Eastern gray squirrels usually live in areas where they have access to water, food and shelter. They are common in forest areas, mainly in hardwoods such as hickory and oak. You can also see them in residential areas and city parks. “The Game Commission is not following its own law, which states that if an animal is legally owned by another state, it can be legally brought to Pennsylvania,” Berger said. The flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) is 7 to 10 inches long with large eyes. It has gray-brown fur on top and white fur on belly. Although it cannot fly like a bird, it glides through the air for short distances using a special membrane that extends from the front to the hind legs. Question: Are lemurs legal to keep pets in Florida? In winter, they feed on temporarily stored food, acorns, pine seeds and deciduous trees. When there is a lack of natural food, eastern gray squirrels feed on baby birds, bird eggs and insects. The largest squirrel in Florida and the entire Western Hemisphere is the thresher squirrel or Sciurus niger. It is one of the exotic species.
When fully mature, fox squirrels grow to a length of 2.5 feet and their fox-like tail grows more than 1 foot. Bringing wild animals into your home always carries some risk, even if they are hand-raised by humans. You only have to do a minimal search on youtube.com to see hilarious and shocking stories of people who have tried. Wildlife conservation officer William Dingman said the Gosselins should hand over the squirrel to a wildlife rehabilitation specialist, but instead claimed the squirrel escaped. Now that you know that it is possible to own a squirrel in Florida, it is your responsibility to determine what policies you need to implement to ensure their safety. When I grow up and move, move to Florida and have a ranch and a few pets, this site really helped me know what pets I can have as pets. There are states where you need a permit to own a squirrel: The Eastern Gray Squirrel, or Sciurus carolinensis, is native to the entire eastern United States, including Florida. These are some of the threatened or endangered species of exotic animals. Having a squirrel as a pet is not an easy task; We will not deceive you.
But not impossible! We recommend, if you want to have a squirrel, to go to a trusted breeder and choose the best quality for accessories and food. It is best not to feed other types of wild animals, such as cats or rabbits. Are you ready to have your own squirrel? But Berger said the law cited by Feaser is not the one on the citation given to the Gosselins. They were cited under a law that includes an exclusion that allows the importation of an animal legally acquired in another state, Berger said. Therefore, it is necessary to closely monitor every corner of your property to check if they have started to be in your location or not. Here are some tips for checking your home for squirrels. When it comes to pets, most of us will opt for fluffy puppies and kittens, perhaps a hedgehog if you`re particularly wild. But Florida`s animal laws allow you to have pretty exotic animals as cuddly companions. We`ve all seen those pet alligator headlines slip away, but these aren`t the only unexpected wildlife you can keep in the Sunshine State.
One of the aspects that you can take into account when buying is that when you look at the cage they are in, you get closer and choose the one that has the most movement, the one that seems the most curious. These tend to have better skills at building relationships with people and end up playing with them without risking stress or flight. A permit is required if you want to have a “wildlife menagerie”. This designation includes anyone who does not display their large cats and bears and who has not listed a minimum or maximum number of animals. Exotic animals entering the state must have a single entry permit and a health certificate. All types of squirrels, with the exception of the gray squirrel, which is considered a wild animal and requires a Game Farm license application and compliance with these requirements, are legal. These include chipmunks, red squirrels, flying squirrels and more exotic species such as Prévost squirrels. These squirrels usually have two types of houses, a permanent burrow in a tree and a nest of leaves near the treetops. In eastern Florida, gray squirrels typically live in hardwoods such as oaks and walnut trees. Native to Mexico and Central America, Mexican gray squirrels have been introduced to Florida as exotic species. Delaware state law requires permits for most wild mammals and hybrids. Pets that do not require a permit include chinchillas, hedgehogs, ferrets, opossums, rabbits, sugar gliders, etc.
Many lizards are allowed, including anoles, water dragons, basilisks, bearded dragons, chameleons, geckos, iguanas and more. Possession of non-native venomous snakes is illegal. Bearded dragons are not illegal and I doubt anyone would worry about such a small lizard. If someone doesn`t feel comfortable doing it, make sure you don`t keep it. Answer: Some monkeys are legal, as long as they get a Class 3 permit. Note: FL accredited rehabilitators must have a study permit. Florida is one of the few states that allow bats as pets, as long as they`re not wild (you don`t want to catch a potential rabies vector in the wild anyway). The most common bat species that humans keep as pets are fruit bats. They are unique, but require a lot of space in the case for their size.
Bats should have a suitable large aviary in which they can fly. Fox squirrels live in pine and oak forests; However, these squirrels prefer open forest spaces to dense forests. Possession of wild game is illegal in most states, and it is also illegal in Florida. However, if you apply for a $50 permit, you may own native and non-captive-bred deer species that are not native in the wild. You will need to complete a Game Farm license application that does not appear to restrict ownership for personal use. All animals considered game require this license. This also includes gray squirrels, rabbits, wild boars, moose, antelopes, buffaloes, but not bison. You will need to erect an 8-foot-high “deer-proof” fence or meet the standards required for your species. White-tailed deer, Axis deer and the smallest dog-sized muntjac deer are examples of deer kept as pets. Georgia`s Ministry of Natural Resources describes illegal animals as naturally dangerous. This classification includes kangaroos, primates, non-domesticated dogs, non-domesticated cats, crocodiles, alligators, elephants, bats, piranhas, air-breathing catfish, Gila monsters, cobras and other venomous snakes.
If you want to have a capuchin monkey as a pet, a special permit is required. You do not need a permit for sugar gliders or ferrets. Domestic rabbits and small rodents are also allowed without permission, with the exception of hedgehogs. This condition restricts potentially dangerous animals. Bears, big cats, wolves and primates are included in the list of illegal animals to own in this state. If you are before 1. October 2010 had a primate under 35 pounds at maturity, you can keep ownership of this animal. It is legal to keep a squirrel as a pet in Florida, and a subsidy is not required. Keep in mind that they are wild animals by nature and can hurt people or other domestic animals. They are also known to be destructive. However, many people have managed to keep them as pets for years. The exceptions to this rule are squirrels that have not been legally acquired – that is: taken out of the wild, rehabilitated without a rehabilitation permit, threatened; Great Cypriot fox squirrel.
Technically, your squirrel must be the descendant of a legally captive-bred squirrel from a USDA licensed breeder. Again, FL F&W won`t bother you unless there`s a complaint, someone gets bitten, or you do something stupid like listing a squirrel on Craigslist. -Arizona -Delaware -Indiana -Florida -Maine -Michigan -Montana -North Dakota -Oklahoma -Oregon -South Carolina -South Dakota -Utah, for Northern flying squirrels, all other squirrels do not need them -West Virginia -Wyoming Fox squirrels benefit from a wide diet of nuts, seeds, acorns, fruits, tree buds, insects, flowers, tubers, roots, bird eggs and mushrooms. In late summer, they feed on pine seeds, and in winter and autumn, hard fattening is their food of choice. Interstate trafficking with squirrels is generally regulated at the state level, with the exception of endangered/threatened species such as Greater Cyprus or Southern Squirrel (Sherman) and those that have been illegally captured/kept. You should have a receipt from the breeder or a letter from your veterinarian stating that they were obtained legally.