Do Squirrels Make Good Pets? Care, Laws and Rescue
Squirrels may become familiar with people, but they remain wild animals. Learn about household suitability, legal checks, species differences and the right next steps for a found baby or injured squirrel.
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What living with a squirrel would require
For most households, the answer to “do squirrels make good pets” is no. Squirrels are wild animals with needs that an ordinary home, small cage and friendly attention do not meet. A baby that appears dependent on people is not a domesticated pet, and finding one does not automatically give you permission to keep it.
The practical question behind “are squirrels good pets” is whether you can lawfully provide an appropriate life for that particular animal. That includes a specialized diet, appropriate housing, experienced veterinary support and a long-term plan. For a squirrel found outdoors, the first decision is usually whether it needs help, not whether it could become a companion.
- 1For most households, the answer to do squirrels make good pets is no: familiar behavior does not make a wild animal domesticated.
- 2When considering whether squirrels are good pets, account for species-specific care, wildlife laws and long-term welfare.
- 3A found baby may need maternal reunification or a permitted wildlife rehabilitator, rather than a permanent home with the finder.
A household is not a natural habitat
Watching a squirrel climb, investigate and disappear into a tree shows only part of its daily life. Bringing that animal indoors means taking responsibility for opportunities to move, forage, shelter and avoid unwanted contact. A cage that prevents escape does not necessarily provide an appropriate environment.
Wildlife value and specialist care
Squirrels can be beneficial without being suitable pets. Michigan's Department of Natural Resources explains that they disperse seeds, contribute to forest regeneration and provide food for native predators. Those roles belong to life outdoors; they are not reasons to capture a squirrel or make it dependent on hand-feeding.
The Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation's account of caring for squirrel kits describes specialized nutrition, monitoring and preparation for release. Even professional care extends well beyond keeping an animal warm and offering something it will eat. Rehabilitation also has an objective that ordinary pet keeping does not: preparing an animal for an appropriate return to the wild.
If the animal fascinated by squirrels is your cat, give the cat the view and not the contact. A window-mounted enclosure such as the VistaGato VistaBella Cat Window Catio lets an indoor cat watch yard wildlife from a secured perch, which keeps both animals safe and keeps the squirrel wild. Check your window type and weight limits before installing.
A secured window enclosure so an indoor cat can watch yard squirrels without contact. Check window type and weight limits.
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Costs extend beyond acquiring an animal
There is no useful single answer to how much a squirrel costs. A sale price, if an animal can legally be sold at all, says little about the resources needed for lawful care. Finding a squirrel outside does not make the commitment free.
Before considering any permitted long-term arrangement, establish:
- Who can legally possess the identified species and for what purpose.
- Which veterinarian has appropriate experience and will accept the animal.
- What housing, environmental conditions and daily care the species requires.
- Who can provide lawful, competent care during an absence.
- What happens if your circumstances change or the animal cannot remain with you.
These are questions to resolve before acquisition, not problems to leave until an animal becomes difficult to manage. An internet seller, social-media account or general pet store cannot answer them on behalf of your wildlife agency or veterinarian.
Litter training does not resolve suitability
Do not plan on a squirrel being reliably litter trained like a domestic cat. An individual's use of a particular area would not establish dependable household toileting, and the evidence here does not support a litter-training success rate or a guaranteed method. Cleaning, odor control and enclosure maintenance would remain part of any authorized care arrangement.
The same applies to personality. An apparently docile squirrel is still a wild animal. A calm encounter does not establish how a squirrel will respond to restraint, unfamiliar people or another animal. Squirrels can bite, and the Wildlife Center of Virginia advises minimizing direct contact. A small body does not remove the handling risks.
Stories about people keeping squirrels in the past, or videos of present-day “pet squirrels,” do not establish that the practice suits the animal. Nor do labels such as “exotic pet,” “micro squirrel” or “pet breed” substitute for an accurate species identification and a welfare assessment.
Keep domestic-pet activities separate
Dogs that fixate on squirrels do better with an outlet for the chase indoors. A puzzle toy such as the Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel turns the search-and-grab pattern into a supervised game with plush pieces, which is the appropriate target for that energy. Supervise play and remove torn pieces.
A plush puzzle toy that gives squirrel-obsessed dogs a supervised indoor outlet. Remove torn pieces.
