Flying squirrels - protected species?

Qualitymark

Are flying squirrels a protected species in Ireland? Is it generally considered acceptable to keep them as pets?

Cherry Blossom

Do you mean sugar-gliders? They aren't native to Ireland and it does seem to be accepted to keep them as pets. It's not acceptable to me though as personally I don't think its possible to provide them with enough space in a captive environment that they will be at all happy in. Also according to Chester Zoo it is quite difficult to keep them alive and even harder to breed them. Personally I have the same view of all caged birds though and not many people agree with me on that

Qualitymark

Not acceptable to me either - but I was wondering about the law on protected species rather than the acceptability.

Cherry Blossom

http://www.ispca.ie/Exotic-Animals.aspx

Irrelevant if it's protected, endangered or as common as house-flies apparantly :rolleyes:

I thought flying squirrel was a term used for sugar-gliders so I just checked and no they're two different things.

Qualitymark

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

http://www.ispca.ie/Exotic-Animals.aspx

Irrelevant if it's protected, endangered or as common as house-flies apparantly :rolleyes:

I thought flying squirrel was a term used for sugar-gliders so I just checked and no they're two different things.

Hm, so it's not illegal to keep these poor little creatures in cages as 'pets'.

Cherry Blossom

Qualitymark wrote: »

Hm, so it's not illegal to keep these poor little creatures in cages as 'pets'.

Or elephants, or tigers, or American Bald Eagles for that matter:p

I'm getting the impression you either know some-one who has them in a small cage or have seen them in a pet shop or something. I would expect 'suitable living conditions' which as far as I'm aware is part of the animal welfare laws would at least require some sort of large heated aviary set-up of some kind. :rolleyes:

FAYESY

adrenalinjunkie wrote: »

Do you mean sugar-gliders? They aren't native to Ireland and it does seem to be accepted to keep them as pets. It's not acceptable to me though as personally I don't think its possible to provide them with enough space in a captive environment that they will be at all happy in. Also according to Chester Zoo it is quite difficult to keep them alive and even harder to breed them. Personally I have the same view of all caged birds though and not many people agree with me on that

Well I have no idea what the hell Chester zoo are talking about! Sugar glider do make the most wonderful pets - they tame down so well & hug their human trees (their humans) I have bred many many babies over the years! I will get gliders again soon!

Gliders tend to have twins in their pouches - suggies are marsupials & are not related to squirrels!

Yes you can keep flying squirrels these can also tame down very well (although I have never owned any of this species)

Cherry Blossom

FAYESY wrote: »

Well I have no idea what the hell Chester zoo are talking about! Sugar glider do make the most wonderful pets - they tame down so well & hug their human trees (their humans) I have bred many many babies over the years! I will get gliders again soon!

Gliders tend to have twins in their pouches - suggies are marsupials & are not related to squirrels!

Yes you can keep flying squirrels these can also tame down very well (although I have never owned any of this species)

I was actually living in Chester when I first heard of them and became interested as i've had chipmunks in the past. I contacted the zoo as they had them and they told me they had them in a large heated display and couldn't see how it could be possible to keep them in an enclosure any less elaborate than that, thought I might still have the e-mail but appears not.
Just assumed they would know what they were doing. But as I've already said personnally I don't like birds being caged either.
When I had chipmunks they had a homemade enclosure which took up the whole garage, you can comfortably fit 4 cars in there. It was also heated with the rest of the house as it was never actually used as a garage and there had been plans at one stage to convert it into an extra bedroom.