As an experienced nature lover and someone who has spent years observing and interacting with squirrels all over the world, I’m here to provide you with the ultimate guide on what plants do squirrels eat, as well as how to keep them away from your garden. With my knowledge and expertise, I can help you learn more about these fascinating creatures and protect your plants from their foraging habits.
Squirrels are omnivores, meaning that they eat a variety of foods including both plants and animals. They primarily consume nuts, seeds, fruits and flowers as part of their plant-based diet. Some favorite foods among squirrels are acorns, beechnuts, chestnuts, berries, corn on the cob and sunflower seeds.
What Plants Do Squirrels Eat?
Squirrels are creatures with an adaptive nature and they consume a range of plants, fruits, berries, nuts, seeds, flowers and vegetables. The diet of these rodents can depend on the environment and their habitats’ food sources. Although their diets vary from species to species, some general observations can be made about the dietary habits of squirrels.
Fruits & Berries
Squirrels have been known to frequent fruit trees in search of ripe fruits and berries. They may also eat damaged or rotten fruits which have fallen to the ground. Fruits like apples, pears, cherries, peaches and oranges attract squirrels. All kinds of berries such as strawberries and raspberries are relished by them too.
- Apples
- Pears
- Cherries
- Peaches
- Oranges
- Strawberries
Nuts & Seeds
Tree nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, acorns, beechnuts, hickory nuts, macadamia nuts, chestnuts etc.are consumed by squirrels. Foraging behavior is something that any animal needs in order to survive but in squirrels it has been observed particularly well. They store away food for winter months when other food sources become sparse. This type of foraging behavior helps improve the chances for survival during extreme weather when food is scarce.
- Walnuts
- Hazelnuts
- Almonds
- Acorns
- Beechnuts
- Hickory Nuts
Flowers & Plants
Squirrels are always on the lookout for a tasty snack, so it’s important to choose flowers and plants that can deter them from visiting your garden. Planting varieties such as daffodils, marigolds, fuchsias, zinnias and lavender can help keep squirrels away. Additionally, surrounding veggie patches with onions or garlic may also help discourage them from entering your property.
Corn on the Cob
One of the most popular snacks and food sources for squirrels is corn on the cob. Squirrels love to gnaw away at these cobs, as they contain high amounts of carbohydrates which give them a source of energy. In particular, sweet corn varieties are particularly attractive to squirrels.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that there are dangers associated with serving up this snack for your furry friends. For example, if you’re growing sweetcorn plants in your garden you need to be careful not to attract too many squirrels as they can cause significant damage. Additionally, it is recommended that you remove any uneaten ears from the garden when harvesting or else you risk an unwelcome visit from hungry rodents.
Tree Nuts Consumed by Squirrels
With their nimble claws and teeth designed for cracking shells, tree nuts offer a great food source for animals such as squirrels. Tree nuts like acorns, walnuts and hazelnuts are especially beneficial due to their nutrient-rich composition; they provide higher quantities of protein and fat than other common foods sources eaten by rodents.
- Acorns – Oak trees carry these small yet highly nutritious treats which contain proteins and vitamins A and C.
- Walnuts – These delicious treats offer loads of minerals such as phosphorus, iron magnesium along with essential fatty acids.
- Hazelnuts – Hazelnuts have a lot more fiber than other nut options making them ideal for helping digestion.
Foraging Behavior Of Squirrels
When it comes to finding food sources in the wild, squirrels will go through a lot of effort depending on how desperate they are. To stay alive during the winter months, they might need to venture further distances searching for food, while during other times they may only travel short trips. Nonetheless, all species demonstrate similar behavior when scouring around for sustenance; something known as ‘foraging’.
This typically involves roaming around forests or gardens looking at plants, eating fallen fruits or seeds off trees/shrubs, digging small holes in search for insects or eggs below ground level, chewing through bark layers seeking nutrients inside trunks etc. All these methods work together providing an effective way in which squirrels can acquire vital nutrients necessary for survival.
Vegetables Enjoyed By Squirrels
Although considered primarily herbivores (feeding mainly on vegetation ), some species do enjoy snacking on certain vegetables. These include choices such as carrots, peas, beans or even potatoes from time-to-time! Carrots are a particularly favorite amongst some members since they’re full of vitamin A — responsible aiding vision development among animals — while beans bestow generous amounts of protein needed during moments of intense activity (e.g running away predators ).
Foliage Devoured By Squirrels
Squirrels are well known for feasting on an array of foliage, including nuts, seeds and flowers. They also have a knack for munching on the leaves of shrubs and trees such as oak, willow, maple and hickory. In addition to these favorites, they often devour fruit like apples and berries which may be growing on nearby plants. With their sharp incisors they can even access tough-shelled fruits and veggies like corn-on-the-cob!
Edibles Nibbled by Squirrels
Squirrels are known to enjoy snacking on a variety of edible plants and foods. Common favorites include acorns, berries, nuts, fruits, corn-on-the-cob, mushrooms and foliage. They may even sample garden veggies if given the opportunity! To keep squirrels away from your yard and garden, it’s best to take preventative measures such as installing mesh guards or predator urine repellent.
