How come I don't see chipmunks or squirrels as pets?

Can't they be trained too?How come I don't see chipmunks or squirrels as pets?
I had a squirrel as a pet when I was about 8 years old. It was such a nice pet it didn't even need to be kept in a cage.


To the best of my experience, that was very rare. I had picked it up on the way home from elementary school one afternoon. It later proved to be epileptic and probably fell from its nest. It never behaved in a ';wild'; manner.


I would take it up into a tree to sun itself and would have to go up the tree to bring it back down. It never tried to wander off. I doubt I'll ever find another like that and would not recommend a squirrel as a pet unless you are fortunate enough to have such a lucky find.


I had three chipmunks I caught when they were very young (siblings). I had to keep them in a cage and regret it to this day. They never tamed down, they always wanted to escape and never matured properly. Their growth was stunted even though I always gave them plenty of food and water and a wide variety of of fresh fruit, nuts etc.


I learned a lesson from that and think it is something worth passing along. Lets see if anyone has had any luck with chipmunks. How come I don't see chipmunks or squirrels as pets?
most states have laws in place prohibiting indigenous species being kept as pets. some will allow it with proper licensing, but many don't allow it in any circumstances. these animals have the attention span of lime jell-o, and training thousands of years of instinct out of them is near impossible for the average citizen.





there is a reason ';wild'; is the first half of ';wildlife.'; :-)
squirrels are very hard to catch in thye first place. They are too swift 2 be caught. And, if u did, it would be hard 2 train bcuz their wild, and will most likeley bite u. And with all the trees being cut down, squirrels are loosing there homes, and will eventually die. Your talking to a girl that loves the envirement. If u recycle, they will not have 2 cut down the poor trees, and the squirrels will live. Then mayb 1 day u will see them at petco! hope this helps!
The pet store near my house sells five-lined chipmunks who are very friendly. The problem is getting a permit for a native species, most places do not allow non-domestic native animals to be kept as pets, especially without a permit.
very rare to see them as a pet or trained.... they are wild and in extreme cases - it is usually that they are taken from the nest or the parents to them are killed etc and have to be raised by humans...
maybe because they're wild animals. yes, they can be trained.
Sure, If you want your NUTS chomped!
because they are wild and they like to be free


but they can be pets and they can be trained