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If a baby squirrel prompted your interest, use a different decision path: maternal reunification may be appropriate for a healthy displaced youngster, while injury or cat or dog contact calls for prompt professional advice. The comparison below separates those situations from a desire to acquire a pet.
| Situation | Care decision | Key considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy wild squirrel visiting your yard | Observe without trying to capture or tame it. | Familiarity with people does not establish domestication or permission to keep wildlife. |
| Baby squirrel found on the ground | Contact a wildlife rehabilitator for assessment and possible maternal reunification. | A baby outside the nest is not automatically orphaned. |
| Injured squirrel or known cat or dog contact | Seek prompt advice from a permitted wildlife rehabilitator. | Do not attempt feeding, treatment or a home rehabilitation program. |
| Squirrel already being kept indoors | Ask the wildlife agency or a permitted rehabilitator about lawful next steps. | Do not release it abruptly or assume permanent possession is allowed. |
| Squirrel advertised for sale or adoption | Verify the species, origin and applicable permissions before any transaction. | A seller's claim does not establish legality or household suitability. |
Tame behavior is different from domestication
Taming concerns an individual animal becoming less fearful of people. Domestication involves inherited changes across generations of a population. A squirrel can be tamed to some extent, but a tamed squirrel is not a domesticated squirrel. Squirrels have not been domesticated through a sustained breeding history like dogs. Hand-raising one squirrel cannot accomplish that process, and repeated visits to a patio do not mean neighborhood squirrels are becoming domestic animals.
This distinction matters because apparent friendliness can be persuasive. A squirrel may approach, remain nearby or accept the presence of a familiar person. Those observations describe behavior in that setting. They do not establish that the animal wants to live indoors, welcomes touching or will behave predictably when frightened.
Familiarity is not a promise of affection
People sometimes describe squirrels as attached, loving or loyal. It is reasonable to notice that an animal behaves differently around familiar surroundings or routines. It is much harder to infer the animal's internal emotional state from a short encounter.
There is no dependable “signs a squirrel loves you” checklist that should guide handling. Sitting close, looking toward a person or returning to the same location does not independently establish affection. A squirrel seeming comfortable with your presence also does not create an obligation to make it dependent on you.
Keep these observations separate:
- Approaching a location: This may reflect something associated with that place.
- Remaining near a person: This shows tolerance in that moment, not permission to touch.
- Taking food: This does not demonstrate that keeping or handling the animal is appropriate.
- Playing or climbing nearby: This does not establish that the squirrel wants human participation.
Recognition and memory have limits as pet arguments
A squirrel's repeated approach does not, by itself, tell you whether it recognizes your face, remembers your voice or responds to a familiar routine. The sources cited here do not establish a specific memory duration or a test for recognition of an individual person.
That uncertainty should not be filled with a promise that a squirrel will remember you forever or form a dog-like bond. Even recognition, if demonstrated in a particular setting, would not answer the practical questions about housing, diet, lawful possession or safety.
For a household, the useful distinction is between enjoying an animal's presence and expecting a relationship it may not provide. You can observe a familiar visitor without trying to pet it, carry it, bring it inside or make it interact with children.
Prepare for outings with domestic pets
Outdoors, the household boundary is a leash. In parks and yards where squirrels are active, a long line such as the Frisco Training Leash, 15-ft gives a dog room to sniff and move while you keep the ability to stop a chase before it starts; attach it to a flat collar or back-clip harness and keep it off the ground near other dogs.
A 15-foot long line for parks and yards where squirrels are active: room to move, no chase. Flat collar or back-clip harness only.
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Let wildlife choose distance
Some squirrels may allow people to come unusually close. That does not make touching advisable. Avoid testing whether a squirrel will tolerate petting, and do not corner it or block its route away. Children should watch with an adult rather than attempt to pick one up.
The Wildlife Center of Virginia's handling guidance warns against grabbing or holding squirrels by the tail. If an animal needs assistance, get instructions from an appropriate professional instead of improvising a way to restrain it.
Respecting distance also protects the distinction between wildlife and household pets. A friendly dog or curious cat should not be introduced to a squirrel to see whether they get along. Familiarity with humans does not make a squirrel an appropriate playmate for another animal.
Check the rules and choose the right action for a found squirrel
Whether you can legally own a squirrel depends on the species, its origin, your jurisdiction and the purpose for which it is held. A rule about wildlife rehabilitation is not necessarily a rule about pets. Permission in one state or country does not establish permission where you live. Owning a squirrel and temporarily helping one are different legal questions; ask the agency what rescue actions you may take before keeping or transporting it.
Observing from indoors is often an easy alternative to approaching a squirrel. Keep pets away from the wildlife encounter and give the animal room to move. If you are watching a youngster, your distance also helps you observe without continually interfering with the situation.
