Caring For a Flying Squirrel

When you and your family are considering owning an exotic pet, there are many different choices you could make. Flying squirrels could be an option for anyone looking for an exotic pet for their family. There are many things that you need to be aware of before you choose to purchase a flying squirrel.

Flying squirrels are technically considered to be a wild animal, but they have turned out to be very gentle creatures that are great for family. Flying squirrels are about 8-10 inches which is including the tail of the squirrel. These creatures usually only weigh between 2-4 ounces, but they have a lifespan of up to 12 years. These flying squirrels have become a popular pet in the US because of their loyal nature to their owners. Flying squirrels will usually develop a deep bond with their owners. They will also enjoy spending a lot of time just sleeping in a pocket of the owner. These flying squirrels usually develop a bond like this when the squirrel has been around the owner since it was born.

Feeding a squirrel such as these can be difficult if you aren’t completely aware of all diet requirements that the squirrel might have. When these squirrels are in the wild, they usually eat food such as fruit, seeds, insects, and nuts. While you can’t provide exactly what they normally eat, you can provide an alternative to the food that they would normally eat. Many flying squirrel owners say that pine nuts, sunflower seeds, and pecans are offered as part of the main course of their diet. You can also give them mealworms or wax worms as an occasional treat. Fresh vegetables and fruit should be offered as part of their diet on a daily basis. Corn and sweet potatoes are said to be popular vegetables for your flying squirrel to eat. You should also take into consideration that flying squirrels can have a calcium deficiency so you need to provide a supplement for them in their diet. A calcium supplement should be added to their food on a daily basis as well as adding a calcium block to their cages.

The next factor that you should consider is the type of cage that your flying squirrel will require. Southern flying squirrels are smaller animals, so they can make do with a smaller cage, but they would prefer something larger. Having a larger cage allows the squirrel to have room to glide from side to side which is exercise for them.