Bushy-tailed animals like squirrels certainly have a broad scope when it comes to their food as they devour everything ranging from nuts, seeds, fruits, and berries to even the occasional insects. Have you ever walked into your garden, anticipating the harvest of the luscious berries only to find out that someone else had absolutely feasted on them? If yes then you might ask yourself this question, what does a squirrel eat?
These furry mammals are quite the acrobats. Squirrels are opportunistic creatures that are always on the lookout for the next tasty treat and berries are without a question one of the many options on their list.
Let’s find out the squirrel snacking behavior and how you can keep those precious berries hidden from the tiny claws of the rodents.
Key Takeaways:
- Squirrels have a diverse diet that includes berries, nuts, seeds, and fruits.
- These agile creatures can cause significant damage to garden crops if left unchecked.
- There are various humane methods to protect your garden from squirrel snacking.
What Does a Squirrel Eat as a Diet❓🐿️
Are you interested in learning about a squirrel’s diet? These little animals do not seem to be picky eaters at all. In fact, their diet is surprisingly diverse. Squirrels are omnivores so they eat plant-based foods as well as small animals.
Nevertheless, the majority of their diet is made up of plant matter. A large part of the diet of squirrels comprises nuts, seeds, fruits, and fungi. But wait, that is not all! These industrious rodents also eat tree bark, buds, and even flowers when they can’t find other food.
They can be seen scavenging bird feeders or even picking at trash cans for a quick meal. Their flexible diets are one of the reasons squirrels are able to adapt to so many different habitats.
Do Squirrels Eat Berries❓
Absolutely! Squirrels do eat berries. These little foragers have quite the sweet tooth, and berries are like nature’s candy to them. Whether it’s strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries, squirrels will happily munch away on these juicy treats.
In fact, berries are an important part of their diet, especially during the summer months when they’re plentiful. Squirrels do eat berries from your carefully tended garden. These agile climbers can easily access berry bushes and vines, often beating you to the harvest. Their love for berries isn’t just about satisfying their taste buds, though. Berries provide squirrels with essential vitamins and nutrients that help keep them healthy and energetic.
How to Protect Your Garden from Squirrel Snacking🐿️
Now that you know what does a squirrel eat, let’s talk about protecting your garden from their snacking habits. Here’s a table summarizing some effective strategies:
| Method | Description | Effectiveness |
| Physical Barriers | Install mesh netting or chicken wire | High |
| Repellents | Use cayenne pepper or hot sauce spray | Moderate |
| Squirrel-Resistant Plants | Plant daffodils or marigolds | Low to Moderate |
| Alternative Food Sources | Set up squirrel feeders away from garden | Moderate |
| Scare Tactics | Use reflective objects or motion-activated sprinklers | Low to Moderate |
Natural Deterrents for Squirrels🐿️
Mother Nature has a couple of tricks she can show you – if you’re looking for a more natural approach to keeping squirrels at bay. For instance, squirrels are not fans of strong smells like peppermint, garlic, or even coffee grounds.
Try planting mint around your garden borders or sprinkling used coffee grounds near your berry bushes. Some gardeners swear by planting daffodils or hyacinths; squirrels tend to avoid these flowers too.
Another natural deterrent is predator urine. You can purchase coyote or fox urine from garden centers, which can trick squirrels into thinking a predator is nearby. Remember, though, that natural deterrents may need to be reapplied more frequently, especially after rain.
Do Squirrels Eat Apples❓
If you’re wondering, “Do squirrels eat apples?” the answer is a resounding yes! These versatile eaters are big fans of this crisp, juicy fruit. Squirrels do eat apples straight from your trees or in any open space. They’re not shy about climbing up into apple trees to snag a snack.
Squirrels are particularly fond of ripe apples, but they’ll also munch on green ones if that’s what’s available. Do squirrels eat apples that have fallen to the ground? Absolutely! In fact, they often prefer these as they’re easier to access.
Apples provide squirrels with a good source of sugar for energy, as well as vitamins and fiber. So, if you have apple trees in your yard, don’t be surprised to see these furry friends making frequent visits.
Squirrel-Proof Garden Designs🐿️
It may not be an easy task, but designing a squirrel-proof garden is entirely possible with the right planning. For starters, think about how your garden is organized. Squirrels tend to gravitate towards places with a lot of cover and easy access.
By putting your berries or fruit trees in the open rather than near walls or fences that they can jump over, you can keep these agile creatures from your garden. This way, your garden becomes less enticing to them.
Try utilizing raised beds with smooth surfaces, as they are more difficult to scale for the squirrels. Barriers can also be placed around individual plants or sections of the garden. Dome-shaped cages crafted with chicken nets can be used to protect smaller plants, while trunk wraps can be used for larger fruit trees to stop them from being climbed.
Last but not least, remember that a well-executed squirrel-proof garden can just not protect your crops but can enhance the beauty of your garden too.
Final Thoughts🧠
Squirrels do not have to be a huge concern when it comes to your garden thanks to various ways of protection as well as understanding what does a squirrel eat. Just like everything else in life, there must be balance when it comes to the prevention of squirrels and their yummy snacks.
You might not see changes right off the bat and that is fine, just remain consistent in your efforts and soon enough you will spot the difference. If squirrels continue to be a nuisance after so many attempts, seeking external help for it can be ideal.
All Pest Control Service use humane and eco-friendly methods to control. Our experienced staff can analyze your particular situation and give you specialized recommendations that will allow you to enjoy a garden without squirrels.
With our consultation, you can rest easy knowing that constant squirrel snacking will be a problem of the past. So get in touch with us and let’s discuss your problems in greater detail.
FAQs
Squirrels have a varied diet that includes seeds, fungi, tree bark, insects, and even small birds or eggs when other food is scarce.
Yes, squirrels do eat tomatoes. They’re particularly fond of ripe, juicy tomatoes and can cause significant damage to tomato plants.
Try using squirrel-proof bird feeders, adding cayenne pepper to the seed, or placing feeders on tall, smooth poles that squirrels can’t climb.
While squirrels eat many plants, they tend to avoid daffodils, hyacinths, alliums, and geraniums due to their strong scents or toxic properties.
While occasional feeding isn’t harmful, regularly feeding squirrels can make them dependent on humans and may attract more squirrels to your property.