Feeding Squirrels: What They Eat and What Harms Them
When squirrels really need supplementary feeding, what belongs in the feeding station, why almonds, bread, and milk are unsuitable, and how to install the feeding box so it is cat-safe and dry.
Squirrels do not hibernate, but instead enter a state of winter torpor: they wake up regularly and need to eat. Anyone helping in the garden should therefore know when help is really necessary and what is more likely to harm the animals.
When Squirrels Need Help
The critical period is not midwinter, but rather the Late winter and early spring. Then the buried supplies have been used up or found by other animals, and buds, shoots, and seeds are not there yet. In this gap – roughly from February to April – a feeding station is most valuable. For the birds in the same garden, a different rhythm applies; that lies in the Seasonal calendar for feeding wild birds.
The second critical point is the High summer. During prolonged drought, squirrels primarily lack water, not food. A shallow bowl of fresh water helps more than any nut mix.
What squirrels naturally eat
The diet is broader than many people think: seeds from coniferous trees, nuts, buds, young shoots, bark, mushrooms, berries – and occasionally animal protein in the form of insects or bird eggs. Good supplemental feeding reflects this range and does not consist only of nuts.
Suitable food
- Ready-made complete mixes – cover seeds, nuts, fruit and vegetables all in one. In the range you will find the Eurital Squirrel Premium Mix and that Deli Nature Premium squirrel food in 12,5 kg.
- Nuts in the shell – Hazelnuts and walnuts. The shells keep the animals occupied and wear down their constantly growing gnawing teeth.
- Sunflower seeds – high in energy and are reliably accepted.
- Peanuts in shell – unsalted and unroasted, as a supplement in moderation.
- Chestnuts and dried fruit or carrot pieces – for a change.
- Water – flat, stable, fresh every day.
What should not be fed
- Salted, roasted, or seasoned nuts – Squirrels cannot tolerate salt.
- almonds – are generally avoided. Bitter almonds contain amygdalin, which releases hydrogen cyanide, and in retail 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 hardly anything usable.
- Milk and dairy products – Squirrels cannot digest lactose.
- Chocolate, sweets, food scraps – generally do not belong at a feeding station.
The feeding station
A feed dispenser or a feed box should raised and cat-proof attached - to a tree trunk, a house wall, or a free-standing post with sufficient distance from jumping-off points. A lid keeps the food dry; food that has become damp grows mold and must be discarded.
The area should be cleaned regularly. And: add food in portions rather than leaving it out in bulk—squirrels will carry everything away and bury it, and whatever is left attracts rats.
Don't tame
Squirrels quickly get used to people. As cute as it may seem, an animal that associates people with food will become trusting toward everyone - including dogs and in traffic. Feed from a distance, not by hand.
An injured or obviously weakened young animal does not belong in private hands, but rather with a wildlife rescue center or a veterinarian.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do squirrels like to eat most?
Nuts and oil-rich seeds—especially hazelnuts, walnuts, and sunflower seeds. In the wild, however, conifer seeds, buds, and mushrooms make up a large part of their diet.
Can squirrels be fed year-round?
Yes. Supplemental feeding is most important in late winter and early spring, when supplies are depleted. In summer, fresh water is what matters most.
Why no almonds?
Because bitter almonds contain amygdalin, which produces hydrocyanic acid, and because bitter and sweet almonds cannot be reliably distinguished in retail. Ready-made squirrel mixes therefore do not contain almonds.
How much food does a squirrel need?
Place small portions in at a time instead of filling the feeder to the brim. The animals carry food away and make caches—excess food gets left behind and spoils.
Where should I place the feeding station?
Elevated and set apart from places where cats can perch, with rain protection and easy for you to monitor.
What should I do with a helpless baby animal?
Contact a wildlife rescue center or a veterinarian. Raising it yourself usually goes wrong.
Suitable blends can be found under Squirrel, individual seeds and kernels below Grains & Seeds. How to support wild birds in the same garden is explained in the article Feed wild birds and in the recipe Make your own bird food.
