Many of us, coming into the forest, stopped to enjoy the squirrel. A fast-moving, brisk little animal, from early morning he takes care of the housework, runs in search of food, plays catch-up with his relatives. Every year, the life of a puffer is subjected to severe tests: drought, crop failure, severe frosts and deep snow, from which supplies are not available.
For their beauty and sociability, they are often chosen as pets. In captivity, the lifespan of a protein is greatly increased.
Description, or what kind of animal?
The genus Protein vulgaris unites more than 50 species living in Russia. This is a small animal, its body length is 20–32 cm, while the tail is almost equal to the size of the animal itself - up to 31 cm. Weight varies, depending on the season, from 200 g to a kilogram.
Graceful and graceful, they attract the attention of both adults and children. A slender body complements a luxurious, fluffy tail and a rounded head. Big dark eyes and ears with tassels make this creature even more attractive. In nature, protein lifespan often does not exceed four years. The causes of early death may be starvation, disease, predators or poachers.
The squirrel dwells exclusively on trees, here it builds nests, breeds posterity. Her tenacious claws are ideally suited for such a life.
Character of a long-tailed beauty
The squirrel is a smart enough animal. What is the ability to economically procure supplies, masterfully hide them and find them later. For example, a squirrel will never take a spoiled nut for harvesting. Her paws know the weight of a quality bump, and all the rest will be immediately rejected. The same instinct persists in the domestic squirrel, which causes a lot of trouble to the owner.
An animal brought from the forest can take food from your hands, but friendship will not go beyond this, so be prepared for bites when trying to take a small animal in your arms. If your squirrel is grown in a nursery, it will be much more trusting, but still will not allow to babysit with it. A brief glance over the back is all that the owner can count on.
With a good content at home, the lifespan of a protein increases several times, some individuals survive up to 15 years.
Good Neighborhood, or Other Pets
With our smaller brothers - dogs and cats - squirrels live quite amicably. The speed of adaptation depends, of course, on the nature of each individual, as well as on what age the animals met. An ideal option would be the simultaneous maturation of a squirrel and a puppy (kitten). Knowing each other since childhood, they will not be at enmity.
The owner should remember that even one cat bite can seriously reduce the life span of the squirrel. Our murka saliva contains special bacteria that can infect the central nervous system of the fluffy beauty. Only the injections of an antibiotic can save the animal.
But with whom the squirrel definitely does not get along, it is with rodents. Be sure to keep them separate. Parrots and other birds will also not be delighted with such a neighborhood, because she will certainly hunt them, well, or at least try to tear out feathers, reaching through the bars of the cage.
The most exciting question: the relationship of fur with children
Even grown in captivity, the squirrel retains some caution when communicating with humans. Only a few individuals will allow themselves to be stroked and picked up, and the chance that you will get exactly this one is very small. In most cases, you will only occasionally be able to briefly touch the back of the animal.
How to release a squirrel for a walk unattended, and leaving it alone with young children is strictly not recommended. After trying to grab the animal, the baby can get painful scratches or a bite. Older children need to explain the rules of communicating with a squirrel, and then he will be able to fully experience the delight of feeding the beauty herself with nuts from the palm of her hand.
Before you bring a pet to your home, ask how many squirrels live. When buying a pet for a child, get ready for the fact that the age interests of children change quickly, and all the responsibility for caring for many years will fall on you.
Diet and balanced diet
How much protein lives in vivo depends on nutrition. A well-fed animal can endure many diseases and will easily run away from danger. It is especially difficult in winter, when deep snowdrifts and severe frosts do not allow you to get to supplies. In most cases, it is because of severe conditions that the life span of proteins in nature is short. Perhaps this explains the omnivore of the animal: you don’t have to choose especially, you eat what falls under the arm (or rather, under the paw). Squirrel in nature bites nuts and seeds, any cones, buds and shoots of trees, fruits, berries and mushrooms. And even insects caught along the way go into food. She would not mind hunting for lizards and chicks.
For home maintenance, the owner must also provide a rich and varied menu. The basis is cereals, inshell nuts (except almond) and raw seeds (pumpkin, sunflower). Be sure to prepare pine, spruce and cedar cones for your pet.
By all means, vegetables and fruits (most of them dried) must be present in the pet's diet: apple, pear, dried apricots, zucchini, carrots. Fresh can also be given, but not too often, in small slices. Dried mushrooms are a favorite treat, but exclude mushrooms and oyster mushrooms.
For a change offer berries, branches of fruit trees, cottage cheese. There must always be fresh water in the cage.
Do not forget that the life of a squirrel in nature takes place in an active movement. Sitting in retreat, the animal can gain excess weight and get various diseases of the joints, so daily walks are required.
Protein content at home
Squirrel is a very active animal, therefore, letting it out for a walk, restrict access to wires and valuable things, to everything that you can try for a tooth. If she got out of the cage, do not chase: it is impossible to catch this sneak. Wait until she gets hungry and returns home herself.
Bathing and combing it is not necessary, this only complicates the life of the pet, exposing it to unnecessary stress. By placing a wide cup of water in the aviary, you will allow the squirrel to solve hygiene issues on his own. Twice a year, molting occurs, for this period you can reduce the number of walks so that thick wool does not cover the entire room.
Obeying instincts, the squirrel will hide all uneaten food, make reserves for the winter. It is impossible to wean from this, since such behavior is inherent in nature. Therefore, simply limit the amount of feed given, offer exactly as much as it relies on one day. During walks, no products should be freely available to the animal, especially with regard to harmful candies and cookies, which can shorten the life of the squirrel, undermining its health.
Pet Seat Equipment
The first thing you need to think about is a large and spacious aviary, in which the animal can run and climb walls (it is desirable that they have a wooden finish). At home, the minimum lifespan of a squirrel is 6 years, so make sure that the strength of the aviary is enough with a margin. The minimum cell size is 100 x 100 cm, and at least 150 cm in height.
A feeder and a drinking bowl should be installed in the enclosure, preferably a wheel. Since the energy reserves of these pussies are truly endless, such equipment is the safest way to spend it. Soon you yourself will notice that it spins in it for hours.
You need to put a nest in which pieces of paper, fabric, moss and cotton wool are folded so that the pet can equip it at its discretion. Do not touch it during cleaning.
An aviary needs a pallet so that you can clean without frightening the animal. Please note that they are quite "fragrant", so you will have to clean the cage often. Daily cleaning is recommended (maximum - every other day).
Breeding
Has offspring of protein 35 days. From 2 to 10 (sometimes 12) naked and blind squirrels are born.
Only after 14 days they will be covered with fur, and on the 28th day their eyes open. Closer to 2 months, babies become almost independent, and by 5 months they become sexually mature individuals.
At home, the average life span of the proteins is longer, but it is not always possible to get offspring. Only with a well-balanced diet and sufficient physical activity fluffy beauties are able to please the owners with the appearance of babies.
Common diseases, prevention and treatment
At home, due to improper protein content, it is often obese, diseases of bones and joints, vitamin deficiency is often found. It is clear that with such a bouquet one does not have to think about posterity, and the life of the animal itself is in danger. If the protein began to demonstrate a lack of activity, poor appetite, lethargy, you need to consult a veterinarian, review your diet and the number of walks.
Animals also suffer from infectious diseases, such as plague, encephalitis, scabies, and skin fungus. To prevent deterioration, always consult your veterinarian for any change in behavior.
