Squirrels require plenty of room and branches to play on in captivity.
Squirrel cages can be used both to trap a squirrel in a humane way to transport the animal to a new location, or to house a pet squirrel in areas where it is legal to do so. A squirrel trap is a relatively easy project that requires only a few materials, whereas building a cage to house a squirrel is more involved, in which several aspects must be considered for the proper care of your pet. Check with your local Fish and Game Department about the legality of having squirrels as pets.
Instructions
Trapping and Transporting Squirrels
1. Use a pencil and paper to draw out a design for a squirrel trap that utilizes either a piece of PVC piping or stove pipe that is no less than two feet deep with a diameter of approximately six inches. Consider the fact that the bottom of the piping will need to be capped and can be done so by using duct tape to secure sturdy wire meshing to the bottom of the pipe.
2. Make sure that you have a way to secure the trap to either a tree or post that the squirrels can access. Use a drill and metal-cutting bit to drill a hole near the top of the pipe, which can then be used as a way to nail the trap to the post or tree.
3. Drop corn or another edible treat into the bottom of the trap to attract the squirrels. Ensure that whichever wire mesh you intend to use for your trap is not so porous that the food simply drops out in between its squares. The piping you use should be slippery enough so that the squirrel will not be able to climb out. This same trap can be used as a transportation cage when it comes time to placing the squirrel far away from your house.
Pet Squirrel Cages
4. Research the species of squirrel you have and seek to include elements of its natural environment within both the construction of its cage as well as what you choose to fill the cage with.
5. Do not build the cage any smaller than three cubic feet per squirrel you intend to house. According to animal-world.com, three cubic feet is the absolute minimum size that a cage should be for a pet squirrel.
6. Design the frame of your cage to be made out of wood that is either untreated, or treated only with a sealant that is nontoxic. Squirrels have a tendency to chew on branches for the care of their teeth and should not be exposed to toxic materials. Alternatively, the cage can be made out of wire mesh. You can also provide the squirrel with plenty of branches for it to chew. Use 16-gauge galvanized steel wire fencing to form the sides of your cage. Make sure that the spaces in the wiring are small enough so that your squirrel cannot escape.
7. Include space for a nesting box, or hang a nesting box on the outside of your cage with an opening to the inside. Add a tray lined with newspaper to serve as the bottom of the cage in order to make the cleaning process easier. Using wire mesh or fencing on the bottom will make the clean up difficult.
8. Add moss, twigs, branches, stumps and other elements found in squirrels' natural habitats to make your pet feel more comfortable and to enable it to construct its own nest within the nesting box.
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