What to Feed Wild Squirrels: A Complete Guide
Knowing what you can feed wild squirrels is crucial for their health and well-being, as an improper diet can lead to serious health problems; generally, a mix of nuts, seeds, and occasional fruits and vegetables in moderation is best.
Understanding Squirrel Nutrition: A Balanced Approach
Feeding wild squirrels can be a rewarding experience, but it’s vital to understand their dietary needs to avoid causing harm. Squirrels are opportunistic omnivores, meaning they’ll eat a variety of foods, but their natural diet primarily consists of nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi, and occasionally insects. Mimicking this natural diet is key to providing them with supplemental food that supports their health.
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The Best Foods for Wild Squirrels
- Nuts: These are a squirrel’s favorite! Offer unsalted nuts like walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, and almonds. Avoid salted nuts as excessive sodium is harmful.
- Seeds: Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and squash seeds are excellent choices. Again, opt for unsalted varieties.
- Fruits: Small amounts of fruits like apples, grapes, berries, and melons can provide essential vitamins. Cut fruits into small pieces to prevent choking.
- Vegetables: Offer vegetables like carrots, broccoli, cucumber, and zucchini in moderation.
- Commercial Squirrel Food: Specially formulated squirrel food blends are available at many pet stores and provide a balanced mix of nutrients.
Here’s a helpful table summarizing good food choices:
| Food Group | Recommended Foods | Foods to Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| ———— | ——————————————— | ————————————————– |
| Nuts | Walnuts, Hazelnuts, Pecans, Almonds (unsalted) | Salted Nuts, Peanuts (in large quantities) |
| Seeds | Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Squash seeds | Salted Seeds |
| Fruits | Apples, Grapes, Berries, Melons (small pieces) | Citrus fruits (in large quantities), Avocado |
| Vegetables | Carrots, Broccoli, Cucumber, Zucchini | Onions, Garlic, Potatoes (especially raw/green) |
| Other | Commercial Squirrel Food, Deer Corn (sparingly) | Processed Foods, Bread, Candy, Chocolate |
Foods to Avoid Feeding Wild Squirrels
Just as important as knowing what you can feed wild squirrels is understanding what not to feed them. Some foods can be detrimental to their health.
- Processed Foods: Avoid feeding squirrels bread, crackers, chips, candy, and other processed foods. These are high in sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, offering little nutritional value.
- Chocolate: Chocolate is toxic to many animals, including squirrels.
- Onions and Garlic: These can cause digestive upset in squirrels.
- Raw Potatoes (especially green portions): Contain solanine, which is toxic to squirrels.
- Large Quantities of Peanuts: Peanuts are not as nutritious as other nuts and can sometimes contain a mold that is harmful to squirrels. Offering a variety of nuts is a better approach.
- Citrus Fruits (in large quantities): The acidity can upset their stomachs.
- Avocado: While humans love avocado, it contains persin, which is toxic to many animals, including some birds and rodents.
Best Practices for Feeding Wild Squirrels
- Offer Food in Moderation: Overfeeding can lead to dependency and obesity.
- Provide Fresh Water: Ensure a source of clean, fresh water is always available, especially during dry periods.
- Use a Squirrel Feeder: A dedicated squirrel feeder can help keep food clean and prevent it from attracting unwanted pests.
- Avoid Hand-Feeding: While tempting, hand-feeding can make squirrels overly reliant on humans and increase the risk of bites.
- Clean Up Leftover Food: Remove any uneaten food regularly to prevent it from rotting and attracting pests.
- Be Consistent (but not overly so): Feeding squirrels at the same time each day can help them establish a routine, but it’s important to avoid creating complete dependency. Erratic feeding schedules are better than none at all.
Common Mistakes When Feeding Wild Squirrels
- Providing too much food at once.
- Offering unhealthy or processed foods.
- Neglecting to provide fresh water.
- Hand-feeding squirrels.
- Failing to clean up leftover food.
- Encouraging dependency on human-provided food.
The Ethical Considerations of Feeding Wildlife
While feeding wild squirrels can be enjoyable, it’s important to consider the ethical implications. Over-reliance on human-provided food can disrupt their natural foraging behaviors and make them more vulnerable to predators or other environmental changes. It is important to feed squirrels supplementary food in moderation, especially during times when their natural food sources are scarce, such as in winter or during periods of drought.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Feeding Wild Squirrels
Can I feed squirrels bread?
Bread offers very little nutritional value to squirrels and is essentially empty calories. It can lead to malnutrition and health problems. It is best to avoid feeding squirrels bread altogether.
Is it safe to feed squirrels peanuts?
While peanuts are not inherently toxic, they are not the healthiest option for squirrels. They are lower in nutrients than other nuts and can sometimes contain a mold called aflatoxin, which is harmful to squirrels. Offering a variety of nuts is a much better approach.
What is the best time of year to feed squirrels?
The best time to supplement squirrels’ diet is during the winter months or during periods of drought, when their natural food sources are scarce. During the spring and summer, they typically have access to ample food and may not need as much supplemental feeding.
How much food should I give the squirrels each day?
It is crucial to avoid overfeeding. A small handful of nuts and seeds per squirrel per day is usually sufficient. Observe the squirrels’ behavior; if they are leaving food uneaten, reduce the amount you offer.
Is it okay to give squirrels salted nuts?
No, salted nuts are harmful to squirrels. Excessive sodium can lead to dehydration and other health problems. Always choose unsalted nuts for feeding wild squirrels.
What kind of feeder should I use for squirrels?
There are many types of squirrel feeders available, including platform feeders, hopper feeders, and even feeders designed to make squirrels work for their food. Choose a feeder that is easy to clean and provides adequate drainage to prevent food from becoming moldy.
How do I keep squirrels away from my bird feeders?
Squirrels are notorious for raiding bird feeders. Consider using squirrel-proof bird feeders, placing feeders in locations that are difficult for squirrels to access, or offering a dedicated squirrel feeder in a different location to distract them from the bird feeders.
Can squirrels eat fruit?
Yes, squirrels can eat certain fruits in moderation. Good options include apples, grapes, berries, and melons. Cut the fruit into small pieces to prevent choking and avoid offering large amounts of citrus fruits.
Is it safe to hand-feed squirrels?
While tempting, hand-feeding squirrels is not recommended. It can make them overly reliant on humans, increase the risk of bites, and potentially spread diseases. It is best to observe squirrels from a safe distance.
What should I do if I find a baby squirrel?
If you find a baby squirrel that appears to be orphaned or injured, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator. They have the expertise and resources to properly care for the squirrel and eventually release it back into the wild.
Are squirrels beneficial to my garden?
Squirrels can be both beneficial and detrimental to a garden. They help spread seeds and aerate the soil, but they can also eat plants and dig up bulbs.
What if squirrels become too dependent on my feeding?
If you notice that squirrels are becoming overly dependent on your feeding, gradually reduce the amount of food you offer. This will encourage them to resume their natural foraging behaviors and become less reliant on human-provided food. It is important to reduce the food available slowly, and never suddenly stop offering food, especially during winter months.