Feeding backyard squirrels is common, sparking curiosity about suitable foods. While squirrels accept many offerings, their natural diet is specific. Understanding a healthy diet for them is important, especially concerning sugar, which can be problematic for their health.
Understanding a Squirrel’s Natural Diet
Squirrels are omnivores and opportunistic foragers, with a diet diverse and adapted to seasonal availability. Their primary food sources include nuts like acorns, walnuts, and hickory nuts, along with seeds, fruits, and fungi. They also consume tree buds, bark, and occasionally insects or bird eggs.
Their digestive system is well-adapted to process these natural foods. Squirrels possess strong jaws and continuously growing incisors suited for gnawing on hard shells and plant materials, which helps keep their teeth worn. A specialized cecum, a pouch in their large intestine, aids in plant matter fermentation and nutrient absorption. While fruits contain natural sugars, these are consumed as part of a balanced intake alongside fibrous and protein-rich foods.
Why Processed Sugar is Harmful to Squirrels
Introducing processed or added sugars into a squirrel’s diet can have several negative health consequences. Unlike the natural sugars found in fruits, processed sugars lack nutritional value and can lead to various issues. Their bodies are not efficiently designed to metabolize these concentrated forms of sugar.
Sugary foods contribute to tooth decay and gum disease in squirrels. The soft texture of many sugary human foods does not provide the necessary abrasion to wear down their continuously growing teeth, potentially leading to malocclusion or overgrown teeth that can hinder eating.
Excessive sugar intake also contributes to obesity due to high calorie content. Urban squirrels with access to human food waste often exhibit higher sugar and overall energy intake compared to their wild counterparts, leading to unhealthy weight gain and associated health risks.
Processed sugars can disrupt a squirrel’s metabolism. Urban squirrels have been found to have elevated blood glucose levels, suggesting a potential for metabolic disorders. These sugary “empty calories” displace nutrient-rich foods, leading to nutritional deficiencies and potentially weakening their immune system and affecting growth. A diet heavily reliant on phosphorus-rich, calcium-poor foods like peanuts and corn, often given as treats, can also contribute to Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD).
A consistent supply of easily accessible sugary foods can also alter a squirrel’s natural behavior. It may reduce their inclination to forage for healthier, natural food sources, making them dependent on human handouts. This reduced foraging can lead to a decreased natural fear of humans, which might put them at greater risk in their environment.
Safe and Unsafe Foods for Squirrels
When considering what to offer squirrels, providing appropriate, natural options in moderation is important.
Safe foods that can supplement their diet include:
Unsalted nuts such as walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, and acorns, preferably in their shells to promote natural gnawing behavior.
Various seeds like pumpkin and sunflower seeds are also acceptable.
Small amounts of fresh fruits like apples, berries, grapes, and cherries.
Vegetables such as carrots, corn (sparingly), broccoli, peas, zucchini, and leafy greens.
Corn and peanuts should be given infrequently due to their lower nutritional value and potential for mold.
Conversely, many human foods are unsafe and should be avoided. These include:
All processed sugars like candy, cookies, sweetened cereals, and baked goods, which offer no nutritional benefit and can cause significant harm.
Chocolate, which is toxic due to theobromine.
Salty snacks like chips and pretzels, which can lead to dehydration and kidney issues.
Dairy products, which are difficult for squirrels to digest.
Foods containing artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which are extremely harmful.
Avocado, onions, garlic, and the pits or seeds of certain fruits, which also contain toxins that can be dangerous.
Bread and other processed carbohydrates, which provide empty calories and can cause digestive problems.