Wild squirrels are active and visible in suburban and urban environments, leading many people to consider offering a small supplement to their natural diet. Providing the right food requires understanding the animal’s nutritional needs to ensure your actions support, rather than harm, its well-being. This guide details what squirrels can safely consume, what they must avoid, and the principles of responsible feeding.
Recommended Nutritional Offerings for Wild Squirrels
The diet of a wild squirrel is naturally varied, consisting of nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and insects, so it is important to offer a diverse selection. Nuts should be the foundation of any supplementary feeding, but they must be raw and unsalted to prevent health issues. Good choices include pecans, walnuts, and almonds, which provide healthy fats and proteins necessary for energy and winter preparation.
Offering nuts still in their shell is particularly beneficial because the act of gnawing helps wear down a squirrel’s continuously growing incisor teeth, which is essential for their dental health. Seeds like sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are also excellent sources of fat and protein. These seeds are usually consumed immediately rather than cached, but they should always be offered in moderation to avoid overreliance on a single food source and prevent nutritional imbalances.
Fresh fruits and vegetables can be given as treats, but they should form only a small part of the overall offering due to their sugar content. Squirrels enjoy small pieces of apples, berries, and broccoli, which provide fiber and various micronutrients. Excessive fruit consumption can lead to stomach upset because of the high sugar levels, so only a few slices of apple or carrot are suitable. Always clean fresh produce thoroughly before offering it to remove any surface contaminants.
Variety in the diet is important because a diet consisting solely of nuts and seeds lacks the calcium needed to prevent conditions like Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). Occasional protein supplements, such as dried mealworms, can be offered, reflecting the insect component of a wild squirrel’s diet. The goal is to provide supplemental nutrition that is close to what the animal would naturally forage, ensuring it receives a broad spectrum of necessary nutrients.
Foods That Are Harmful or Dangerous to Squirrels
Many common human foods are detrimental to a squirrel’s delicate digestive and metabolic systems. Highly processed items like bread, cookies, chips, and crackers offer little nutritional value and are rich in carbohydrates, which can lead to obesity and nutrient deficiency. These “empty calories” may cause the squirrel to feel full, preventing it from seeking out the more nutritious natural foods it needs to survive.
Specific substances pose severe health risks, particularly chocolate and caffeinated products due to the presence of theobromine, a compound squirrels cannot metabolize effectively. Even small amounts of chocolate can cause tremors, an elevated heart rate, or seizures. High-sodium foods, such as salted nuts or pretzels, can cause severe dehydration and place stress on a squirrel’s kidneys, especially if fresh water is not readily available.
Certain produce items also contain toxic compounds. For instance, the skin and pit of an avocado are toxic to many rodents, and onions and garlic contain compounds that can damage a squirrel’s red blood cells, potentially leading to anemia. Feeding moldy or rancid food, including old corn, is a serious hazard as it can contain aflatoxins, which are highly toxic to the liver and immune system. It is also advised to avoid feeding peanuts, which are legumes, as they can carry a fungus that produces aflatoxins and have a poor calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.
Responsible Feeding Practices and Environmental Considerations
When feeding wild squirrels, the method of delivery is as important as the food itself. Always provide a source of clean, fresh water, which is especially important when supplementing their diet. The food offered should be a supplement, not the primary source of nutrition, to prevent the animals from becoming dependent on human handouts and losing their natural foraging instincts. Dependency can be harmful, particularly if the feeding suddenly stops, as the animal may struggle to find food on its own.
Placing food in designated squirrel feeders, ideally elevated and near trees or shrubs, allows the animals an easy escape route from predators and helps contain the feeding area. Maintaining a clean feeding area is important in preventing the spread of disease, as concentrated gatherings of animals increase the risk of pathogen transmission. Regularly cleaning feeders and removing old or spoiled food also prevents the attraction of unwanted pests, such as rats, which are drawn to readily available food sources.
Unintentional feeding can be just as problematic as intentional feeding, so securing trash cans, cleaning up fallen fruit, and ensuring pet food is not left outside are essential actions. Allowing wild animals to become too comfortable around people can lead to a loss of their natural fear, increasing the risk of conflict between humans and wildlife. Limiting feeding to a supportive role helps ensure both the squirrel’s health and the ecological balance of the immediate environment.