CARE OF CAPTIVE ANIMALS — WALKER 343 



WALRUSES (Odobenidae). Walruses mainly eat clams and other moUusks— 

 possibly other sluggish marine animals and perhaps some plants. Have not 

 generally been successfully kept in captivity, although young animals have 

 survived on milk and fish for a few months. 



EARLESS or HAIR SEALS (Phocidae). The crab-eating seal of the Antarctic 

 feeds mainly on small crustaceans, but has survived for a few months in cap- 

 tivity when fed small pieces of fish. The remaining seals are primarily fish 

 feeders, and do well on a purely fish diet, although some will occasionally take 

 birds and warm-blooded animals. Should have pool. 



RODENTS OR GNAWERS (RODENTIA) 



TREE SQUIRRELS, "FLYING" SQUIRRELS, CHIPMUNKS, SPERMO- 

 PHILES, MARMOTS, and PRAIRIE DOGS (Sciuridae). Feed a wide variety 

 of vegetable material, such as nuts, acorns, tree seeds, bark, twigs, leaves, fruit, 

 green grass, clover, weeds, roots such as beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, and dried 

 materials such as hay, grains, seeds. Some meat and bones with or without 

 meat should be constantly available for them to gnaw to wear down their teeth. 

 Insects are relished by many. Young squirrels and others of this group have 

 been successfully raised with cats as foster mothers. Numerous requests are 

 received as to how to raise young squirrels. No known method is well tested ; 

 but the following formula for human babies has been used with excellent suc- 

 cess in some instances: 3 parts whole milk (impasteurized), 1 part prune juice, 

 1 part water, a very small amount of calcium gluconate or other invert sugar. 

 A little beaten egg is added about every other day; and it has been suggested 

 that the addition of a very small amount of the vitamin B group and a drop 

 of viosterol might improve the formula. Very young squirrels should be fed 

 about every 2 hours with an eye dropper or a doll nursing nipple. When they 

 are ready to take some solid food, give uncooked rolled oats, seeds of maple 

 and elm and other soft seeds, also lettuce, grapes and other fruit, carrots, bread, 

 and, later, nuts. 



Some squirrels are tropical and will not stand chilling. Others are hardy. 

 Always provide nest boxes with plenty of nesting material ; likewise trees and 

 branches with rough bark, and exercise wheels. 



POCKET GOPHERS (Geomyidae). Feed green or dried grass, clover, weeds, 

 vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, seeds, bone, and wood on which 

 to gnaw. These rodents are burrowers that rarely come to the surface of the 

 ground. Unless they have dirt in which to dig, they generally do not thrive. 



KANGAROO RATS, POCKET MICE, and SPINY MICE (Heteromyidae). 

 Feed assorted seeds, small amounts of vegetables, green and dried vegetation, 

 and bread. All of them should have fine, clean sand constantly before them 

 with which to keep their fur in good condition. They enjoy running exercise 

 wheels. Several members of this group become delightful pets. 



BEAVERS (Castoridae). Feed twigs and limbs of a wide variety of trees and 

 shrubs, but preferably of aspen or cottonwood ; also grass, clover, weeds, bread, 

 and vegetables. Should have a tank of water, but must have a well-drained 

 place on which to dry their fur and also a nest den. They must have plenty 

 of wood on which to gnaw to keep their incisors worn down. Even then, the 

 teeth of captive beavers sometimes require cutting. 



DORMICE (Muscardinidae). Feed same food as listed for squirrels and mice. 



MOUSELIKE CREATURES (Cricetidae). This family contains many attrac- 

 tive and interesting little rodents whose combined ranges embrace almost the 

 entire world. The habits of many cricetines are not well known, but some of 

 these animals can be successfully kept when fed with a considerable variety 



