Feeding Squirrels: What They Eat and What Harms Them

Squirrels do not hibernate; they enter torpor instead: they wake up regularly and need to eat. So anyone helping in the garden should know when help is really needed and what does the animals more harm than good.

When squirrels need help

The critical time is not midwinter, but late winter and early spring. Then the buried stores have been used up or found by other animals, and buds, shoots, and seeds are not yet available. In this gap – roughly from February to April – a feeding station is most valuable.

The second critical point is midsummer. During prolonged dry spells, squirrels mainly lack water, not food. A shallow bowl of fresh water then helps more than any nut mix.

What squirrels naturally eat

Their diet is broader than many people think: seeds from conifers, nuts, buds, young shoots, bark, mushrooms, berries – and occasionally animal protein in the form of insects or bird eggs. Good supplementary feeding reflects this variety and does not consist of nuts alone.

Suitable food

• Ready-made complete mixes – cover seeds, nuts, fruit, and vegetables in one go. In the range you will find the Eurital Squirrel Premium Mix and the Deli Nature Premium squirrel food in 12,5 kg.
• Nuts in the shell – hazelnuts and walnuts. The shell keeps the animals occupied and wears down their constantly growing incisors.
• Sunflower seeds – energy-rich and reliably accepted.
• Peanuts unshelled – unsalted and unroasted, as a supplement in moderation.
• Chestnuts and dried pieces of fruit or carrot – for variety.
• Water – shallow, stable, fresh daily.

What should not be fed

• Salted, roasted, or seasoned nuts – squirrels cannot tolerate salt.
• Almonds – generally avoided. Bitter almonds contain amygdalin, which releases hydrocyanic acid, and in shops the distinction from sweet almonds is not always clear. Ready-made squirrel mixes are therefore usually almond-free.
• Bread and baked goods – swell up and provide little of use.
• Milk and dairy products – squirrels cannot digest lactose.
• Chocolate, sweets, leftovers – do not belong at a feeding station.

The feeding station

A feeder or feeding box should be installed raised and cat-safe – on a tree trunk, on a house wall, or on a free-standing post with enough distance from places they could jump from. A lid keeps the food dry; damp food molds and must be removed.

The spot should be cleaned regularly. And: top up food in small amounts rather than filling up in bulk – squirrels carry everything off and bury it, and what remains attracts rats.

Do not tame them

Squirrels quickly get used to people. Cute as that may seem: an animal that associates people with food becomes trusting toward everyone – including dogs and in road traffic. Feed from a distance and not by hand.

An injured or obviously weakened young animal does not belong in private hands, but with a wildlife rescue center or a veterinarian.

Frequently asked questions

What do squirrels like to eat best?

Nuts and oil-rich seeds – especially hazelnuts, walnuts, and sunflower seeds. In nature, though, conifer seeds, buds, and mushrooms make up a large part of their diet.

Can squirrels be fed all year round?

Yes. Supplementary feeding is most important in late winter and early spring, when the stores are empty. In summer, fresh water matters most.

Why no almonds?

Because bitter almonds contain amygdalin, which turns into hydrocyanic acid, and bitter and sweet almonds cannot be reliably distinguished in shops. Ready-made squirrel mixes therefore come without almonds.

How much food does a squirrel need?

Top up with small portions instead of filling the feeder to the brim. The animals carry food away and create caches – excess food is left behind and spoils.

Where should I place the feeding station?

Raised and with enough distance from cat perches, protected from rain, and clearly visible to you.

What should I do with a helpless young animal?

Contact a wildlife rescue center or a veterinarian. Raising it yourself usually goes wrong.

Suitable mixes can be found under Squirrels. How to support wild birds in the same garden is covered in the article Feed wild birds and in the recipe Make your own bird food.