Flying Squirrel

Pet Flying Squirrels

The pet flying squirrel is a charming creature, but before you obtain one it is important that you research its particular requirements. The flying squirrel pet is for instance prone to calcium deficiency, since it is night active and has a light bone structure to be able to glide. You can prevent this problem by providing it with a calcium block or include plenty of calcium in its normal diet.

Bonding with your pet flying squirrel

If you plant to get a pet flying squirrel, you should ideally obtain a specimen that is no older than 10 weeks and spend a lot of time with it. If you let your young flying squirrel pet rest in a bonding pouch near you body several hours a day, it will develop a strong bond with you. This means that as the pet flying squirrel grows older, it will continue to interact with you and stay around.

A bonded flying squirrel pet is a highly fascinating pet, since you don’t have to keep it locked up 24/7. A bonding pouch should be made from a material that let in a lot of air, but you can also place the small flying squirrel pet directly in your shirt pocket. Carrying your flying squirrel pet close to your heart is ideal. If you do not live alone, all family members old enough should take turns carrying the flying squirrel pet close to them. This way, the flying squirrel pet will bond with the entire family.

Risks connected to the flying squirrel pet – Typhus

The flying squirrel is considered an exotic pet, and when you keep an exotic pet in your home you risk introducing exotic micro organisms that you would otherwise probably never come in contact with. Before you get a pet flying squirrel, or any other exotic pet, you should therefore always find out which parasites and diseases that the exotic pet might bring with it to you home.

During the 1970s, scientists found out that the Southern flying squirrel population is a reservoir for the typhus pathogen Rickettsia prowazekii. No other host animal has been found. More research is necessary, but as of know it seems as though the typhus pathogen is not transmitted directly from the Southern flying squirrel to human. The transmission is instead dependant of body lice that lives on the Southern flying squirrel. The lice becomes infected with the typhus pathogen when it obtains blood from the Southern flying squirrel, and will then excrete Rickettsia prowazekii organisms in its feces. A human can become infected with typhus when a dermal abrasion (such as irritated skin) or a mucous membrane comes in direct contact with lice feces. It is also possible to contract the disease by inhaling lice feces.

It is not common for humans to catch Rickettsia prowazekii typhus from flying squirrels, but it does happen. Between 1976 and 2006, no less than 40 cases of suspected Rickettsia prowazekii typhus in humans have been reported. In several cases, previous contact with flying squirrels has not been confirmed.

Rickettsia prowazekii typhus is a potentially dangerous disease, but it can be cured using tetracycline. Always seek medical attention if you show symptoms of typhus. If you are pregnant or allergic to tetracycline, you should ideally refrain from keeping a pet flying squirrel, especially if you do not know for sure that it has been captive bred and tested for Rickettsia prowazekii. The same recommendations apply to immunocompromised or immunosuppressed persons.

Risks connected to the flying squirrel pet – Rabies

Flying squirrels can contract rabies, but the disease is very rare in flying squirrels. The first documented case of rabies in a flying squirrel in North America dates back to 1961. Since then, a number of reports of rabies in flying squirrels have been reported, but the flying squirrel is not considered a typical rabies carrier.

Southern flying squirrel

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