You may think this one is obvious. Squirrels eat nuts, right? Well yes. However, did you know that a squirrels’ diet will change based on the time of year and what season it is? Like all other animals, squirrels will eat whatever food is available for them. During the winter months, squirrels don’t have access to quite the assortment they are used to during the warmer months. In this article, we will explain exactly what squirrels eat throughout the year.
What Squirrels Eat: Fall and Winter
During the fall, squirrels will collect nuts of all kinds so they can store and eat them over the winter months. Squirrels are notorious for digging little holes in the ground to store their food and come back for it later. In saying so, you may notice squirrels around your yard doing this very thing. They will even go as far as to dig “faux-holes” to trick other animals and keep them away from their real stash. Since squirrels do not technically hibernate during the colder months, they use the food they store to survive. Did you know that squirrels have been known to stash away enough food to last up to 3 years? That’s quite a lot! Some of squirrels’ favorite nuts/food to store include:
- Walnuts
- Plain birdseed with shelled sunflowers
- Peanuts
- Cashews
- Almonds
What Squirrels Eat: Spring and Summer
During the Spring and Summer months, squirrels have a much larger array of food options to choose from. According to squirrelenthusiast.com,”…squirrels have a healthy appetite for many native flowers, veggies, fungi, plants, flowers, and some insects that can be found in their natural habitat.” Additionally, if you have a garden, you may begin to notice bite marks in some of your vegetables and fruits. Squirrels, like other rodents, have front teeth that continuously grow. Because of this, they like to bite and chew through foods and materials that will keep their teeth worn down some. Some of squirrels’ favorite Spring and Summer foods include:
- Mushrooms
- Berries
- Apples
- Watermelon
- Bird eggs (In the spring)
Should I Feed The Squirrels Around My Home?
Although they can be cute and curious to watch, it is still not a good idea to feed squirrels around your home or leave food lying around for them to munch on. You also have to be mindful of your bird feeders. Like most other wild critters, if you attract one, you will attract more. Overtime, this will create issues for your home that you do not want to deal with. During the winter months, squirrels will be searching for a warm place to hide out from the cold weather and will eventually find their way into your home. Having squirrels in your home and attic can cost thousands in electrical, insulation and other exterior and interior material repairs. It is important to note that squirrels are also the leading cause of house fires in America.
What To Do If Squirrels Become A Nuisance
It is important to get rid of squirrels as soon as possible in order to avoid squirrel damage including chewed electrical wires and insulation damage, not to mention the severe health issues that can occur if they are around you and your family. A professional squirrel removal company, like Varmint Gone, can resolve your issue. Varmint Gone identifies all entry points, evicts or exterminates any existing rodents and seals holes after we are certain all animals have been removed from your home or business. Varmint Gone is a licensed, insured, and local veteran owned company. We have prided ourselves on providing fast and reliable squirrel removal services to homeowners and commercial facilities, since 1983. Our squirrel exclusion jobs include a five-year warranty. This warranty covers all repairs and construction exclusion work against squirrels. Call Varmint Gone today at 888-391-3330 or schedule an inspection online to eradicate your squirrel problem!
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