Huangshan Squirrel

The Huangshan Squirrel, as the name suggests, is a type of squirrel originating from Huangshan, Anhui. This squirrel likes to live in forests and their appearance is ordinary but not ordinary. Huangshan Squirrels are agile and alert with a nimble body and limbs. Currently, Huangshan Squirrels are mainly distributed in Anhui, Zhejiang, Hubei and other places.

Chinese scientific name: 黄山松鼠

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Rodentia

Family: Sciuridae

Subfamily: Sciurinae

Genus: Sciurus

Distribution area: Anhui, Zhejiang, Hubei

The artificial feeding of squirrels can be done with a suitable wire cage, with passages inside the cage that are beneficial for breeding and feeding management. Bamboo and wooden structures are easily chewed by squirrels. The housing for feeding should be dry and warm in winter and cool in summer. The suitable temperature for growth and reproduction should be maintained between 10℃ and 30℃, with an optimal feeding temperature of around 15℃, and the relative humidity should be kept between 40% and 50%. Since squirrels cannot tolerate high temperatures, they can suffer from heatstroke and die at a temperature of 35℃, so ventilation and shelter from the sun should be taken into account during the hot season. Maintain the appropriate temperature and prevent cold drafts in autumn to avoid rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, squirrels do not require strong light. If they are exposed to strong light, they often exhibit phenomena such as disheveled fur and loss of luster. The feed for artificially feeding squirrels can be divided into two major categories: green feed and refined feed. Green feed mainly includes carrots, water spinach, various fresh fruits, and other fresh vegetables. Refined feed includes wheat bran, cornmeal, soybean powder, grains, in addition to a small amount of salt, yeast powder, bone meal, honey, and trace elements. It can be made into granular dry feed.

Suggestions for keeping as a pet for those who love small animals, the squirrel is very lively and especially likes to climb trees. They need a spacious and tall cage for their activities. As squirrels are accustomed to building nests in trees, the nesting box should be installed at a high position in the cage. A small bird nesting box with an entrance at a high position can be used instead. Squirrels move very fast, so be careful when opening and closing the cage door to avoid them escaping. In case they do escape, if you suddenly grab them forcefully, be careful not to be bitten by the squirrel.

Long teeth

Long-term consumption of soft food prevents teeth from normal abrasion and leads to excessive growth. Overgrowth of teeth can damage the interior of the mouth and affect food intake. In addition, it can lead to gum decay, rhinitis, and other symptoms. This will cause teeth to gradually loosen and fall out. As one side of the teeth fall out, the other side of the teeth, due to the lack of normal abrasion, requires regular trimming surgery. Early diagnosis can lead to early treatment.

Injuries caused by fighting

Squirrels have the habit of attacking the weaker members of their group. Although they may appear healthy, squirrels that are already seriously ill will be attacked by healthy squirrels. If these attacked squirrels are dissected, it will be discovered that they have already had a serious illness. In addition, weak squirrels are also prone to attacks. If fighting is observed among squirrels, each squirrel should be separated using cages. Injured areas should be treated with antibiotics to prevent infection, and larger wounds should be sutured. Due to the potential for cannibalism, weak squirrels should be isolated as soon as possible.

Pneumonia

Squirrels are prone to pneumonia when they are under excessive stress, excessively humid, and have poor air circulation. Symptoms include coughing, poor appetite, and listlessness, followed by death. Human colds can also be transmitted to squirrels, so special attention should be paid. Treatment can be done with antibiotics.

Hypocalcemia

Female squirrels before and after childbirth are prone to this disease. It is characterized by spasms, paralysis, and motor disorders due to decreased calcium levels in the blood. If calcium injections are not administered in a timely manner, there is concern for death. Calcium supplements should be added to the diet of pregnant and lactating female squirrels as a preventive measure. In addition, sunbathing is also important.

Rickets

Squirrels, like humans, can also develop rickets. In addition to regularly supplementing calcium and active vitamin D, sunlight is also essential. The use of artificial sunlamps is effective, but improper wavelengths of ultraviolet light can cause serious burns, so it is best to inquire with a hospital before using them.

Urethritis

Urinary tract infections can cause urethritis. Male squirrels may experience difficulty urinating due to swelling of the penis. The pain experienced during urination can cause them to emit painful cries. If these symptoms are observed, immediate urine testing and appropriate antibiotic treatment should be given.

Bone fractures

Squirrels may suffer bone fractures from improper jumping while playing indoors. Simple fractures can heal without surgery as long as instructions from the hospital are followed. Squirrels do not tolerate anesthesia well, so it is best to avoid surgery. However, if the spinal bones are affected, the prognosis may not be good.

