How to Become Friends With a Squirrel
Squirrels are a difficult species to befriend because they have a tough life maintaining their food pyramid, as well as ensuring their safety. However, some will eventually win your heart and trust. Learning how to become friends with a squirrel takes patience and time. Start by greeting it whenever you see it, choosing a feeding spot, and building trust. You may even find that it will come to you to feed.
Feeding a squirrel
To make a squirrel your friend, you need to remember to approach them slowly. If you approach a squirrel, it may take several days or weeks before it accepts your peanut. Reassure them that you are not a threat by remaining calm. After they have accepted your peanut, let them watch you, and they might even try to steal the nut from your hand. When you are able to approach a squirrel without frightening it, they will soon become familiar with your presence.
If you want to become a squirrel’s friend, you have to understand how they differentiate you from other people. They can smell you by sound, smell, and gesture. Try to offer them a variety of fruits and vegetables. Choose vegetables that contain high levels of calcium, such as broccoli and arugula. They can also eat kale and radicchio. A balanced diet is the best way to get a squirrel to trust you.
If you want to get closer to your squirrel, give it something nutritious to gnaw on. You can use a cuttlebone or antler to feed it calcium and trace minerals. A walnut-sized rock is another great option. If you don’t want to give your squirrel artificial sweeteners or any other type of packaged food, try hanging a cuttlebone in the cage. Lastly, try to avoid feeding your squirrels packaged squirrel food or pet treats.
Establishing a close relationship with a squirrel
The first step to establish a close relationship with a squirrel is to observe them closely. During morning and evening hours, squirrels are most active. When you feed a squirrel, make sure to avoid feeding it peanuts. Peanuts in the shell are best for training purposes. Next, make a sound to attract the squirrel’s attention. Make the same sound every time so the squirrel will associate the sound with food.
The squirrel has a close co-evolutionary relationship with seeds, and the behavior of these rodents varies from one region to another. This is evidenced by a range of different behaviors in squirrels of different ages and sexes in the same region. Some behaviors are unique to North America and other areas, while others are common worldwide. The following are common behaviors of squirrels.
While direct eye contact may not seem like a big deal, it is a cue for a squirrel to associate you with food. Despite this, squirrels appear to respond to louder voices and big movements. One man who was feeding a squirrel was chatting on his cellphone for three minutes, and after he had given it a nut, the squirrel came down on all fours and took the nut from his hand.
Care of a squirrel
First, assess the squirrel’s condition in a quiet room. If the squirrel has been injured, wash it with a clean, soft washcloth in the manner of a mother licking her baby. Do not attempt to clean the squirrel yourself, as this could cause serious injury. Make sure to use a clean, sterile area, as well as a secure box. If the squirrel is injured, bring it to a licensed rehabber for treatment.
Next, provide a cage that squirrels need in order to develop independence and fear of humans. It should be kept in a room away from high human traffic, so that it will not feel trapped. Do not treat it like a pet, and do not expose it to species it should fear. A captive squirrel will be more likely to run into trouble with humans and other pets if it is exposed to these things. Therefore, it is essential that you carefully read the guideline on how to care for a squirrel.
When caring for a baby squirrel, make sure to avoid handling it too much. Mothers will quickly reclaim their young once they’re no longer babies. However, you can try to distract them by squeaking loudly and placing uncooked bird seed or rice in a sock. Wrapping the baby with a soft cloth will help keep the squirrel away from humans. Moreover, keep in mind that the presence of human scent does not mean that the mother will reject the young.
How do you become friends with a squirrel?
By offering it food water and shelter.
Jessica Watson is a PHD holder from the University of Washington. She studied behavior and interaction between squirrels and has presented her research in several wildlife conferences including TWS Annual Conference in Winnipeg.
