The jolly goblins are known to stockpile plenty of food throughout the fall for the winter. Below is more on what exactly squirrels eat in summer and winter.

In a nutshell

  • Squirrels are omnivores
  • Nuts are very popular
  • berries and beechnuts are also very popular
  • additional winter feeding makes sense

Hibernation instead of hibernation

Squirrels (Sciurus) don't hibernate in that sense, but rather a hibernation. They are not as active then as in the summer, but squirrels still have to eat regularly. Because of this, they spend a few hours a day searching for food. However, they now need less food because they drastically shut down their energy metabolism during the winter months. With foresight, the climbing artists set up various hiding places with food as early as autumn. These are usually near the tree trunk or behind protruding pieces of bark on the tree. The animals can hardly remember the exact place where the hiding places are located. Therefore, several hiding places are always created. With the help of their sense of smell, some are found again.

Notice: As a rule, not all buried nuts and seeds are recovered. The latter begin to germinate in the spring and new trees appear. Squirrels therefore play an important role in forest development.

Little omnivores

The diet of the squirrels always depends on what is available in the respective territory. In addition, this can also be quite different in the individual seasons. The feed intake depends on the size of the animals and also on the season. In the summer, a squirrel eats up to 80 grams per day and, in contrast, in the winter just under half, 35 grams per day. The range of foods is wide. It consists of:

  • hazelnuts and walnuts
  • pine nuts
  • spruce seeds
  • pinecone
  • beechnuts and acorns
  • maple seeds
  • sunflower seeds
  • Berries of wild plants and fruits
  • fungi and plant galls (tissue overgrowth)
  • Shoots, leaves and buds of young branches
  • tree bark

If the supply of this food is not so large, the squirrels will also look for animal food such as:

  • worms and larvae
  • different insects
  • snails

It can then quickly happen, especially if there are already young animals, that the otherwise cute squirrels become nest robbers. Young birds and eggs then fall victim to them.

Notice: In summer, the hard-working squirrels collect up to 10,000 nuts, which they then bury in relatively shallow hollows in the ground for the winter.

Is winter feeding necessary?

Especially during the winter months, when the ground is frozen or covered by a high blanket of snow, it is almost impossible for the squirrels to get to their hidden food. In this case, additional winter feeding is appropriate. However, the same applies during the hot season, when hardly any food grows due to the weather. Squirrels then particularly like to eat:

  • pieces of carrot
  • ripe cucumbers and broccoli
  • chestnuts
  • hazelnuts and walnuts
  • sunflower and pumpkin seeds
  • dried corn
  • Rusks, unsweetened
  • raisins
  • pieces of apple and pear
  • dried banana slices
  • Small amounts of grapes
  • Tree seeds (spruce, fir, pine)

Small pieces of watermelon are also a special treat during the warm season. It should also be noted that the shell of the nuts must be cracked for young animals. This is not necessary for older animals, only during a feeding in the summer months, otherwise they would bury the nuts. Tree seeds can be served in the cone. Furthermore, the animals should always be offered fresh water regardless of the season.

To support squirrels during hibernation, you can lay out cores.

Notice: It can be observed that the population of squirrels increases enormously in years when there is a lot of seed from spruce, beech and co, and decreases in lean years.

Set up a feeding station

A few things should be considered when setting up a feeding station in the garden:

  • well suited special feeding stations for squirrels
  • install outside of the reach of cats
  • it is best to create several feeding stations
  • Place at least two meters above the ground
  • regular cleaning
  • Lay out newspaper on the floor of the station
  • do not scatter feed directly on the ground

Tip: Bread or other leftovers should never be fed. These can be dangerous for the climbing masters.

frequently asked Questions

Why shouldn't squirrels eat peanuts and almonds?

Peanuts generally do not grow in this country. They are therefore not a natural source of food that animals find in the wild. In addition, they can easily mold. Almonds should also be avoided when feeding. These contain hydrocyanic acid and can be dangerous for the squirrels.

Can birdseed be fed to squirrels?

It doesn't harm the animals. The little speedsters especially love the sunflower seeds contained in the birdseed. These are good suppliers of energy. It is also not necessary to scare away the rodents from the aviary. Birds and squirrels find valuable food here and both animal species get along with each other.

How to tell if a squirrel needs help?

If the animal is easy to catch, it may be sick, injured, or hungry. Be careful, adult squirrels can scratch and bite. Sometimes it can also be that a squirrel runs after the human. This is usually a young animal that cannot cope on its own.

Category:

Animals in the garden