Can Squirrels Be Pets in Colorado?

Spring is here in Colorado, and that means new life has emerged from the blooming flowers and budding trees to newborn wildlife. This time of year is magical for many.

I am an animal lover through and through. Yes, I am the type of person who will come to a complete stop on the street to let the geese cross, or slow down to be sure a squirrel or cottontail rabbit doesn't get hit, too.

Baby Animals Are Starting to Appear

This time of year, you are going to see all sorts of wildlife in your neighborhoods and on the roadways. You might even encounter a baby squirrel. I have only seen a handful of small squirrels in my neighborhood over the years, and one thing I can tell you is that they are incredibly cute.

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Sometimes, a mother squirrel can leave the babies in the nest and not return. Unfortunately, that is part of nature taking its course. Some of those baby squirrels will venture out looking for help, and you may come across one of them.

Can You Keep a Baby Squirrel in Colorado?

As much as you, or I, for that matter, would love the idea of keeping a baby squirrel as a pet, you cannot. In Colorado, it is illegal to keep a wildlife species as a domestic pet. While squirrels seem somewhat domesticated by hanging out in your backyard, they are wildlife.

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife says you cannot remove a squirrel from the wild and hold it in captivity, no matter how cute and fuzzy they are; you can't do it. If you do happen to come across a wild baby squirrel that seems to be in distress, the best course of action is to contact Colorado Parks and Wildlife, so the animal can receive proper care, and it can be sent back into the wild, where they belong.