order to prevent harmful falls. Since babies are also sensitive to the cold and bright light, they need a warm, dark nesting area. Squirrel infants must be kept in an incubator.
• Other acceptable squirrel chews include chews made for rabbits, sterilized cow hoofs or deer antlers, cuttlebone for birds, fruit tree or pine branches, corn cobs, pumice stone, whole nuts with shells and mineral blocks for small animals and birds.
• Make sure that the exercise wheel provides enough space to accommodate the squirrel's tail and to avoid injury from arching it's back too much. Bolting the wheel down is a safety feature that prevents it's from tipping.
• Unless a person lives in a sanctuary or is a licensed wildlife rehabilitator, it's illegal to keep native squirrels as pets in most U.S. states. Check with the local fish and gaming agency for specific laws.

Resources

• Plans for constructing a squirrel house.
• Flight cage construction directions.

[blondehound]

on 1/16/2009 I do know that it is illegal to keep squirrel as a pet. I don't know the reason. Probably two: from one side to protect squirrels (they needs a lot of exercise), and from another side to protect human (since a prisoner squirrel could behave badly, and not to mention about diseases control factor). That would be probably correct.