Daily Family Farms: Best Squirrel Food
Look at him dash up the side of that maple! How does he launch himself all the way over to the elm from there? If he were a human, he’d be a superhero. But in real life, he’s Sprocket, my favorite little squirrel friend. I just love watching him rush here and there and scavenging for—what’s that? It’s the crumbling remains of my niece’s cookie! How could she have left that there? I must save my little Sprocket! He’s about to eat—JUNK FOOD!
Best Squirrel Food
Just like humans, squirrels would do well to stay away from the sugary and fatty stuff that we typically call “junk food.” When a human sees a dried, decaying, half-eaten cookie on the ground, he or she will typically ignore it or throw it away. But squirrels are opportunistic eaters—they’ll eat anything that they deem to be eatable. So that shriveling old cookie isn’t the gross sight it would be to a human—it’s a fortunate, tasty treat!
Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that squirrels won’t only eat what you give them; they will eat anything and everything you give them. According to Wild Birds Unlimited, squirrels “eat more than their body weight in food each week.” Considering this staggering statistic, it’s very important to keep in mind how much and what kind of food that you’re giving to those lovely little scroungers! For this situation, we recommend purchasing a squirrel feeder to regulate the flow and quantity of food.
If you love your little friends (like my dear Sprocket), and you want to give them a tasty treat, use seeds and nuts as an occasional or rewarding delight. And if you put out nuts or seeds, try to avoid shells—they can go bad quickly.
For Real, Now
To really best benefit the squirrels nutritionally (and in the long run), you should try and supply your fuzzy friends with good, healthy food. First of all, squirrels need access to fresh, natural food and water to help them stay healthy and keep their bones strong. Among the best foods for squirrels are: corn (either feed corn or corncobs), sunflower seeds (in the shell), native Indiana nuts (hickory nuts, black walnuts, butternuts, and hazelnuts), raw vegetables, and lastly—and in less quantity—raw fruit.
Doing it Right
The only one of these foods to be careful about is the corn. One big problem with corn is mold. Obviously, we don’t want our hairy companions to be munching on moldy food. And of course, as corn being among the best food for squirrels, we don’t want it to make them sick (poor Sprocket sure wouldn’t like it)!
If you’re going to feed your local wildlife, do it right! Call Daily Family Farms at (812) 371-5644, or order the best squirrel food, prepackaged, online!