Craig Howard, age 10, of Evarts, Ky., for his question:
DO WILD RABBITS AND SQUIRRELS MAKE GOOD PETS?
This morning, dear old Santa left kittens and puppies under certain family trees. A few lucky young folk woke up to find ponies. Kittens, puppies and ponies are natural people pets. There are reasons why Santa is not likely to leave any little wild creatures under the tree.
Some people argue that certain wild animals can be adopted as human pets. This may or may not be so. But certainly everybody in the know agrees that wild rabbits should be left in the wilds. There they enjoy life and know how to take care of themselves, which is just what Nature intended.
A wild rabbit is one of nature’s most timid creatures, almost scared of his own shadow. When captured, he may fight with all his might. Or he may be too terrified to move a muscle, crouching down while his furry little heart beats fast with panic.
In any case, when kept in a hutch, his days are numbered. Even when you give him all the comforts of home, plenty of food and lots of loving kindness the brokenhearted little captive pines away. It is true that a wild rabbit soon dies in captivity. .
It is possible to keep a wild squirrel for a while. He needs a sturdy, squirrel proof hutch, or he will use his strong teeth to gnaw his way to freedom. He needs a rather expensive diet of nuts, plus a tread wheel and perhaps a ladder to do his exercising.
In time, your captive wild squirrel will get to know you and even may seem fond of you. But try to put yourself in his place and ask yourself: Is this fair? Does he dream of his huge, happy home in the wilds—the leafy boughs, the crunchy ground, the big blue sky above? Does he miss his busy chores and merry chases?
Obviously the answer is that it is not fair to keep wild animals as captured pets. It is not fair and, what’s more, it may be downright dangerous. Sometimes a wild animal brings infections into the home which may be deadly besides, every wild creature has some way to defend himself. Most of our kitties, puppies and other suitable people pets, when properly treated and properly trained, know better than to bite and scratch their owners. But we cannot expect to teach or trust the dear little creatures of the wild.
No doubt, when you think it over, you already know the answer to today’s question. Let’s wish all the little wild creatures a very merry Christmas—and leave them right there in the wilds where they feel at home.