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What Not to Feed Squirrels: To Keep Them Healthy

What Not to Feed Squirrels? Some foods can have dangerous outcomes for their health. They are curious creatures, and if you have a yard with trees, you have seen them run around looking for food. Eat almost anything they are known to eat.

This guide will teach you which foods you never feed squirrels and why it is dangerous for their health. Protects them from things such as digestive issues, lack of nutrients and other lifetime dangers by limiting them to certain foods.

Squirrels eating a biscuit

Key Takeaways

  • Avoid Processed and Harmful Foods: Don’t feed them starchy, sugary foods, sweet or salty snacks or commercial foods. If squirrels consume these foods over a long time it can cause chronic health problems and are actually toxic.
  • A balanced diet makes them healthy: Feed them a balanced diet that makes them happy and thriving instead of choosing the wholesome natural options.

Why Some Foods Are Harmful to Squirrels?

If we only feed them good, fresh fruits, and the right stuff to eat (some seeds and some nuts for squirrels). We ought to know what do squirrels like to eat and what and how much we feed them fruits, vegetables seeds and nuts.

What Not to Feed Squirrels?

Don’t let them eat bread, snacks, processed food or anything with artificial chemicals or flavors. Squirrels don’t process these things in the same way as we do.

Bread and Crackers: Empty Calories

Most people think that squirrels like plain bread or crackers, but these products are carbohydrate-rich contain very low fiber and can lead to fattening.

If they take more bread, there is less space left for the  consumption of superior foods such as nuts, grains, legumes, seeds, starchy vegetables, beans, other vegetables, and condiments.

Bread can cause digestive blockages, so they need feed, which they eat in the wild, but bread is actually toxic to them.

Today, this is a non-indigenous species that thrives in the tropical parts of Kauai, blending into the community of birds.

Sugary Snacks: Dangerous and Addictive

Candy or cookies are not good for the squirrels, instead, we can offer them nuts, biscuits and cakes that produce no positive outcome. Instead, attempt to provide them with natural sweet fruits like apples or berries as such fruits that have a lot of health benefits for the kids.

Salty Foods: Bad for Their Heart

Foods that are vile to the intestine, such as chips, pretzels, or salted nuts, are lethal to squirrels. High salt will cause hypertension and water retention, and this will put pressure on their small heart muscles.

Processed Human Foods: Toxic Ingredients

Squirrels are not capable of digesting processed human foods because that food contains preservatives, artificial colors and unhealthy chemicals. Pizza, fries and burgers are tasty and appealing but very fatal to wildlife.

Peanuts

Foods that are palatable to squirrels, like peanuts, might be good for consumption, but these ar,e in fac,t unhealthy for them. Viable peanuts in their natural form may have a fungus known as aflatoxins that harbors danger by poisoning their liver.

Junk Food

A squirrel enjoys chips, cookies, and fast foods; however, these products include fats, sugars, and preservatives, which are not healthy for these animals. If you feed junk food, they get lethargic and die faster than healthy squirrels who receive proper meals.

Squirrels eating peanuts
Squirrels eating peanuts

Cereals

Cereals are something we can safely eat, but not all of them are safe for squirrels. Many animals love taking cereals, but they have sugars and other materials that may be dangerous to the animals.

When feeding squirrels a grain based snack, you should use oat or unsweetened grains. As a result, do not feed food which has been pushed up with sugar, artificial  colors or any preservative that may hinder their digestive system.

Corn

Squirrels can get some corn, but it is important for health to take less amount of corn because it contains less nutrients. Ensure that the corn you are feeding is fresh and not moldy, and feed only a little amount of it.

Breakfast Cereals

The breakfast cereals that are manufactured for human consumption contain sugar, salt and other artificial constituents that are not suitable for squirrels.

If you like to feed the breakfast cereals then use raw cereals without added sugars and with whole grain content and with few preservatives.

Pet Foods

Pet food in general mush as kibble made for a dog or cat for instance is not suitable for a squirrel. These foods, intended for carnivorous species, include products that stump a squirrel’s stomach.

Instead of pet food, give them: nuts, fruits, and veggies because these common foods resemble the food present in the wild and which the squirrel could pre-Gast.

What Food Attracts Squirrels?

You can feed them fresh, natural foods that include products that are ready for human consumption. Avoid processed foods like bread, cereals, chocolate, sugar, preserves, roasted unsalted nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Best Alternatives: What People Can Feed Squirrels

Apples, grapes, berries, etc. and carrots (and other fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrots, green veggies like spinach) are great food for squirrels. Nuts — raw, unsalted walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts — also excite these cute creatures.

A healthy squirrel in the wild
A healthy squirrel in the wild

People also ask for FAQs

Chocolate, artificial candy, or anything that has artificial sweeteners like xylitol is not liked by squirrels. Some foods that are peanuts and corn contain toxic chemicals which are fatal to squirrels.

Avoid providing processed, salty, or sweet foods to wild squirrels. They should refrain from serving bread, chips, crackers, and cereals with added sugar or preservatives on their menu. Another threat is raw peanuts.

Conclusion

Feeding squirrels with healthy foods that do not harm will hel,p but what not to feed squirrels? Never feed any processed food like snacks to squirrels because these can upset their health. You can protect their health by making simple changes, such as avoiding peanuts, junk food and sugary cereals.

The only food they improve their healthy life is fresh fruits, vegetables, and unsalted nuts. Feeding healthy food creates a positive environment in which they can flourish safely in your backyard.

So when you plan to feed the squirrels, think about what would be the best for them and stick to healthier options, that is helping these charming critters live their best lives.

References

  1. Squirrels health status

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