Huangshan Squirrel can be artificially reared using a suitable wire cage with channels for breeding and management. Bamboo or wooden cages are easily chewed by squirrels. The housing for rearing should be dry and have a suitable temperature for growth and reproduction, ranging from 10°C to 30°C. The optimal rearing temperature is around 15°C and the relative humidity should be maintained at 40% to 50%. Since squirrels cannot tolerate high temperatures, they can suffer from heatstroke and die at 35°C, so ventilation and shade should be provided in the summer. Maintaining the appropriate temperature will prevent cold drafts in the autumn and avoid rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, squirrels do not need strong lighting. If exposed to strong light, their fur may become messy and lose its luster. The artificial feed for squirrels can be divided into two categories: green feed and refined feed. Green feed mainly includes carrots, water spinach, various fresh fruits, and other fresh vegetables. Refined feed includes wheat bran, cornmeal, bean flour, grains, along with a small amount of salt, yeast powder, bone meal, honey, and trace elements. It can be made into pelletized dry feed.

Management

Clean up the feces and keep the cage clean and hygienic. To clean the fur and promote squirrel health, it is recommended to clean before feeding in the morning. Feeding utensils should be regularly disinfected, and sand bathing should be done at least once a week. The sand bath container should be able to hold about 4 liters of sand. Put fine sand in the container and let the squirrels grind their teeth by placing some small wooden sticks in the cage.

Reproduction of squirrels

Squirrels generally reach sexual maturity and can start breeding at around 9 to 10 months old. The peak breeding season is from January to February and April to May, when the conception rate is high. The gestation period for female squirrels is about 38 days. 1 to 2 weeks before giving birth, pregnant female squirrels can be moved to the birthing box. Male and female squirrels must be kept separate, and plenty of water and food should be provided. Mealworms can be added if necessary. The baby squirrels start to eat feed at around 1 week old and can be fed with fresh fruits and high-quality feed. They can be weaned at 5 weeks old and raised separately.

Feeding Methods

1. Food

Feed

You can feed squirrels with pine nuts, hazelnuts, melon seeds, sunflower seeds, pears, apples, etc. Depending on the season and different regions, provide a variety of feeds for them to choose from. Place the feeds in several locations to avoid competition.

Squirrels seem to eat seeds of the Sciuridae family plants, but they also eat quite a lot of insects in nature, so it is best to feed them with some animal-based food. Walnuts and chestnuts are their favorites. They enjoy cracking open hard shells, which not only serves as a game but also helps wear down their teeth. It is recommended to regularly feed them this type of food. If using artificial feed as the main diet, apple and other foods should also be supplemented.

2. Cage for Rearing

Squirrels are very active, especially in climbing trees, so the cage should be spacious and high. Since squirrels are accustomed to building nests in trees, nest boxes should be installed at a high position in the cage. Nest boxes for birds with entrances at a high position can be used instead. Squirrels move very quickly, so be careful when opening and closing the door to avoid them escaping. If they do escape, avoid grabbing them suddenly to prevent being bitten.

3. Others

April to May is the breeding period for Golden Kamoi and Hokkaido Squirrels. Each time, they can give birth to 4-5 baby squirrels. The breeding process is similar to that of mice. When the baby squirrel's eyes are about to open, it can be separated from the mother for rearing, and it will become friendly with humans, climbing onto shoulders or heads. Initially, it can be fed warm milk (30-40°C) with a straw, 3-5 times a day. Gradually, switch to milk-soaked bread or other soft food. Even if the squirrel is raised after reaching maturity, with patience and gradual training, it can become very close to humans and climb on the owner.

Dietary Taboos

Do not feed them meat or eggs, as it greatly affects their digestive system. Vegetables that should not be eaten raw include carrots, potatoes, beans, ginger, onions, garlic, chili peppers, etc. Fruits and vegetables to be eaten in moderation include cabbage, rapini, lettuce, bamboo shoots, lotus roots, cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, bananas, oranges, watermelons, pears, etc. Avoid eating pickled dried fruits, dried fruits, unripe or processed nuts, as they are not easily digestible. Beverages, especially carbonated drinks, should not be given. Tea leaves (there have been reports of squirrel deaths due to eating tea leaves) and pet food for cats and dogs (because they contain meat) should not be consumed. Apple seeds and cherry pits are poisonous to squirrels. Insects should not be consumed, although they are nutritious, eating them will increase the squirrel's wildness. Avoid eating chocolate and foods with caffeine, as they can make squirrels overly excited, which is not good for their health or mood. It can cause rapid heart rate and even death from heart failure.

After bathing, dry a small amount of water and lay a towel on yourself. Hold the squirrel in your arms and blow dry. If you have prepared food, you can feed them at this time. The reason for laying the towel on yourself is that squirrels are still warm and can prevent them from getting wet. It can also help absorb the moisture under their belly. We often cannot dry the water under their belly, but this way the squirrel may catch a cold. If you blow dry the squirrel while it's turned upside down, it will also be very uncomfortable. So laying a towel is very useful. Feeding the squirrel is because it can divert its attention to the food. Many squirrels are not used to blow dryers and are afraid of the sound of blow dryers, so they may hide in clothes or run away. With food, the squirrel will shift its attention and won't run away. After the squirrel finishes eating, its brain will naturally adapt to the blow dryer, and it won't run away so fiercely, or even not run away at all.

If you blow dry the squirrel that is handed over, you should blow it dry. Because the hands of the handed-over squirrel are longer than the hands of the handed-over squirrel, there may be water hidden at the junction of the handed-over and handed-over.