Why Does My Baby Squirrel Bite Me?
If your baby squirrel is biting you, there are many possible explanations for why it’s doing it. It might be hungry or curious, or it could be curious about whether you’re going to feed it. Whatever the reason, it’s likely that it isn’t aggressive in the slightest. But the fact remains that this adorable creature has strong teeth and a strong jaw. Hence, these behaviors may be a warning sign that you shouldn’t handle your baby squirrel with care.
It’s a sloppy eater
You may wonder why your baby squirrel is chomping on your fingers. You’re not the only one! Squirrels are notorious for chomping on human fingers, too. They also like to nibble on things in close proximity to their mouths, including your fingers and blocks. Squirrels use this method to wear down their teeth.
A common solution for feeding your squirrel is to give it a new food item. You can also provide it with a bottle or eyedropper. However, you must be careful not to irritate your squirrel by using a dropper on its tongue or lips. Remember, squirrels have a sucking reflex. If your baby squirrel is chewing on your hand, he is most likely trying to get to your food.
If you’ve ever fed a squirrel, you know that they’re very territorial and will often attack people for food. This behavior can be a sign that your squirrel is unhappy in captivity and will attack you if you disturb him or her. If you’re feeding a baby squirrel, don’t be surprised if it bites you back! A squirrel may be more aggressive than you think, but once the food is gone, it’ll go back to its normal self.
It’s not aggressive by nature
Although violent behaviors are often correlated with aggressive behavior, nonviolent aggression may have negative consequences. The healthcare field must consider this issue because it can result in increased medical costs, youth violence, and involvement in criminal justice. According to the World Health Organization, violence resulting from non-violent aggression results in 4,400 deaths a year. In addition, aggression may increase the risk of sexual assault. It’s not surprising then that this behavior is important to understand in order to reduce the risk of violence.
Although aggression is in our nature, it is not always exhibited in street fights. Sometimes, it comes in the form of composed hostility between leaders. This aggression is contained in society because leaders often disagree before a war is started. In other cases, it is uncontrolled, but is present when humans are at war. In the latter case, leaders can use their intellectual capacity to outwit and defeat their opponents. But before a war is started, leaders can agree on their positions and avoid the risk of war.
It has sharp teeth and strong jaws
A pet squirrel may appear clumsy and frightened, but it’s actually quite a gentle creature. Unlike humans, squirrels have sharp teeth and strong jaws. They can actually bite through your finger bone. The bite force of a Grizzly bear is about 1,200 pounds per square inch. The first step to dealing with your baby squirrel’s biting behavior is to understand what’s going on. A squirrel may be defensive of its food, or may have a strong odor that makes it afraid.
The reason why squirrels have sharp teeth is simple: they’re constantly chewing. They are conditioned by chewing on food, and this keeps their teeth sharp. Unlike dogs and cats, however, squirrels don’t have this bite inhibition reflex. The result is that while you may train your dog or cat to not bite too hard when playing with you, a squirrel has no idea when it’s OK to chew hard.
Why does my baby squirrel bite?
Answer: There could be several reasons.
It could be teething it could be playing or it could be feeling threatened.
What should I do if my baby squirrel bites me?
Answer: If the bite is not severe gently hold the squirrel’s mouth shut and scruff it until it stops.
If the bite is more severe seek medical attention immediately.
Is it normal for my baby squirrel to bite?
Answer: Yes it is normal.
Baby squirrels will often bite while they are teething.
They may also bite while playing or if they feel threatened.
My baby squirrel only bites me.
What does this mean?
Answer: There could be several reasons.
It could be teething it could be playing or it could be feeling threatened.
I was playing with my baby squirrel and it bit me.
What should I do?
Answer: If the bite is not severe gently hold the squirrel’s mouth shut and scruff it until it stops.
If the bite is more severe seek medical attention immediately.
My baby squirrel has been biting me more frequently what does this mean?
Answer: There could be several reasons.
It could be teething it could be playing or it could be feeling threatened.
I think my baby squirrel is biting me because it’s teething.
What can I do to help ease the pain?
Answer: Try offering it a piece of hard chewy fruit like a apple or a teething ring designed for human babies.
I think my baby squirrel is biting me because it’s playing.
What can I do to stop it from biting?
Answer: Try offering it a toy to play with instead of your finger.
I think my baby squirrel is biting me because it feels threatened.
What can I do to make it feel more comfortable?
Answer: Try to make sure that it has a comfortable place to hide like a small box or a towel draped over a chair.
I’ve tried everything and my baby squirrel still bites me.
What should I do?
Answer: If the bite is not severe gently hold the squirrel’s mouth shut and scruff it until it stops.
If the bite is more severe seek medical attention immediately.
Will my baby squirrel outgrow this biting phase?
Answer: Yes eventually your squirrel will outgrow this phase.
How long will this phase last?
Answer: It varies from squirrel to squirrel but typically it will last a few months.
What if my baby squirrel continues to bite after it’s outgrown the teething phase?
Answer: If the squirrel continues to bite it could be feeling threatened.
Try to make sure that it has a comfortable place to hide like a small box or a towel draped over a chair.
What if my baby squirrel’s bites start to become more aggressive?
Answer: If the bites become more aggressive seek medical attention immediately.
Is there anything I can do to prevent my baby squirrel from biting?
Answer: There is no foolproof way to prevent your squirrel from biting but you can try to offer it a toy to play with instead of your finger and make sure that it has a comfortable place to hide.
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.
