Indian Palm Squirrels for sale

[hornet]

Originally Posted by Australis

Im sure there are worse species, but squirrels are not as fussy as you make out.

i doubt the natural diet is even acorns, how many Quercus species are native to india? Not that many i'd imagine. I would think they would eat most seeds so wouldnt suprise me if they could establish here.

[herptrader]

An extract from:

http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/content/pw/vp/f11300.pdf

Palm squirrels live in and close to houses and gardens. They often damage introduced gardens plants
and trees by eating the fruits and buds. They also scavenge for waste food and have been seen to
steal school children's sandwiches. They may damage electrical wiring in houses creating a fire risk.
In India their diet includes seeds, fruit, nuts, insects and birds' eggs. Palm squirrels could threaten
vine and fruit crops and possibly market gardens close to the city. They could also reduce the
numbers of native birds nesting in city parks and gardens.

I think my favorite squirrels are the chipmunks I used to encounter when camping in central Canada. We used to camp beside lakes and relax on the granite rock shoreline. The chipmunks would come and purloin peanuts we would leave for them.

That said I don't think they have any place in Australia. Many in their native North America consider squirrels a pest. Why would we import them here?

[amazonian]

Originally Posted by bump73

Okay this isn't a dodgy petlink add

I had a friend email me to say she was at a nursery/pet shop which sold rabbits etc, out at windsor and they had a aviary with palm squirrels which they are breeding and selling

$1000 for hand raised or $500 for non hand reared.... Are these legal???

The place isn't hiding the fact they are selling them as they are on display for all to see apparently very cute...

Ben

That would be Kellyville pets.
I have seen the aviary with these in them there.
And you are correct, they are right infront of the service counter for all to see & buy.
I was very interested in them but wasn't sure if they were legal or not.

I have also seen them at Berkshire park Bird farm but can't remember if they were just on display or if they were for sale there.

[Hix]

Interestingly, the feral population in Perth Zoo only survives in the zoo grounds. Once they stray out of the grounds they usually fall prey to cats. But I have no doubt they would do very well in an environment free of cats.



Hix

[reptilesDownUnder]

Originally Posted by Hix

Interestingly, the feral population in Perth Zoo only survives in the zoo grounds. Once they stray out of the grounds they usually fall prey to cats. But I have no doubt they would do very well in an environment free of cats.

I believe that numbats also prey heavily on squirrels. This is evidenced by the lack of numbats in countries where squirrels are abundant.

On a more serious note... A friend of mine visited Perth Zoo years ago, and returned home with stories of the numbats that roam free in the grounds. When I went to the zoo a few years later I figured out that he had actually been seeing the squirrels.

Stewart

[grimbeny]

kellyville pets used to have reptiles on display. They really like to push the boundaries dont they.

[Magpie]

There was a report a few years back suggesting the squirrels in south perth are actually spreading their range, albeit slowly.
http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/content/pw/vp/f11300.pdf

[Tatelina]

Originally Posted by Miss_Croft

I cannot believe you guys – squares will not become feral due to their feed requirements. In the 1950’s, Australia use to have squirrel populations in the capital cities (Melbourne had them on Spring Street). After removal of their food source (habitat) – in this case oak trees - they died out.

I just love how any animal that is not indigenous to the area will become “feral”.

I repeat – DPI (or even federal government) should do a risk assessment to the bio diversity risk posed by many common global pets. This would stop people making the uneducated blanket claims that an animal species will become feral or other wise.

You're hurting me. Please stop talking.

[reptilesDownUnder]

Originally Posted by Magpie

There was a report a few years back suggesting the squirrels in south perth are actually spreading their range, albeit slowly.

I wonder how they're surviving? I have it on good authority that squirrels "will not become feral due to their feed requirements".

The wonders of biology...


Stewart

[willia6]

At 1 of the soccer pitches I play at localy I think there are some aok trees not sure though

[Miss_Croft]

Here is a better description of Squirrels (Their history and current impact in Australia). One thing that stands out – The Palm squirrels have been in Australia for more than 80 years and have ONLY formed a small wild population based around the Perth Zoo. The Gray Squirrel has since died out. I have also heard reports of Red squirrel in Melbourne – but they were not mentioned in this report.

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/publications/fauna-of-australia/pubs/volume1b/46-ind.pdf

I think the risk was over stated in the WA DPI report – and back to my original statement – there have been no studies on these animals and potential impact to Australia.

[reptilesDownUnder]

Originally Posted by Miss_Croft

squares will not become feral

Originally Posted by Miss_Croft

Palm squirrels have been in Australia for more than 80 years and have ONLY formed a small wild population based around the Perth Zoo

Hi Miss_Croft,

Thank you for admitting that your original statement was incorrect. It takes a big person to admit they were wrong. I'm sure you'll agree that we don't want uneducated claims made on this site going uncorrected.


Stewart

[DazHerps]

I used to keep these little guys and whilst they were not the best animal to view (rarely coming out of their hide boxes when anyone was around), they were one of the cutest animals I have kept.
It is now illegal to keep them as stated by a few already unless they are sterile, and has been for a few years now. This would mean that any hand raised ones being offered for sale are in fact several years old or someone is breeding them illegally. They don't have the longest of life spans so if you are interested in getting one, I'd suggest not spending too much on them because of the fact that they could well be old aged pensioners and not young one's as may be claimed.
And as for the pest potential, I'm no expert on them but they will eat just about anything. I fed mine on various animal pellets (they particularly liked rat cubes) as well as grains, some veg and even the odd piece of toast.

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[Erin_Jane]

Originally Posted by bump73

Well that's good cause she said they were sold being desexed and microchipped

Which i guess means they are probably legally bred...

Got no problem with them if thats the case, actually wouldn't mind getting them but at $1000 i'd buy another snake or 2

Ben

I'd rather you bought the squirrels personally!! So would the rest of your housemates I'm sure

[redbellybite]

there is still a breeding programme set up obviously if they tend to set a market up for them and as usual things can and do happen the general public might be getting the desexed ones but s.##.t happens who will be responsible if and when it does happen ...the cane toads were thought to be in control too at one stage but we all know that is not the case now .......and croft they are feral to this country look at our problems with the last lot of ferals .rabbits, donkeys,camels,canetoads and foxes just to name a few all came to this country cause someone thought it would be a good idea and alas has turned out to be detrimental to our native wildlife so my point was justified in saying how would we go with another one didnt say it was happening now but no doubt human error will happen ...