Peanut Butter Okay A favorite, but should only be provided in moderation. Peanuts, Raw Dangerous Raw peanuts may contain a fungus that can hurt squirrels. Peanuts, Roasted Okay Unsalted and only in small amounts. Pecans Excellent Shelled or unshelled are fine. Pistachio Okay White pistachios only. Do not give them red pistachios. They will often chew on the pumpkin shell too. Sunflower seeds Okay Although squirrels love sunflower seeds, provide them in small amounts only.
Vegetables Broccoli, carrots, peas, yellow squash, zucchini Excellent Generally an excellent source of nutrition. Walnut, Black or American Excellent Leave in shell to promote gnawing.
Water Excellent Squirrels need water daily. Keep it fresh and unfrozen. Keep a squirrel friendly feeder close to a tree. Make it easy for the squirrel to climb to the bait feeder. Pick foods that squirrels will love. Is it Safe to Feed Squirrels?
Is it Legal to Feed Squirrels? Feeding Squirrels Have you set up a squirrel feeder or made other plans for feeding squirrels in your yard? Read More. More Like This. PP - Articles - Email Signup. Although feeding these animals can be a nice sight, it can also be a potential danger to the squirrels. For example, encouraging them to cross the roads and also putting out food and feeders that can make them vulnerable to cats and other predators.
As squirrels are very good at finding their own food, constanstly feeding and supplying it for them may cause them to stop naturally hunting. It can also cause over population in a small area which can then become a nuisance for you and others in your local area.
There are a few ways on which you can keep your squirrels safe. One way is to ensure that your bird feeders are 'squirrel safe' so that they dont get stuck inside any feeder. Also, animals cannot distinguish food from wrappers or foil and can get sick eating these items," the USDA site says. To make matters worse, when well-intentioned humans start giving squirrels food, they become dependent on those handouts.
And if the early bird they are diurnal buffet closes, they won't be able to become self-sufficient again. If generous humans do manage to keep the food supply steady, the happy, lazy squirrels go out and inform their squirrel friends that they've discovered a food paradise. So how is that a problem? That endless food supply attracts more squirrels, none of which have any intention of giving up the good life. An area overpopulated with squirrels can mean an increase in diseases like Lyme disease that can be transmitted to pets, humans and other rodents like more squirrels.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it's extremely rare for squirrels to have rabies or to pass rabies to pets or humans in the United States. But still, befriending squirrels can be problematic because they can lose their innate fear of humans and become aggressive.
As lovable as they may look, squirrels have sharp teeth and nails that are not cuddle-friendly. If the safety of people and pets isn't enough to sway you, then maybe property damage will. Southern Living magazine's Grumpy Gardener columnist aka Steve Bender makes no attempt to hide his disdain for squirrels.
Hate them, hate, hate them, hate them! He even goes as far as suggesting they're good for nothing except eating. But Bender is right when he says the critters can be destructive. Related Articles. Deterring Raccoons from Your Bird Feeders. Chipmunks are little and wily, with quick movements, hearty appetites,
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