Produce Relished By Squirrels
Squirrels are omnivorous animals and will eat almost anything they can get their paws on. These woodland critters have a particular taste for nuts, fruits, and vegetables such as corn on the cob. Corn is one of the plant-based foods that squirrels relish, particularly when it’s still in its milk stage. Other favorites include apples, tomatoes, and berries. They also enjoy munching on birdseed and other seeds like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and peanuts.
What Kind of Trees Do Squirrels Like to Eat?
Squirrels are known for their omnivorous diet, which includes everything from nuts and seeds to fruits and vegetables. But what about trees – do squirrels eat trees too? The answer is yes! Squirrels have a love for tree nuts such as walnuts, almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, acorns and other types of hard shelled trees. They can also consume the sap of certain pine species.
Oak trees are particularly attractive to squirrels since they produce a vast amount of acorns during the autumn season. Some species of oak will drop as many as 10 thousand acorns in a single year! As such, squirrels can make use of these resources when it comes time for winter hibernation or looking for something to snack on between meals.
Oak Trees
- Acorns fall from an oak tree during autumn months and provide ample food source for hungry squirrels.
- Squirrels may store some acorn reserves in their nests or bury them around their shelters.
- It may take up to five years before an oak tree produces its first batch of acorns that are edible by humans and wildlife alike.
Pine Trees
Pine trees are a favorite target for squirrels, as they can easily climb them, as well as feed on their cones and bark strips. To keep squirrels away from your property, create physical barriers around the trunk of the pine tree such as netting or owl decoys to deter them from coming near. Additionally, you can also opt for natural repellents to discourage their presence such as predator urine or hot pepper solution.
What Plants Keep Squirrels Away?
While there isn’t a plant that specifically repels squirrels, the following plants have been known to naturally deter them. Galanthus is a bulb-producing perennial flower which emits an aroma that is unpleasant to most rodents including squirrels. Hyacinth and allium bulbs, like garlic, give off pungent scents that may discourage small mammals from entering your yard. Meanwhile fritillaries, geranium plants, petunias and certain varieties of impatiens may also help keep away unwanted guests.
Galanthus
Galanthus, or snowdrops, is a plant that can help repel squirrels from gardens and yards. The sap of the Galanthus contains alkaloids which have been known to irritate squirrelly noses and keep them away! Planting this flower around your property is an easy way to provide natural odor-based deterrent for these pesky critters.
Hyacinth
Hyacinth is an ideal plant for keeping squirrels away from gardens, yards, and homes. The pleasant aroma of the flowers helps to repel rodents, while the larger bulbs provide a difficult obstacle for them to climb over. Additionally, hyacinth can be planted alongside other deterrent plants like garlic or peppermint to further discourage squirrels from entering the area.
Alliums
Alliums are a genus of flowering plants such as onions, garlic and shallots which squirrels tend to avoid due to the strong odor and taste. Alliums contain sulfur compounds that give them their pungent scent, which is what deters most animals from consuming them. Planting alliums in your garden can be an effective way to protect it from pesky squirrels.
In many cases, the mere presence of these plants will deter squirrels from entering the garden. But if necessary, you can also mix pureed allium with water and spray it around the area as an extra defense mechanism.
Fritillaries
Fritillaries are a group of flowering plants that produce bright checkered flowers in shades of yellow, orange and red. These flowers are known for their distinct aroma which many wildlife including deer and rabbits tend to stay away from.
Squirrels have similar reactions upon smelling fritillary flowers due to their powerful scent. Since these hardy perennials require minimal maintenance, planting some fritillaries in your yard or garden can be a simple solution for helping keep unwanted critters at bay.
Geraniums
Geraniums can make a great choice for keeping squirrels away from your garden. Known to have natural repellent properties, the pungent aroma of geraniums both repels and masks other scents that might attract squirrels. Create a fragrant barrier around your flower beds or trees by planting geraniums throughout your garden. The flowers also provide additional color and beauty to any outdoor space!
Using Repellents To Protect Your Plants From Squirrels
Using repellents to protect your plants from squirrels is an effective way to keep them away. Repellents like predator urine and hot pepper can be used as a deterrent but must be reapplied regularly for long-term effectiveness.
Other non-toxic methods include planting flowers that are known to repel or deter squirrels, trimming branches near your roof, and closing off any holes into your home.
You may also consider installing bird feeders with counterweights or springs to prevent squirrel access to food sources.
Fencing and netting are also very effective because they can provide a physical barrier against squirrels.
If instead, you prefer a more technological solution, I can suggest you to use ultrasonic devices like the one below. They are very effective.
By taking these preventive measures, you can ensure that your plants will remain safe and sound!
Conclusion
By now, you know that squirrels are determined creatures who will find a way to get the food they want. But that doesn’t mean you can’t work to keep them away. Knowing what plants do squirrels eat and how to deter them from feeding on your garden is essential for protecting your plants.
As long as you understand the basic principles of deterring squirrels – like ensuring bird feeders are secure, checking for tree access points, and planting ‘squirrel-proof’ vegetation – your garden should remain safe from the pesky critters! With this knowledge in mind, all gardeners can feel confident in their ability to select plant choices that won’t attract these furry foes – even if it means avoiding foods like nuts and seeds which are among the most popular plants do squirrels eat.
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