Squirrels are adorable creatures that can often be found scampering around parks and backyards in search of food. But have you ever wondered what can you feed squirrels ? While squirrels are known to be resourceful foragers, providing them with appropriate foods can help supplement their diet and keep them healthy.
Here we’ll explore what can you feed squirrels that are safe for them to eat. From nuts and seeds to fruits and vegetables, we’ll cover it all. So whether you’re a nature enthusiast looking to attract more wildlife to your yard or simply curious about what squirrels like to munch on, this informative guide has got you covered. Let’s dive into the wonderful world of squirrel cuisine!
Should We Feed Squirrels?
People often feed squirrels, thinking it’s a nice thing to do. But, honestly, none of that helps them out. Just keep that in mind. We gotta make sure the options we offer are actually helpful, even if they use up what’s available. Otherwise, they’ll keep snagging stuff from our gardens and bird feeders!
The USDA has put out a heads-up about not feeding squirrels and other wildlife, mainly because it could lead to them getting the wrong kind of food for what they actually need.
It’s just part of who we are to look out for their well-being, especially since we’re the ones stepping into their natural spaces. If you’re thinking about feeding squirrels, just make sure you’re doing it the right way by giving them food that’s good for them and keeps them healthy. When squirrels aren’t getting enough to eat, it could lead to more sickness, and that might spread to other squirrels and different animals too. It’s super important to provide healthy foods to keep everyone safe.
What Can You Feed Squirrels?
Squirrels munch on all sorts of stuff like nuts, seeds, fruits, and veggies. In the wild, they rely on these resources to keep themselves going all year long. They often switch up their diet with the seasons.
If you want to feed squirrels, you can give them a bunch of their favorite natural foods.
Vegetables
Squirrels love a bunch of different foods, but their top pick is definitely fresh or dried corn. Veggies are great for them since they pack in important nutrients and can totally fit into their usual mix of nuts and fruits. Squirrels munch on yummy veggies like corn, peas, spinach, beans, broccoli, radishes, eggplant, asparagus, cabbages, and pretty much anything else they can find around them.
Nuts
Squirrels mainly munch on nuts, which are packed with energy and all the good stuff they need. They’re into pecans, walnuts, and almonds since they’re healthy and packed with good fats.
Squirrels have a tough time finding food in winter, so they mainly munch on nuts. Since they stash away nuts for later, they’ve got a reliable food supply throughout the year. This is how they prep for the seasonal changes.
Fruits
Squirrels enjoy munching on all sorts of food, and they’re pretty into different kinds of fruits too. Feel free to treat them to plenty of their favorite snacks, like apples, pears, and berries. They totally dig fruits that are in season and usually hunt for them in gardens and farms.
They can easily stash their veggies away for later munching. They either grab it from their own stash or just pick it right off the bushes and trees. They just have a knack for finding ripe, sweet fruits all year round, and they really enjoy those tasty treats.
Eggs
Squirrels typically skip eggs, but they love munching on fruits, veggies, and nuts. Sometimes, when there’s no other food around, they’ll just go for it and break into bird nests to grab some eggs.
So, even though they mainly get their nutrition from veggies, nuts, and seeds, this food packs a good amount of protein and fat. A squirrel could munch on hatchlings, young chicks, baby birds, and even the little ones that have taken a tumble from their nests if it needs to.
Insects
Sometimes, squirrels mix in some insects with what they eat. This gives them a solid source of protein, important nutrients, and energy from various insects like beetles, caterpillars, and ants. Squirrels usually munch on insects more often in the spring and summer when there are more bugs around and other food might be a bit scarce. Their varied diet is super important for keeping them healthy and energized.
Fungi
Squirrels sometimes munch on mushrooms and other fungi they find hanging around in their environment. Fungi can give you extra nutrients, like vitamins and proteins.
Squirrels munch on fungi when their usual snacks are hard to find or when they come across some really tasty ones. But hey, not all fungi are harmless, you know? Squirrels usually steer clear of the really toxic stuff and stick to what they know is safe and familiar.
Bird food
Squirrels really love birdseed, which often gets them into trouble as they raid bird feeders looking for a quick bite to eat. Birdseed usually has a mix of grains, nuts, and seeds, which gives squirrels a good source of fat and protein.
They have an awesome sense of smell, which helps them find food pretty easily. On the flip side, having bird seeds around all the time might spark some competition among the birds and could mess with how other wildlife eats.
Plant Stuff
Sometimes, squirrels really seem to like specific plant stuff, like leaves, shoots, and buds. During certain times or situations when food is scarce, they might use these parts of the plants.
These plant materials give the squirrels some extra nutrients on top of what they usually eat. Squirrels can totally munch on young seedlings and ornamental plants in gardens, which worries gardeners trying to keep their plants safe.
Pet Food
If you leave pet food out for your dogs or cats, squirrels will totally take advantage of that, especially in places where they’re used to being around people.
Even though these foods have higher fat and protein levels, they might not be the best pick for squirrels and could miss out on some of their nutritional needs. Feeding squirrels pet food all the time can mess with their nutrition and cause some health problems.
