Lost cat or dog? You can contact your city or county animal control here.

pic

Why Squirrels Make Bad Pets

Friday, February 7, 2014

Squirrels seem so cute, so it’s tempting to think about taking them home as a pet. However, when you consider the consequences of having a squirrel for a pet, it’s not a good decision for most of us.

Is It Legal to Have a Squirrel for a Pet?

It is illegal to have a squirrel as a pet in Colorado. In general, wildlife cannot be owned or held in captivity.

Disadvantages of Having a Squirrel for a Pet

Squirrels are highly energetic and destructive animals. They are larger than most rodents kept as pets, and they have no real history of domestication. As such, they can cause many problems.

Squirrels are hard to cage. They are strong and persistent, and because of their size and tendency to roam over large areas, they need a large area to roam to keep them healthy and happy. If they don’t have this, they will focus their energy on destruction, and can break out of many cages you might think could hold them.

When squirrels are out of their cages, they will eagerly seek to exercise their natural instincts. Squirrels are destructive to your home because of their tendency to chew. They also use their long claws to climb, which will lead to holes and damage to everything in your home, including your arm if you aren’t wearing protective clothing.

Squirrels naturally drop refuse everywhere they go. However, they don’t like to make a mess of their own cage, and they will spray and throw urine and feces out of their space.

Squirrels are wild animals and don’t have the same sense of affection and bonding with people that domestic animals have been bred and selected for over generations. As such, they are more likely to bite you, your children, and your other pets. This can make them unsafe to have around.

If You Find a Squirrel Baby

Most of the time that people end up with a pet squirrel, it’s because they find a baby that’s been abandoned. If you find yourself in this situation, you’re better off contacting people who can care for the animal and reintroduce it to the wild.

If, however, a squirrel seems intent on making your home its home, we can help. Please contact Animal and Pest Control Specialist for help getting rid of squirrels and other pests across the Front Range, including Denver, Fort Collins, and Castle Rock.

Mice can contaminate food-preperation areas with their feces and can cause severe damage to structures.

Read More

Here are the signs you should be looking for to identify new pest problems this season.

Read More

We offer all the pest control services you need, including prevention, removal, and extermination.

Read More

It’s hard to understand the value we offer until you’ve tried us. Our discount makes it easier for new customers to get the best value in pest control.

Contact us today