What Species of squirrel is it legal to keep in the UK without requesting a license?

Question

Is there any?

If not, is there anything similar to a squirrel that is legal in captivity?

Answer 1

omg u should get a degu!! they look just like a squirrel only dont have a fluffy tail!!! they are soo sweet 2!!! i have 3 females and i luv them. just email me if u would like info on them!!!

Answer 2

one of that breed they call the flat squirrel would be ok. they tent to hang out on roads and r WAY easy to catch

Answer 3

I don't think you can keep squirrels in the UK.  I have never heard of it.

A Chinchilla is fairly similar and about the nearest you can get to a squirrel-like pet in the UK.

*SL

Answer 4

chipmunks are similar to squirrels :)

http://www.st-elmo-colorado.com/chipmunk...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipmunk

Answer 5

There is a large selection of rodents here including a ground squirrel.

http://www.simonsrodents.co.uk/care_shee...

http://www.centralpets.com/animals/mamma...

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Failing that you could always keep a ferret.

Ferrets are of course carnivores, if that matters.

http://www.ferret.tv/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferret#Diet

Answer 6

Flying squirrel or chipmunk?

Answer 7

No squirrel can be kept legally. BUT if you capture a grey squirrel by accident you cannot lawfully let it go again as it is seen as vermin. To deliberately release vermin is against the law.

EDIT: I wasn't suggesting you should capture one I was merely pointing out what the law says about vermin and its release into the wild again once captured.

Answer 8

Red squirrels are protected as they are being hunted by grey squirrels so you cannot keep these as a licence is needed.

Grey squirrels are wild animals and classed as vermin you cannot capture then release one of these.

Siberian and American Chipmunks are a types of ground squirrel that are kept by pet owners they do not require a licence but it is illegal to release them into the wild as they are not native to this country.

More information on licences can be found on defra

http://www.defra.gov.uk/

Answer 9

iam not sure if squirrels can be kept has pets but a great alternative is a chinchilla. they dont like to be handled but are brill to watch.

Answer 10

No and other than domestic cats mice and rats ferrets and most breeds of dogs, fish and reptiles(depending on the type) almost all animals in uk, are not legal to own without the appropriate licence etc.,

I think you will find any wild animal which normally is native to uk is not permitted to be kept with or without a licence.  

Answer 11

well u can always have any kind u want.. but dont get caught.. will get in trouble!