Do you have a lot of squirrels in your backyard? If so, then you might be wondering if they have been eating up your vegetable garden, especially your beloved crops that you had spent so much time planting, growing, and harvesting. You may not know for sure what they have been up to, but all the same it is an interesting observation.
With that said, you just might be wondering if squirrels tend to like to eat certain foods besides the typical acorns that many people believe them to snack on. You might even ask yourself: do squirrels eat carrots? Especially if you grow a ton of carrots in your backyard, then you have the right to be concerned with all of that.
Hence, we are here to help! Learn more in this article on squirrel behavior and eating habits through our frequently-asked questions, of which we answer them for you. Soon enough, you will have the knowledge of figuring out how to tend to your carrots while also make peace with the squirrels that may (or may not) eat them.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
What Are the Squirrel’s Eating Habits?
Just like with other rodent species, squirrels tend to gather and hoard food in their homes. Considering that they are so agile and have a faster heart rate than other animal species out there, it is necessary for them to be constantly eating and otherwise snacking on food in order to keep their energy metabolism up.
Especially before the winter season comes, squirrels will go through a lot of hoarding sessions in order to make it through the cold months, eating as well as storing for the sake of survival.
What Do Squirrels Tend to Eat?
You might be surprised to discover that squirrels can eat just about anything, and are willing to do so. Naturally, they are herbivores so popular foods include nuts (e.g. walnut, beech, hickory, and butternut) and plenty of different fruits and vegetables.
Some fruits that squirrels are especially fond of consuming are kiwi, pears, avocados, peaches, plums, figs, mangos, and berries (e.g. strawberries, blueberries, mulberries, etc.).
They are particularly attracted to fruits since such items are sweet and add a sugar boost for energy to keep them going in short bursts of time.
As for vegetables, it has been observed that squirrels have eaten things such as okra, lettuce, kale, chard, arugula, broccoli, leeks, and many more.
Really, squirrels eat everything and anything, and they might even go inside of your garbage can to fish out trash items like leftovers or other edible objects for consumption.
Under extreme cases, they might eat insects or eggs which make them no longer herbivores, but that is only when they are starving and desperate for food. Otherwise, you should not have to worry about them becoming carnivores any time soon- do not worry about that!
What Are Some Foods That Squirrels Should Not Eat?
Although squirrels eat pretty much anything and everything that comes their way, some foods should not, under any circumstances, reach their hungry, little paws.
For instance, two foods that squirrels should avoid are peanuts and corn. While delicious to the little furry creatures themselves, they do not provide any nutritional value to their system, and otherwise, are the equivalent of their “junk food.”
Peanuts are not actually nuts, but rather legumes and, along with corn, they might end up the growing mold (invisible to the eye) which is toxic and may, in the end, kill the squirrel, if at least make them seriously sick.
That said, it would be wise to avoid feeding them both of the items, just to keep them safe from harm. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry!
Do Squirrels Eat Carrots?
As discussed in one of the previous questions, squirrels eat just about any vegetable grown out there. That said, squirrels do eat carrots. However, some of them might actually be picky, since they would much prefer the sweeter, filling snacks like fruit or nuts.
So if you are keen on having them try out carrots, then it helps to bait them with some pieces of fruit or nuts right next to the carrots themselves to get them interested in eating their vegetables. In the end, it can be worth it!
Conclusion
All in all, squirrels are voracious eaters that are willing to give most foods at least a try. Carrots are no exception and even though the little creatures might not necessarily like them at first, pairing them with other desirable foods can be a great way for them to fortify their bodies with nutrition and strength. Just be careful not to overfeed them, or otherwise, they will get fat!
I hope you found this article helpful. If you have any other questions, please let me know in the comment field, and don’t forget to share this article with your friends and family.
I’m surprised after reading this. I love my little squirrel family, and my sister and brother in law said that they feed the little guys RAW peanuts. Oh goodness ! I’m trying to get them stocked up for winter in the South. They don’t care much about the acorns, I will try some carrots, I never have veggies to spare. I pray I haven’t hurt them !