Squirrels are adorable little creatures, but can you legally keep one as a pet in Indiana? The answer is not as simple as yes or no. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about squirrels in Indiana, including how to have one as a pet.
Indiana is Home to Four Native Tree Squirrel Species
There are four different species of tree squirrels that call the Hoosier State home, and a few species of ground squirrels too. You’ve likely encountered at least a couple of the tree squirrels in the wild – maybe even all four of them.
Eastern Grey Squirrels Are the Most Common
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Eastern Grey Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are so abundant that they can be found across the entire continent of North America. They can be recognized by their white underbellies and their blend of white, black, and yellow fur that appears grey.
Eastern Fox Squirrels Can Be Seen Across Indiana
Unlike Eastern Grey Squirrels, Eastern Fox Squirrels (Sciurus niger) have an orange-brown underbelly and their fir is a blend of black, brown, and orange. When it comes to Hoosier wildlife, the Fox Squirrel is the largest of the four species of squirrels found in Indiana, and the largest in the United States as well with a total length ranging from 17 to 28 inches, and weighing between 1 to 2.2 pounds.
American Red Squirrels are Smaller But They’re Feisty
Sometimes known as “Piney Squirrels,” American Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsunicus) are smaller than both the Eastern Grey and Eastern Fox Squirrels, but what they lack in size they make up for in attitude. The Red-Tail Land Conservancy describes American Red Squirrels as “feisty.”
The American Red Squirrel is a much smaller, but feisty species. They will act aggressively to run other squirrels away from trees and birdfeeders.
Southern Flying Squirrels Are a Protected Species in Indiana
While the other three species of squirrels we’ve discussed can be hunted in the Hoosier State, the Southern Flying Squirrel (Glacomys volans) is a protected species. It is illegal to hunt or trap a Southern Flying Squirrel in Indiana. Flying Squirrels do not actually fly, despite their name. They do however possess extra skin that allows them to spread out and glide through the air when they jump from an elevated location, according to Purdue University. They can travel quite far, as they have a 2 to 1 rule of sorts. They can fly twice as far as they have climbed. If a flying squirrel is in a tree 10 feet vertically off the ground, it would glide nearly 20 feet horizontally.
Hunting and Trapping Squirrels in Indiana
With the exception of the Southern Flying Squirrel, the other three species of tree squirrels found in Indiana can be hunted or trapped, according to the Indiana DNR.
Fox and gray squirrels are regulated species in Indiana and can be hunted from Aug. 15, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025. Hunter orange is required from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31. The daily bag limit is five. The possession limit is 10. Shooting into dreys (leaf nests) is illegal. American Red Squirrels can be taken year-round with no bag limit. Hunter orange is required from Nov. 1 to Jan. 31. Shooting into dreys (leaf nests) is illegal.
Can You Capture a Squirrel Outside Hunting Season in Indiana?
Under its regulations for “nuisance animals, “the Indiana DNR allows for the capture of Grey, Fox, and Red Squirrels outside of hunting seasons if the animal is posing a threat to the health and safety of people or domestic animals…