Many people wonder what do squirrels eat. It is a common question that is often asked by children and adults alike, although many people are quick to point out that squirrels can’t really eat anything because they are not mammals. Squirreles are in fact, an obligate carnivore, which means that they must eat or the insects that live within their natural habitat. In most cases, this means that they will eat other animals, but some squirrels, mainly mice and rats, will also consume fruits and berries.
One of the most common question about what do squirrels eat has to do with what do squirrels eat when they are not eating corn. A lot of people believe that squirrels only eat corn on days when they are not eating any other types of foods. While this is true, another reason that squirrels will eat corn is because they enjoy eating sunflower seeds. Sunflower seeds are highly nutritious for young seed eaters.
Squirrels do enjoy eating the seeds from sunflowers
While squirrels do enjoy eating the seeds from sunflowers, many gardeners do not have a problem with this type of seed. However, when seed is dropped in the ground, it is not always easily accessible. Gardeners who have a problem with squirrels eating their gardeners’ seed often have an issue with squirrel droppings in their flower bulbs. The droppings left behind on the leaves of a flower bulb can make the flower deteriorate over time.
Many gardeners also like to plant birdseed in their yards. Because many birds eat the insects that are within the soil, these seeds will make a perfect food source for squirrels. Of course, squirrels do not enjoy eating tree bark, so tree bark will not necessarily be eaten by the squirrels.
Squirrels eat all types of berries and nuts.
Squirrels will also eat all types of berries and nuts. They will eat almost any kind of winter berries that are available to them in the fall and winter months. When picking out the nuts and berries for squirrels, it is important to pick ones without any excess oil. This will keep the squirrels from having an unbalanced diet, which can result in the squirrels being overweight.
Vegetables are another favorite food of squirrels
Vegetables are another favorite food of squirrels. Many gardeners like to plant celery, carrots, radishes, turnips, tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, cabbage, and various other fruits in their yards. Although these fruits are very tasty, they can sometimes end up being too much for the squirrels. If this happens, then it is important to remove the fruits and veggies from the garden.
Some seeds are toxic to squirrels
Some seeds are toxic to squirrels. These include sunflower seeds, nuts, and tree bark. Tree bark and poison ivy both need to be removed if the squirrels are in the yard. The bark is often ingested through the paws, which is why tree removal is so crucial. It is possible for tree removal services to be extremely costly, but they are very worth the money if the squirrels are deterred from nibbling on the seeds and nuts in the area.
Another thing that many squirrels will eat is raw onions. However, there are a few things that can help reduce the consumption of raw onions. These include non citrus fruits that are crushed, such as grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, and lemons, and raw potatoes that are cut into wedges. Although some gardeners believe that squirrels will not venture far away from raw potato wedges, most will eat the small bits that they come across. Without the outer skin, however, the potato will quickly become a very large and very difficult thing for the squirrels to try and digest.
Squirrels do eat rodents
Another thing that many gardeners wonder about is where squirrels get their food. Squirrels do eat rodents, but they have a number of different options for where they get their food from. One popular method is to find abandoned birdseed that has been left behind in bird feeders or birdhouses. These seeds have often gone uneaten by the birds who found them because the squirrels have taken the seeds for their own food. Other birds will eat the seeds and store them for the winter. This provides a means for the squirrels to have food when the birds aren’t feeding and helps reduce the amount of seeds that end up in the trash and on the ground.
Squirrels love nuts
Finally, squirrels love nuts, and they have a few different places that they get their nuts from. Squirrels will often search out cracker dens to get peanuts. They will also climb trees to seek out nuts and other types of nuts. They will even go as far as traveling through garbage and dumpsters to get at nuts.
In conclusion, knowing what do squirrels eat can help you understand your birdhouse guests. Knowing a little bit about what they like and don’t like can help you eliminate undesirable visitors from your birdhouses. Knowing what they eat also makes it easier for you to provide what they want in the wild. Think about what birdseed a squirrel might like to eat and take steps to prevent that species from gaining access to that food source. This way they can stay healthy and happy.