Domestication involves humans assuming control over an animal’s reproduction and care, fundamentally changing its genetics over many generations. This process is far more complex than merely taming an individual animal, which only conditions a single creature to tolerate human presence. The question of why squirrels, a species frequently found in close proximity to human settlements, have never undergone this process highlights the rigorous biological and behavioral prerequisites for domestication. The answer lies in the squirrel’s intrinsic nature and a lack of sustained human incentive to invest in the necessary multi-generational selection.
What Makes an Animal Domesticable?
Successful domestication requires an animal to possess a specific collection of traits, often referred to by biologists as the domestication syndrome.
A fundamental requirement is a flexible diet, which allows the animal to be fed economically and reliably using resources readily available to humans, such as cheap grains or agricultural byproducts. Herbivores and omnivores that can subsist on low-cost feed, like pigs or chickens, are ideal candidates.
Another necessary characteristic is a fast growth rate, enabling the species to reach reproductive maturity and be economically useful within a short period. Animals that take many years to mature, like elephants, represent a poor return on the investment of care and resources, making them impractical for large-scale domestication. This rapid lifecycle is a requirement for the selective breeding process to be effective.
Finally, the animal must be able to breed readily in captivity without complex mating rituals. Many wild species will not reproduce in confined environments due to stress or an inability to complete their specific courtship behaviors. The ability to breed reliably under human supervision is a requirement for the sustained, selective breeding that drives the genetic changes.
The Squirrel’s Unsuitable Temperament
A squirrel’s inherent temperament presents one of the most significant barriers to domestication. They possess an extreme flight response, meaning they are easily stressed and view confinement or close handling as a threat rather than a comfort. This high level of chronic stress inhibits the ability to habituate to human presence across generations, which is the primary trait selected for in domestication.
Squirrels are highly solitary and territorial animals, lacking the exploitable social hierarchy or strong herd instinct seen in domesticated livestock like cattle or sheep. Species with a pack mentality naturally accept a dominant figure, which humans can substitute, making them easier to manage in groups. Squirrels, in contrast, do not have the inherent social structures that would allow a human to predictably control a population.
Furthermore, their aggression makes them unsuitable candidates for handling and selective breeding. When stressed or cornered, squirrels have a high propensity to bite. Their continuously growing incisors and powerful jaw muscles make these bites severe. This danger makes the hands-on care and selective removal of aggressive individuals—necessary steps in a domestication program—both difficult and perilous for human handlers.
Lack of Human Utility and Economic Feasibility
Historically, the effort required for domestication was only undertaken when the animal offered a substantial utility to early human societies. Squirrels fail this test by providing no significant labor, milk, or a quantity of high-quality meat or wool that would justify the investment. They offer no tangible benefit that is not already provided by species much easier to manage.
Attempting to domesticate squirrels would also be an economic disaster due to their high maintenance diet. As scatter-hoarders, they rely on a complex, high-energy diet of nuts, seeds, and fruits, which are far more expensive to produce or acquire than the cheap grass and grain fed to high-yield livestock. The cost of feeding a squirrel population would quickly outweigh any potential return.
The reproductive cycle of squirrels is also less efficient compared to established domesticated species. While they can breed twice a year, their litter sizes and growth rates do not compare to the high-yield productivity of animals like rabbits, pigs, or chickens. The immense logistical costs of managing their unpredictable temperament and complex dietary needs, coupled with a low return on investment, means there has never been a pragmatic reason for humanity to pursue their domestication.