Squirrels, with their bushy tails and energetic antics, are a delight to watch, whether they're scampering around your garden or playfully attempting to raid your bird feeders. While their mischievous behavior can sometimes be frustrating, their charm is undeniable. Understanding their dietary needs and providing them with the right food can not only keep them healthy but also potentially distract them from emptying your bird feeders. This guide offers a comprehensive look into crafting a deluxe diet for squirrels, whether they are wild visitors or cherished pets.
Understanding Squirrel Nutritional Needs
Squirrels in the wild have a diverse diet, foraging for nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi, and even insects. A balanced diet is crucial for their health, energy levels, and ability to thrive, especially when preparing for the colder months.
The Foundation: Deluxe Squirrel Diet
For pet squirrels, a specially formulated diet like Exotic Nutrition's Deluxe Squirrel Diet serves as an excellent foundation. This diet is crafted with premium ingredients such as walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds, dried fruits & vegetables, and high-protein pellets. It is a nutritious and balanced option suitable for various squirrel species, including ground squirrels, grey squirrels, flying squirrels, and chipmunks.
- Feeding Instructions: Offer 2 tablespoons of Deluxe Squirrel Diet to your pet daily. Adjust the amount to ensure your pet's optimum body weight (free choice for pregnant or lactating females). Change out pellet food every 24 hours. Additional vitamins are not necessary if your squirrel’s diet is made up of at least 75% Deluxe Squirrel Diet. If your squirrel’s diet is not made up of at least 75% Squirrel Diet, add Squirrel-Cal and Squirrel Booster.
Enhancing the Diet with Variety
While the Deluxe Squirrel Diet provides essential nutrients, variety is key to keeping your squirrel interested and ensuring they receive a wide range of vitamins and minerals.
- Squirrel Treat: A tasty blend of wholesome all-natural nuts and vegetables can be offered as a treat to add variety.
- Premium Nut Mix: Supplementing with a premium nut mix provides additional healthy fats and proteins.
- Squirrel Complete: Exotic Nutrition's Squirrel Complete is an all-natural diet made with tree nuts, vegetables, berries, seeds, and squirrel blocks for added nutrition and dental health.
Essential Supplements
If the squirrel's diet isn't primarily composed of the Deluxe Squirrel Diet, supplements may be necessary.
Read also: The Hoxsey Diet
- Squirrel-Cal and Squirrel Booster: These supplements can help fill nutritional gaps if the Deluxe Squirrel Diet makes up less than 75% of their intake.
Feeding Wild Squirrels: A Balanced Approach
Attracting wild squirrels to your yard can be a delightful experience, but it's important to do so responsibly. Offering a consistent food source can help them prepare for winter and may even deter them from targeting your bird feeders.
Squirrel Feeders: Options to Consider
With the array of squirrel feeders available, choosing the right one can be both fun and functional.
- Table & Chair: Mount a corn cob on the "table" of this cute feeder and watch your squirrel friends pull up a chair and help themselves!
- Snack Box: Invite squirrels to help themselves with a snack box that has an easy-lift lid.
- Swing: This cute, squirrel-sized porch swing has a spike for mounting corn cobs, and a base that holds bird seed. Hang it from a hook or tree branch; it’s zinc-plated chains make mounting easy and secure.
- Squngee: The Squngee Squirrel ‘Bungee Jumping’ Feeder offers hours of entertainment! The Squngee features a strong metal wire with two eyebolts for corn cobs. Easy lift lid with plexi window.
- Standard: Durable and economical, holds one ear of corn on an open platform. Your furry friends will enjoy this long- lasting Red Cedar squirrel feeder. Ample size platform for squirrels to perch.
- Squirrels Only Feeder: Having their own restaurant may sometimes help distract them from emptying your bird feeders.
Food Options for Wild Squirrels
- Peanuts in the Shell: A classic favorite, providing both entertainment and nutrition.
- Corn on the Cob: A natural and satisfying food source.
- Nut and Sweet Corn Squirrel Log: A convenient and appealing option.
Housing and Environment for Pet Squirrels
Besides diet, providing a suitable living environment is essential for the well-being of pet squirrels.
- Cages: Exotic Nutrition's Madagascar and Brisbane Cages are manufactured with quality materials and experienced workmanship by the world-renowned HQ Cage Company. Constructed from wrought-iron, this cage stands out as one of the toughest options available with a stunning hammer tone powder coat for long-lasting protection against rust.
- Nest Box: In the wild, squirrels like to burrow or nest in hollowed out areas. This Squirrel nest box encourages natural instincts used in the wild, providing a safe & secure place to nest. Made for animals like squirrels, typically nest in hollowed-out trees in the wild. This box mimics the natural nesting techniques used by them in the wild.
Caring for Injured or Orphaned Squirrels
Sometimes, you may encounter a squirrel in need of assistance.
Assisting Injured Squirrels
If you find an injured squirrel, it’s important to know how to get it help properly. Slowly and gently moved it until it’s under the injured squirrel. cardboard is on top of the box, with the squirrel inside, keeping the ventilation holes unblocked.
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Caring for Baby Squirrels
If you find a baby squirrel, first determine if it needs help. If looks uninjured, leave it where it is and keep people and pets away. At a safe distance, watch the baby to see if the mother returns. If alive, the mother will look for her baby. If the mother is unable to find the baby, it may need intervention.
- Baby Squirrel Nursing Set: Hand raising a baby squirrel? The Baby Squirrel Nursing Set includes essentials such as milk replacer, syringes and nipples.
- Milk Replacer: is a powdered formula that mixed with water to form a complete food source for orphaned or rejected baby animals, as well as pregnant females.
- Wonder Nipples: Wonder Nipples are soft flexible silicone nursing nipples that fit most 1 mL, 3 mL and 5 mL Luer-Tip Syringes and 1 mL and 3 mL Slip-Tip Syringes along with most baby animal nursing bottles.
- Syringes: Exotic Nutrition's Syringes are of superior quality with EZ-Glide silicone gaskets that are super smooth and glide easily. Exotic Nutrition Wonder Nipple nursing sets contain superior quality O-Ring syringes along with soft flexible silicone Wonder Nipple(s). Ideal for feeding baby Squirrels, Rabbits, Racoons (expanded set), Sugar gliders, Hedgehogs and other smaller baby mammals.
Additional Feeding Supplies
- Stainless Steel Coop Cup: Feed dish with hanger (also stainless steel). Never rusts, is easy to clean, and lasts forever.
- Hanging Water Bottle: Keeps water fresh and clean.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
- Inconsistent Diet: Sudden changes in diet can upset a squirrel's digestive system. Introduce new foods gradually.
- Unsafe Foods: Avoid offering chocolate, processed foods, or anything high in sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Read also: Weight Loss with Low-FODMAP