Verify permission with the wildlife agency
There is no reliable nationwide answer to “what states allow squirrels as pets” without checking the exact species and applicable rules. As one example, California's Department of Fish and Wildlife states that squirrels cannot be kept as pets. That example is not a substitute for checking another jurisdiction.
New York's wildlife rehabilitator license authorizes care of injured or orphaned wildlife for return to the wild. It illustrates why a rehabilitation permit should not be treated as a way around ordinary pet-possession restrictions.
When contacting your agency, ask about:
- The species and whether its origin affects possession rules.
- Permission to capture, purchase, receive, transport or retain it.
- Any local restrictions in addition to state requirements.
- The authorized route for an injured, orphaned or non-releasable animal.
- Who can receive an animal you already have.
Buying a baby does not settle the question
A baby squirrel advertised for sale is not automatically lawful to buy, transport or keep. Obtain the species identification and documentation of origin, then verify the requirements independently before paying or arranging delivery. “Captive-bred” is information to check, not a universal exemption.
The same applies to adoption or private rehoming. A person offering a squirrel may not have authority to transfer it. Do not accept an animal first and assume that you can obtain permission afterward. If the appropriate agency says possession is prohibited, choose a different companion animal.
The same boundary applies at home: the squirrel decision is yours, not your dog's. Recall practice is what keeps a dog's attention on you when wildlife appears, and small, soft rewards such as Zuke's Mini Naturals Chicken Recipe Pet Treats for Dogs make frequent repetitions practical. Count them toward the daily food allowance and never leave treats out where wild animals can reach them.
Small, soft treats for recall practice around wildlife. Count toward daily food; never leave treats out for wild animals.
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Keeping domestic-pet supplies and routines separate makes the household boundary clearer: your pets can remain comfortable indoors while you decide whether a wild visitor needs any intervention. A squirrel being nearby does not require bringing it into that routine.
A baby on the ground may still have a mother
A fallen or exploring baby is not automatically orphaned. The Wildlife Center of Virginia's baby-squirrel guide, hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, describes assessment and possible reunification with the mother.
Do not use a survival countdown, a photograph-based age estimate or the fact that the baby has fur as the sole basis for deciding what to do. Young squirrels' needs vary with development and condition. An animal that is mobile may still depend on maternal care.
Take these initial steps:
- Keep children, dogs and cats away from the squirrel.
- Note its location, visible condition and any known contact with a pet.
- Contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator or your wildlife agency.
- Follow the instructions given for that animal and setting.
- Do not offer food or water while awaiting guidance.
The Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center's squirrel guidance identifies injury, cat or dog contact and fly eggs among reasons to seek prompt help. Report those observations when you call. Do not wait for an obvious wound before mentioning that a pet caught or mouthed the animal.
A professional may recommend maternal reunification for a suitable healthy youngster. Follow the specific instructions, including where to observe and when to call back. Reunification is an assessment-based response, not a reason to leave every baby outside indefinitely.
If you have already brought a squirrel home
For baby squirrel rescue near you, ask your wildlife agency to identify a permitted rehabilitator. Contact that rehabilitator or wildlife agency and explain the circumstances honestly, including how long the squirrel has been with you and anything it has eaten. Helping arrange appropriate care is different from undertaking rehabilitation yourself.
Do not abruptly release a hand-raised animal because it has become difficult to manage. Professional assessment considers condition, development, behavior and preparation for release. Neither “it can never survive outside” nor “it will work things out” is a responsible assumption. Some animals may be suitable for rehabilitation and release; others require a different lawful decision.
Why species and long-term needs matter
“Squirrel” covers animals with different natural histories. A familiar eastern gray squirrel, a ground squirrel and a flying squirrel should not be treated as interchangeable versions of one exotic pet. Identifying the animal comes before deciding what it needs.
The same caution applies to color. “Brown squirrel” is a description, not a dependable species identification. A lifespan, diet or housing recommendation attached to that label may concern a different animal from the one in front of you.
Tree, ground and flying squirrels differ
An eastern gray squirrel is a tree squirrel. Its climbing and nesting behavior makes the space and structure of its environment relevant. A ground squirrel's use of ground-level habitat and burrows raises different questions. A small cage marketed for rodents does not resolve either animal's needs.
Flying squirrels are mammals and rodents. They glide using a membrane between their limbs; they do not fly like birds. Sugar gliders are different animals, belonging to the marsupials, so a sugar-glider care sheet should not be used as a flying-squirrel prescription.
