Wildlife Control

Why You Shouldn’t Keep a Squirrel as a Pet in Toronto

Squirrels are everywhere in Toronto, scurrying up tree branches and across parks. Their cute antics and fluffy tails make them a favourite among city dwellers. Some animal lovers even wonder if they can keep a pet squirrel at home. However, before attempting squirrel ownership, it’s important to understand the legal, ethical, and practical challenges of domesticating these wild animals. Going back three hundred years ago, squirrels were often kept as pets by early colonists – Benjamin Franklin even penned a tribute to a friends’ squirrel that had passed away. But those days are over. Squirrels are not the best pet to try to keep in captivity and it’s a bad idea to attempt it, especially for the time when they reach sexual maturity. They can become vicious. For safety reasons, adult squirrels need to be with other squirrels. You might think that keeping their cage clean and equip with soft bedding material, a water bowl, and healthy food would be sufficient but squirrels require so much more.

From their need for a large cage and specialized squirrel food to their unpredictable behaviour and potential health risks, raising a squirrel is far more complicated than it seems. Plus, local laws in Toronto prohibit keeping squirrels as pets, emphasizing their role in wildlife conservation. Instead of attempting to keep squirrels, it’s best to appreciate them in their natural habitat, where they can ascend trees, forage, and thrive as nature intended. If you love squirrels let them be in the wild where they can survive very well on a healthy diet and the company and companionship of the other wild animals that squirrels require.

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Squirrels are Wild Animals

At Affordable Wildlife Control we understand the appeal of keeping a wild animal, such as a squirrel, as a pet. However, it’s important to recognize that “pet” squirrels are wild animals with complex social structures and natural behaviours that cannot be replicated in captivity. Attempting to have squirrels as pets can negatively impact their health and survival, as they may not receive the specialized care they need.

In Ontario, including Toronto, provincial and city laws prohibit keeping squirrels as pets. The city’s Animals Bylaw lists squirrels among the prohibited animals, and the fine for having a prohibited animal is $240.00

If you encounter an injured or orphaned squirrel, it’s best to contact a wildlife control service or a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center. These professionals ensure that squirrels receive proper care while promoting wildlife conservation. If you can, try to put it in a small cardboard box to keep the squirrel safe. Going back to having a squirrel as a pet, a pet squirrel requires a carefully managed diet. In the wild, squirrels require a mix of nuts, fruits, vegetables, and small insects. Without proper nutrition, they can suffer from serious conditions like metabolic bone disease, which weakens their bones due to a lack of calcium and vitamin D3. Additionally, squirrels are messy eaters, and improper feeding can lead to health complications. Instead of attempting to keep squirrels as a pet, we encourage you to enjoy their presence in nature, where they can thrive as they were meant to.

Beyond dietary concerns, squirrels have sharp teeth and claws that can easily injure family members, especially if you try to hand feed them. Squirrels do not have a bite inhibition reflex which can be especially dangerous, they cannot control the strength of their bite like a dog or a cat could. Though rare, they may also carry diseases such as rabies and typhus, posing a potential health risk.

Legal Stuff

Provincial Laws

In Ontario, keeping wild animals as pets is strictly prohibited. The province enforces laws to protect native wildlife and ensure their healthy survival in their natural habitat. This means individuals are not allowed to capture, own, or attempt squirrel ownership under any circumstances.

Municipal Bylaws

Toronto’s municipal bylaws also support these regulations. The city’s Animals Bylaw includes a list of prohibited animals, and keeping a pet squirrel could lead to fines or other legal consequences. These rules reflect the city’s dedication to maintaining a healthy balance between humans and other animals in urban spaces.

Feeding Wildlife

Feeding adult squirrels is discouraged in Toronto, as it can interfere with their natural behaviours. When humans regularly provide food, it disrupts their instinct to scramble up trees and forage for healthy food like nuts, fruits, and vegetables. Over time, this dependency can harm their ability to survive in the wild. Additionally, improper feedings such as giving them junk food can negatively affect their body weight and overall health. They require a healthy diet to thrive.

To respect the laws and support wildlife conservation, it’s best to admire these fascinating creatures from a distance. If you encounter an injured or orphaned baby squirrel, put it in a box with some bedding material and a water bowl, and contact a professional wildlife control service or a licensed wildlife rehabilitation centre for assistance.

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Squirrel Ownership Challenges

Wild Animals: Nature and Behaviour

Squirrels are wild animals with instincts that cannot be domesticated. Unlike cats or dogs, they thrive in the wild, jumping from tree branches, foraging for food, and interacting with other wild animals in their natural environment. Some species, like ground squirrels, can become aggressive and require specialized care, making them unsuitable as pets. They are highly active and curious creatures that need space to climb trees and explore. When confined, they often experience high stress levels, leading to behavioural issues and aggression.

