The sight of a freshly ravaged vegetable patch can be deeply frustrating for any home gardener, especially when the culprit is elusive. Many gardeners wake up to find their tender leafy greens systematically chewed down to the stem overnight. This common wildlife damage prompts the question of which garden visitor is responsible for consuming the cultivated plants. Understanding the specific feeding habits of local wildlife, particularly squirrels, is the first step toward effective garden protection.
Squirrel Dietary Habits and Spinach
Yes, squirrels readily consume spinach, along with many other leafy greens found in a vegetable garden. These animals are classified as opportunistic omnivores, meaning they will eat a wide variety of foods, though their diet is predominantly plant-based. The tender texture of spinach leaves makes them an appealing, easy-to-digest food source for a foraging squirrel.
Spinach is often targeted for its high water content, which is important for squirrels seeking hydration, especially during dry summer months. While their primary diet consists of high-energy foods like nuts, seeds, and fungi, soft foliage provides a quick and accessible meal. Consumption of greens increases when preferred food sources are scarce or not yet ripe.
Spinach contains a high level of oxalic acid, which can bind to calcium and is not ideal for their long-term health in large amounts. This compound contributes to why squirrels often treat leafy greens as a secondary food source rather than a dietary staple. Despite this, a squirrel will not hesitate to chew through a row of spinach plants when foraging.
Other Garden Plants Squirrels Target
Squirrels pose a threat to nearly every section of the vegetable garden. They are particularly drawn to developing soft fruits, such as tomatoes, strawberries, and berries, often taking a single bite out of many pieces before moving on. The high sugar content and moisture in these ripe products provide a significant energy boost.
Squirrels also frequently target vegetables grown for their seeds, like corn kernels and various types of squash. This foraging behavior is not strictly about sustenance; squirrels may sample plants out of curiosity or to sharpen their continually growing front teeth. This exploratory eating often results in significant damage to young seedlings and maturing plants.
Furthermore, these animals are notorious for digging up and consuming underground storage organs, including flower bulbs like tulips and crocuses. They use their keen sense of smell to locate buried items, which often leads to the uprooting and destruction of newly planted seedlings and delicate root systems.
Effective Squirrel Deterrents for the Garden
The most reliable strategy for protecting garden plants involves implementing physical barriers to deny squirrels access to the food source.
Physical Barriers
Creating cages or enclosures using hardware cloth is highly effective, as the material is durable and the mesh size prevents entry. For ground-level protection, this wire mesh should be secured on top of the soil or sunk at least six inches into the ground to deter digging.
For larger areas, draped fine-mesh netting over hoops can create an effective exclosure. The mesh must be small enough that a squirrel cannot squeeze through, and the bottom edges must be firmly anchored to the soil surface. This method is useful for protecting leafy greens and small fruits, though it may need to be temporarily lifted for tasks like pollination.
Sensory Deterrents
Another approach is to employ sensory deterrents that exploit the squirrel’s sensitive sense of smell and taste. Sprays containing capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their heat, can be applied to the foliage to make the plants unpalatable. Squirrels dislike the intense flavor, making them abandon the treated plants after a single exploratory bite.
These aversion techniques require diligent reapplication, especially following rain or heavy watering. Other scent-based methods include:
- Spreading fresh coffee grounds.
- Sprinkling powdered spices, like cayenne pepper, around the base of vulnerable plants.
- Using commercially available repellents containing the scent of natural predators, such as fox urine.