Chipmunks belong to the squirrel family, but “chipmunk” and “ground squirrel” should not be treated as interchangeable species names. Likewise, “flying squirrel” covers more than one species. These distinctions matter when someone asks whether flying or ground squirrels make better pets: neither name establishes domestication, legality or beginner suitability.
For any authorized care arrangement, establish:
- The exact species rather than a seller's nickname.
- Its normal activity pattern and environmental needs.
- Appropriate shelter, movement opportunities and escape prevention.
- Nutritional requirements at its current life stage.
- Veterinary access and the lawful long-term plan.
A bowl of nuts is not a complete care plan
What a squirrel chooses to eat is not the same as everything it needs nutritionally. Do not turn observations of wild foraging into a captive menu or assume that a commercial food for another rodent is interchangeable.
The Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation describes care for several squirrel groups, with nutritional support, monitoring and preparation for release. That professional account illustrates the work involved. It should not be converted into a formula recipe or feeding schedule for an inexperienced finder.
Housing is a long-term responsibility
The same principle applies to cages and accessories. Housing has to support the identified animal's needs and the purpose of care. An enclosure suitable for brief transport is not a permanent habitat, and an indoor cage is not automatically suitable for release conditioning.
This broader distinction also appears in Petful's guide to keeping lobsters as pets: a familiar common name can conceal major differences in care. Accurate identification is the starting point for a decision, not an optional detail.
Lifespan and seasonal behavior need context
How long squirrels live in captivity depends on the species and circumstances; there is no single reliable pet-squirrel lifespan that applies to every species. Figures for wild animals, animals in professional care and exceptional individuals also answer different questions. A maximum recorded age should not be presented as an average or a promise for an individual animal.
For long-term planning, ask the responsible specialist about the identified species and the animal's circumstances. The absence of a precise number does not justify treating care as a short commitment. Continuing needs include competent daily care, veterinary access and a lawful plan if the current arrangement ends.
Seasonal activity still needs context
Hibernation is also species-dependent. Indiana's Department of Natural Resources describes gray squirrels becoming less active in winter to conserve energy. Reduced activity should not be confused with a universal rule that all squirrels hibernate, and ground-squirrel biology should not be applied to every tree or flying squirrel.
If you already care for a squirrel under appropriate authority, use the care plan for that animal. Unusual inactivity, changes in appetite or other concerns belong with the responsible veterinarian or rehabilitator, rather than an assumption about seasonal behavior.
Questions readers ask
Human scent alone should not be treated as proof of maternal rejection. If someone has touched a baby squirrel, do not assume that keeping and raising it is now the only option. Tell a permitted wildlife rehabilitator what happened so they can assess whether maternal reunification is appropriate. The baby's condition and circumstances matter; avoid further unnecessary handling and follow the professional's instructions.
Squirrels are part of local wildlife, and their value does not depend on becoming pets. Peaceful coexistence can mean observing wildlife from a distance while keeping household animals separate and securing access to your home. You do not need to hand-feed or tame a squirrel to enjoy watching it. If one enters a building or creates another conflict, seek species-appropriate guidance from your wildlife agency or a qualified wildlife professional rather than capturing it for pet keeping.
There is no reliable nationwide answer. Legality depends on the species, where the animal came from, your state and local rules, and the purpose for which it is held. California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife, for example, states that squirrels cannot be kept as pets, and New York’s wildlife rehabilitator license covers care for release, not pet ownership. Ask your own wildlife agency about the exact species before acquiring, transporting or keeping one.
Do not plan on it. An individual squirrel using one area of an enclosure does not establish dependable household toileting, and the evidence here supports no method or success rate. Cleaning, odor control and enclosure maintenance would remain part of any authorized care. Squirrels can bite, and the Wildlife Center of Virginia advises minimizing direct contact, so a litter habit would not make one a household pet.
An advertised sale is not automatically lawful to complete, transport or keep. Get the species identification and documentation of origin, then verify the possession rules with your wildlife agency before paying or arranging delivery; “captive-bred” is a claim to check, not an exemption. Do not accept an animal first and hope to sort out permission afterward. If possession is prohibited where you live, choose a different companion animal.
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Kristine Lacoste has been researching dog and cat breeds for nearly a decade and has observed the animals up close at dog shows in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She is the author of the book One Unforgettable Journey, which was named as a finalist for a Maxwell Award from the Dog Writers Association of America, and was host of a weekly pet news segment on the National K-9 Academy Radio Show. In addition, she was the New Orleans coordinator for Dogs on Deployment, a nonprofit that helps military members and their pets, for 3 years. Kristine has researched and written about pet behaviors and care for many years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, another bachelor’s degree in English and a Master of Business Administration degree.
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