Richardsons Ground Squirrel Environment
Pet Ground Squirrels need a very large cage such as those designed for ferrets or rats with multiple levels. Suggestions include the Savic Royal suite 95 or the Rosewood Aurora Cage. Since they enjoy burrowing some keepers include a large glass tank within in this that can have a foot of substrate for burrowing in. Male Richardsons ground squirrel can be kept alone if needed but females must be kept with company.
Ground squirrels need plenty of material for constructing nests and benefit from a very large solid based wheel. They can also have a litter tray designed for ferrets.
Richardsons Ground Squirrel Diet
Some advice suggests that obesity can be a problem with Richardsons Ground Squirrels so it is important to maintain a good diet and monitor their weight. A good supply of Timothy hay is essential. Healthy treats include carrot, raisins, apple, and cooked brown rice.
A good calcium level must be maintained, and offering a cuttle bone provides a good partial source for this as they love to chew. However, it is important to track your Richardson's ground squirrels diet to ensure they are getting enough calcium. Some calcium supplements can be added to water or sprinkled over food.
The following is intended as a guideline only and is drawn from research and not direct experience. Please take care to research dietary needs and talk with other keepers to ensure you can keep your ground squirrel in good health.
Water
Water must be constantly available and is best offered in a bottle so it will not be buried or overturned. Change frequently.
Protein
Protein can be offered in the form of soft-boiled egg, mealworms, various insects (locust, cricket, waxworms/moths) or pinkie mice.
Fresh
Safe foods include: Alfalfa sprouts, Beet greens, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chicory, cucumber, Dandelion leaves and flowers, lettuce, kale, parsley, pumpkin, mustard spinach, radish, turnip greens, watercress, sweet potato. Fruits such as apples (without seeds), apricot, bananas, cherries, figs (fresh or dried), melon, pear, persimmons, papaya, peach, and pinapple.
Main mix
If available this can include a pelleted squirrel or rodent diet. You can include items such as porridge oats, muesli, nuts (1 or 2 per day, ideally within shell). Avoid cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seed kernals, and pine nuts due to their high phosphorus level.
Breeding Richardsons Ground Squirrel
Richardsons ground squirrel do not breed readily in captivity. making it important that you obtain from an ethical breeder and not support the trade in wild-caught animals.
Some keepers hibernate their animals through winter to help replicate a wild environment and increase the chances of breeding success since they are seasonal breeders. If doing so it is important to monitor that your animals have sufficient weight to attempt this and that you are controlling the temperature range.
Richardsons ground squirrels are sexually mature following their first hibernation, so at around 11 months in early spring. Females usually come into estrous around four days after hibernation and this will only last for a few hours. During pregnancy a female Richardsons ground squirrel may become intolerant or aggressive towards any males.
After a gestation period of 23 days she will produce her only litter for that year. Litters range from 5-8 and eyes do not open until day 23. In the wild young would not come to the surface until they are around 30 days old and begin weaning. At day 50 Richardsons ground squirrels moult their baby coat and replace with their summer coat.
Overview of Richardsons Ground Squirrel
An adult Richardsons ground squirrel measures around 30cm long and could typically weigh around 200-400g when emerging from hibernation, with pre-hibernation weights up to 750g - with males being slightly heavier than females. Their lifespan in captivity is around 6 years.
In the wild, Richardson's ground squirrels are found in North America, inhabiting mainly prairie but they have adapted quite well to suburbia, which sadly leads them to be considered a pest in some areas.
They naturally live communally, although this is said to be female-dominated with females only accepting other females to whom they are related.
Richardsons ground squirrels are becoming quite popular as pets. They have a high pricetag, but can bond quite well with their owners if socialised correctly. They can also be allowed some free-ranging time in the house, if supervised. They can be very destructive since they have strong burrowing tendencies and are excellent chewers. They need a large, safe cage that allows opportunities for burrowing and chewing - see Ground Squirrels environment for more details.
Richardsons ground squirrels make a wide range of noises including a chattering that indicates excitment or annoyance, growling when annoyed, and a high-pitched chirp when frightened or alarmed.
Some advice suggests that obseity can be a problem with Richardsons Ground Squirrels so it is important to maintain a good Ground Squirrel diet and monitor their weight.
Richardsons ground squirrel do not breed readily in captivity. making it important that you obtain from an ethical breeder and not support the trade in wild-caught animals. See Richardsons Ground Squirrels breeding for more information on gestation and litter development.