Long-term care should imitate the animal’s ecological jobs as closely as practical: the way it moves, finds food, shelters, communicates, rests and responds to seasons. A tree squirrel, flying squirrel, chipmunk and prairie dog should not be given the same diet or enclosure simply because they are all squirrels.
Feed the ecology
Natural diet informs variety, fiber and foraging, while a balanced captive staple prevents selective-feeding deficiencies.
Build for movement
Vertical climbing, glide lanes, digging depth and colony space are different physical needs.
Give real jobs
Food search, caching, gnawing, nesting, digging and social choice should happen every day.
Know the baseline
Weight, appetite, teeth, stool, breathing and behavior are easier to interpret when tracked consistently.