Flying Squirrels as Pets

The task of keeping a flying squirrel as a pet is a daunting one for a novice. However, many hobbyists would be delighted to know that these furry, cute little creatures actually make great and affectionate pets. In the wild, a flying squirrel, scientifically known as Pteromyini or Petauristini, is believed to survive for around six years. While, in captivity, it is known to live for fifteen years.

Caring for A Flying Squirrel

Having a flying squirrel at home, is a matter that draws in the importance of commitment and attention for the animal. It has been observed that the squirrel fancies bonding with one person, rather than the entire family. Now let's study about the requirements you need to look at before you bring a flying squirrel home.

The very first thing you would like to consider for is to arrange for a proper house for your furry pet. A sturdy wire cage is good enough for the purpose. Keeping a wire house will let the squirrel climb and also avoid chewing on it. A cage 2 feet long, 3 feet tall and 2 feet deep is considered ideal for keeping a flying squirrel.

Your squirrel just can walk around, jump, nibble and do stuffs to amuse you the whole day. It also needs some good time to sleep. So, what you can do is to make a nesting box which would serve as a bed for the pet. A flying squirrel prefers sleeping places high above the ground and this is the reason why you must place the nesting box near the top of the cage. Keep cotton as the bedding material and do not go for scented chips. Such materials may cause respiratory problems in the animal. There are litter which are made for rodents that you can use to clean the cage. This material helps to absorb odor. Not to mention, do not forget to get a running wheel to be fitted inside the cage.

Flying Squirrel's Diet

It is important to know that the animal eat according to how hungry it is and the geographic location, as well. For instance, the southern flying squirrel likes to feed on pecans in the southern part of its range. However, this is not the case when the animal is in the northern part. This is because pecans are known to grow naturally, not in the northern but in the southern climes. But you can try feeding your pet with variety of foods and observe whether it likes them or not. Common foods include berries, apples, pears, oranges, grapes, a variety of nuts and seeds, pumpkin seeds, seeds of the sunflower, walnuts and kinds of veggies.

You can also try acorns, hickory nuts, bird seed mix and pecans. And to add a bit of protein to its diet, it can be fed with hard-boiled eggs, mealworms, waxworms and moths. These squirrels are known to be susceptible to develop calcium deficiency. So it is advisable to provide a calcium block and a mineral block in its cage. And, also provide a sort of food dish and a shallow dish for water. Also remember that a flying squirrel do not do well with canned or frozen foods. One simple menu idea for feeding your pet is a mix of one piece of apple and one piece of orange. Add a handful of peanuts to it and add one or two walnuts or pecans. Meal like this would be gladly enjoyed to the fullest by your flying friend.

As flying squirrels are nocturnal, they must be fed at night and left alone to sleep during the daylight hours. Finally, if you have a pocket or two in your shirts, then well and good and if not, then get one stitched. This is to keep your new friend close to you to let it feel your heartbeat and get familiar with your scent. This way you can strengthen the bond between you and your little cuddly squirrel friend.

To conclude, once you are sure that your squirrel pet knows you well and has bonded with you, you can allow it to have some fun time playing outside its cage, but only when you are around. You never know when the squirrel may hurt itself or accidentally escape. To conclude, flying squirrels do not actually fly, but glide from a higher to a lower location.