Leftovers and Trash
Squirrels usually scavenge for leftovers and trash in city or suburban areas whenever they can find it. They might look for extra food like fruits, veggies, or even some packaged stuff.
Hunting can give squirrels some nutrients, but it’s usually not their go-to food and might not be as packed with nutrients as their natural diet of fruits, nuts, and seeds. Using leftovers can sometimes expose them to unsafe or unhealthy stuff.
Cheese
Squirrels will totally munch on cheese whenever they get the chance. Even though cheese isn’t usually part of their diet, it’s often found in places where people toss out their leftovers.
Squirrels really dig the protein and fat in cheese, especially when they can’t find other food options around. But since cheese can be super rich and might not provide the right nutritional balance, it shouldn’t be a regular part of their diet.
Cereals
Squirrels munch on all sorts of cereals, especially the ones you find in gardens, bird feeders, or around the neighborhood. They’re always on the lookout for leftover breakfast cereals, corn, or oats.
Since they aren’t key parts of their diet and are more like occasional snacks that are available, they provide quick energy and carbs when eating.
What’s A Squirrel’s Favorite Food?
Squirrels actually munch on more than just nuts and seeds, which is what a lot of folks assume. They mostly munch on plants, but they also grab a few things from animals now and then. The Eastern Gray Squirrel munches on all sorts of stuff like bugs, frogs, small mammals, bird eggs, nestlings, and even bones.
Even so, a lot of their food is still plant-based. Squirrels chill out in spots away from people, munching on nuts, seeds, flowers, and buds from all sorts of trees like dogwood, elm, hackberry, hemlock, hickory, maple, mulberry, pine, and spruce. They occasionally munch on mushrooms and some other plants too.
When folks and squirrels hang out, squirrels munch on more food, and some of it is actually good for them and comes from nature. Some of the squirrels’ other faves aren’t exactly natural, but they still dig them. Some extra foods include peanuts, peanut butter, pecans, walnuts, grapes, corn, squash, zucchini, pumpkin, strawberries, carrots, apples, sunflower seeds, and even squirrel snacks like Oreo® cookies.
What Shouldn’t You Feed Squirrels?
There are a few things that aren’t great for squirrels, even if they won’t actually poison them. They probably shouldn’t be overdone or might be best to skip. Often, these foods lack essential nutrients or contain too much sugar, salt, or unhealthy fats. Here are a few examples:
1. Processed foods:
Snacks like chips, cookies, and other processed foods are packed with sugar, salt, and fats that aren’t great for you. Animals that munch on these can pack on the pounds, deal with dental issues, and end up feeling unwell in other ways.
2. Sugary Fruits:
Fruits are often seen as a healthy choice, but if you give squirrels too much fruit, it can turn into a sugary overload, which isn’t great for them.
3. Salty Nuts:
Squirrels really ought to steer clear of salted nuts like salted peanuts and walnuts since munching on too much salt can leave them dehydrated and lead to kidney issues.
How To Feed Squirrels?
Squirrels are pretty clever and can pull off some neat tricks. They’ll munch on just about anything you throw their way, like nuts, veggies, and some kinds of fungi. Feeding squirrels gives them a steady food source that helps keep them healthy and happy. Feeding squirrels too often can turn into a bit of a hassle, and if you don’t manage them right, they might start causing some trouble.
Give Out Natural Foods
If you feed squirrels human food, they might start hanging around your place to grab more, and that could turn into a bit of a problem. When it comes to healthy, whole foods, corn cobs, nuts, seeds, fruits, and even bugs are some of the top picks for feeding squirrels. Stuff like this is great for squirrels since it’s packed with fat, carbs, and protein.
Set Up A Place For Squirrels To Eat
Setting up a spot for squirrels to munch on is a great way to keep them away from your yard, bird feeders, and house. This keeps the animals in one spot to chow down instead of wandering around your place searching for food. Hey, you could totally set up some feeders under a pear tree that’s a bit away from your house, for instance.
Keep Your Trash Safe
Keep those trash can lids shut tight and toss food scraps way down in the compost pile, and you’ll be good to go—no animals sneaking into your place! Squirrels like to chill in trash bags that aren’t tied up right since it’s a breeze for them to score some food and water. Stashing away trash helps clear out stuff that can be annoying.
Use Bird Feeders That Are Squirrel-Proof.
Squirrels totally love bird feeders since they get to munch on all those yummy nuts, seeds, veggies, and grains. Squirrels can totally climb and reach these feeders since they’re small and super flexible. Having squirrel-proof bird feeders is a great way to keep those little critters around where they can munch on some food.
Final Words
There are a lot of different foods that you can feed squirrels. You can give these cute animals a lot of different kinds of food, from nuts and seeds to fruits and veggies. Giving them varied and healthy food is a great way to support their health and well-being while enjoying their company in the backyard. Remember that a squirrel that is fed well is a happy squirrel! So the next time you’re outside, or even in your own yard, think about giving these animals a tasty treat.
