The answer to whether squirrels eat corn on the cob is an unequivocal yes, especially when the opportunity arises in a garden setting. The primary species responsible for this activity across North America is often the Eastern Gray Squirrel, though other species also participate. Corn is a highly favored food source for these opportunistic foragers, easily accessible when ripening on the stalk or placed in a backyard feeder. The attraction to this particular crop has less to do with a nutritional necessity and more to do with pure caloric availability.
Why Corn is Highly Appealing to Squirrels
Squirrels are intensely driven by the need to secure energy, especially to build up fat reserves for colder months or to cache for later consumption. Corn is a dense source of carbohydrates and starches, offering a rapid energy boost that is particularly appealing to these small mammals. This high caloric density makes it a rewarding target for their foraging efforts.
The form of the corn influences how squirrels interact with it. Fresh sweet corn on the stalk contains higher moisture and sugar content, making it a palatable treat for immediate consumption. Dried corn, such as that often found in feeders, is harder, making it better suited for stripping the kernels and burying them for storage. They will expend significant effort to acquire this food due to its energy-rich composition.
How Corn Fits Into a Squirrel’s Natural Diet
While squirrels eagerly consume corn, it is not a balanced or healthy staple for their diet. Corn has an extremely poor calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, roughly 1 part calcium to 45 parts phosphorus, when their bodies require a ratio closer to 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus for proper function. A diet dominated by corn can lead to a severe nutritional imbalance.
If squirrels rely too heavily on corn, they risk developing Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). This occurs when the body pulls calcium from their own bones to process the excess phosphorus. In their natural habitat, squirrels consume a varied diet that includes hard mast, such as acorns and hickory nuts, along with fungi, insects, and tree buds. These natural sources provide the necessary micronutrients and protein that corn largely lacks, explaining why they require a broader range of foods despite raiding gardens for immediate energy.
Practical Strategies for Protecting Your Garden
Gardeners seeking to protect their ripening corn have several practical, non-lethal methods to deter hungry squirrels. The most effective approach is the use of physical barriers that prevent access to the developing cobs. Installing a cage made of chicken wire or hardware cloth around the corn patch can successfully exclude the animals, as the mesh size is too small for them to pass through.
A second strategy involves applying a taste-aversion deterrent directly to the corn cobs. Products containing capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their heat, can be sprayed onto the exterior of the developing ears. Squirrels are sensitive to the heat, but the spray is non-toxic, causing them to take one bite and then abandon the crop entirely. This method is safe for the plant and does not harm the animal.
Gardeners can also employ diversionary feeding, which involves offering an alternative, high-value food source located far away from the corn. Providing black oil sunflower seeds, peanuts, or specialized squirrel feed in a dedicated feeder can redirect their attention. The trade-off is that this may attract more squirrels to the general area, but it can successfully keep them from focusing their foraging efforts on the vulnerable garden crops.