Housing Requirements

To thrive, squirrels need an environment that mirrors their natural habitat. This includes a large cage with plenty of tree branches for climbing, a litter box. a nest box for resting, and materials for gnawing to maintain their dental health. Healthy food is a must, no junk food. Hanging parrot toys can also provide additional enrichment and stimulation. Unfortunately, recreating such an environment in a typical household is nearly impossible, which is why having squirrels as pets is not fair to the animal. Unlike domesticated pets, animals like squirrels require space and freedom to roam, making free roam captivity impractical.

Dietary Needs: What Squirrels Eat

A squirrel’s diet is diverse, consisting of nuts, fruits, vegetables, and occasionally insects. Proper nutrition in captivity is crucial, and rodent blocks should be a staple in their diet to ensure they receive essential nutrients. Squirrels love butternut squash, mustard greens, sunflower seeds, kale, mushrooms, dandelion greens and carrots, these are all good options for a varied diet for squirrels, unless they are at a very young age. For baby squirrels, never give them human baby formula or cow’s milk – the nutritional make-up of these products is not suitable for squirrels. While commercial squirrel food is available, it should never be their primary food source. An imbalanced diet can lead to serious health issues, such as metabolic bone disease, a condition where bones become weak due to a lack of calcium and vitamin D3. Squirrels require a well-planned, healthy diet and it’s essential to keep squirrels safe for their survival, but meeting these needs requires extensive knowledge and effort.

Keeping a squirrel as a pet is not only a bad idea but also it’s usually a death sentence for the animal, as it deprives them of their natural instincts and environment. If you happen to come across an injured or orphaned baby squirrel, keep the squirrel warm and contact a wildlife control professional or a licensed rehabilitation centre to ensure the animal receives the proper care it needs.

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Health and Safety

Injury Risk

Adult squirrels possess sharp claws and strong teeth, which they use for climbing and gnawing. In a domestic setting, these natural behaviors can lead to accidental injuries to humans and significant property damage, such as chewing on electrical cords or furniture. Unlike domesticated animals, squirrels lack a bite inhibition reflex, meaning they may bite with full force when threatened or scared, increasing the risk of injury.

Disease Transmission from Wild Squirrels

While squirrels are not exactly common carriers of rabies, they can harbour other diseases and parasites that pose health risks to humans and pets. Diseases such as leptospirosis, salmonellosis, and tularemia can be transmitted through direct contact with squirrels or their droppings. Additionally, squirrels often carry parasites like ticks, fleas, and mites, which can further spread diseases.

Other Pets

Introducing a wild squirrel into a home with existing pets like cats or dogs can lead to conflicts. Unlike a pet rat (from a pet store) which can be easily integrated into a household, a wild squirrel may not adapt well to living with other pets, even with its own litter box. The presence of natural predators or unfamiliar animals can stress the wild squirrel and pose safety risks to all animals involved.

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Ethical and Conservation Considerations

Impact on Squirrel Populations

Removing squirrels from their natural habitat can disrupt the ecosystem. Each squirrel has a role in seed dispersal and is prey for other wildlife. Capturing small squirrels for pet purposes can have unintended ecological consequences.

Animal Welfare

Keeping a wild animal in captivity raises moral questions. Squirrels have complex physical and psychological needs that can’t be met in a home environment. Depriving them of their natural behaviour and habitat can reduce their quality of life.

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Alternatives to Squirrels as Pets

Responsible Wildlife Viewing

Instead of trying to domesticate wild squirrels, consider creating a backyard habitat that supports and attracts them. Plant native trees and provide natural food sources to offer a healthy diet for them. This approach allows you to observe adult squirrels, baby squirrels, ground or tree squirrels, without direct contact with the wild animals.

Other Pets

While squirrels are fascinating creatures, they are wild animals with complex needs that are challenging to meet in a domestic setting. Instead, consider adopting domesticated species such as rats, African pygmy dormice, gerbils, hamsters, or rabbits. These animals are bred for captivity and can bond with humans when provided with proper care and enrichment.

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Conclusion

(Whether or Not You Should Keep a Squirrel as a Pet)

While keeping a squirrel as a pet might seem appealing at first, it’s important to understand that doing so is not only illegal but also unethical and impractical, especially in places like Toronto, Ontario. Squirrels are wild animals with specific needs that cannot be met in a home environment, and attempting to domesticate them can negatively affect their health and well-being.

Instead, we encourage you to respect wildlife and appreciate squirrels in their natural habitat, where they thrive. Observing squirrels in the wild allows you to enjoy their fascinating behaviors without disrupting their natural lives. If you are seeking companionship, there are many domesticated animals better suited to life in a home, such as dogs, cats, and small rodents, which can offer the companionship you’re looking for while being well-suited for domestication.

In the end, respecting wildlife and fostering a harmonious coexistence with animals is always the most responsible choice. a squirrel as a pet may seem appealing but it’s illegal, unethical and impractical to attempt the challenges especially in Toronto, Ontario. Respecting wildlife and appreciating them in their natural habitat is the most responsible way. If you want companionship, there are many domesticated animals better suited to be pets.