As someone who’s been observing and interacting with squirrels all around the world for many years, I can confidently say that yes, squirrels do eat pansies! But what you may not know is why they like eating these flowers and how to protect your beloved pansies against them. In this post, I’ll share my expertise on the subject, so you can have peace of mind when growing your blooms! So, do squirrels eat pansies?
Squirrels are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Pansies are a type of edible flower, and the squirrels will happily eat them. Additionally, Squirrels enjoy seeds, nuts, fruits, fungi, and insects.
Do Squirrels Eat Pansies?
When it comes to wildlife diets, whether squirrels eat pansies is an age-old one. After all, with their small size, furry tails and distinctive markings, squirrels are anything but boring to watch. But do these typical backyard visitors also munch on panoramic blooms? Let’s take a closer look at what critters like these actually feed on.
Squirrels As Omnivores
When it comes to omnivores animal species that consume both animal-based and plant-based foods—squirrels certainly fit the bill. This is evidenced by their habitual consumption of fruits, nuts and seeds, which are all staples in the diet of this species. On top of that, numerous studies have confirmed that rodents often feed on a variety of flowers including viola tricolor and viola sorority species.
How to PROTECT your Pansies and Keep Squirrels Out of Your Garden
Squirrels may be cute and entertaining, but they can wreak havoc in your garden! They are known to squirrels/”>eat the blossoms and petals of pansies, as well as other plants and flowers. Thankfully, there are several methods you can use to protect your precious flowers from these pesky critters.
1. Create A Barrier
The most effective way to keep squirrels away is to install a fence around the pansies. The fence should be about 4-6 feet high and buried at least six inches into the ground. For extra protection, electric fences are available that provide an additional shock to keep the squirrels from jumping over or climbing the fence. This can be especially helpful if your area has particularly persistent squirrels.
2. Use A Repellent
Mothballs, aluminum foil, and hot pepper wax have all been used as deterrents for squirrels. Mothballs have a strong odor that squirrels find unappealing while aluminum foil will make it difficult for them to climb up the stem of the rose bush. Hot pepper wax is also a great option, as it won’t harm animals or plants but will repel squirrels by irritate their nose when they come close.
3. Garlic Spray
Garlic spray has a spicy flavor that is not welcome in most yards. All you need is some garlic cloves, water and liquid dish soap mixed together in a spray bottle. Be sure to apply this mix directly on the stems of your pansies every few days for maximum effectiveness.
4. Scarecrow Sprinklers
Another great way to discourage unwanted visitors is by using scarecrow sprinklers in your garden. These motion-sensitive sprinklers emit a sudden burst of water when they detect movement, providing an unpleasant surprise for animals looking for a snack! If you don’t want to invest in one of these devices, you can always rig up a homemade version with some household items.
5. Ultrasonic Devices
Ultrasonic devices emit sound waves at frequencies beyond our ability to hear that have been shown to be effective at keeping many pests away from gardens. While these devices may work on smaller prey like mice and voles, larger animals such as squirrels tend to be more resistant. However, some homeowners have reported success with ultrasonic devices, so it might still be worth trying out.
6. Remove Attractants
- Remove Any Fallen Fruit: Fruit or nuts left underneath trees can attract curious wildlife such as squirrels. This includes fallen fruits and nuts from trees nearby such as pine cones, apples or acorns.
- Keep Your Yard Free Of Inviting Food Sources: It’s important that you keep food sources away from areas where rodents might hide; this means never leaving pet food outdoors overnight or leaving bird feeders out during nighttime hours when rodents are most active.
7. Unappealing Plants
Squirrels are often drawn to flowers and other plants because of the sweet smell and attractive colors. To make your pansies unappealing to squirrels, try planting varieties with a pungent smell or different shades of green or brown. Additionally, there are natural deterrents like hot pepper wax that can be applied to rose stems to repel squirrels.
8. Large Decoy Statues
Large statues can be used to scare off squirrels from rose bushes. The presence of the statues may make the squirrels feel they are being watched and thus deter them from approaching the plants. However, it is important to remember that this is not a fool-proof method, as the statues need to be placed strategically and consistently, in order to effectively frighten off the little critters.
Decoys of predators like owls are particularly effective at deterring squirrels. Here’s one of the best decoys that I hand-picked for you:
9. Use A Special Ground Cover
A special ground cover can be an effective way to help protect rose bushes from squirrels. By planting dense, thick ground cover near the pansies, it will create a physical barrier that squirrels won’t be able to traverse. This can range from mulch and wood chips to gravel or rocks.
Several flowers such as marigolds or petunias are known to repel animals like squirrels, so growing those in the vicinity of your pansies could also discourage them from coming near.
10. Provide A Feeder
If you want to keep squirrels away from your rose bushes without resorting to fencing, consider placing a squirrel feeder in your yard. Fill the feeder with seeds and nuts that the squirrels enjoy, and they’ll help themselves while staying away from your pansies. That way, you can protect your plants while still letting the pesky critters enjoy a tasty snack.
11. Encourage Natural Predators
Encourage natural predators to your garden to help keep squirrels away from your rose bushes. Install bird feeders, houses and plant flowers that attract birds and other wildlife. Additionally, an owl or hawk decoy may be helpful in deterring squirrels. Be sure to check local laws and regulations before doing so.
12. Grow Plants Squirrels Like More
Grow plants that squirrels are likely to enjoy in addition to pansies to keep your garden happy. Plant a variety of nuts, flowers, and berries that attract them. They will be more likely to snack on these than on your beautiful pansies. Be sure to include sunflower seeds, peanuts, hickory nuts, safflower seeds, and mulberries. If you want to make the environment even more inviting for these critters, create a water feature in an open area for them to cool off in the summer months.
13. Hot Pepper Spray Repellent
Using an organic hot pepper spray can also make it less attractive for squirrels and other animals to snack on your pansies. These special sprays are made from oils derived from cayenne peppers, white pepper, chili pepper conconction and jalapeno peppers mixed with water.
The intense heat emitted by these sprays makes it hard for animals to swallow food covered in such oils which will help discourage them from visiting your blooms regularly. Be sure not to spray too much directly onto the flowers.
14. CDs or Aluminum Pans to Reflect Light & Sound Away from Plantings
Another way to protect pansies from animal intruders like squirrels is by using materials that reflect light and sound away from their location. Repurposing old CDs as pinwheels suspended near your flowers can work well for this purpose. Their movement creates flashes of sunlight which startles away flying critters including those looking for a quick bite.
Shiny aluminum pie plates hung around plants also create sudden flashes reflected off the surrounding terrain whenever wind gusts stir up their motion; this serves as an effective deterrent against unwanted visitors.
Other Varieties Of Pansies
In addition to viola tricolor and viola sorority, many other types of pansies present themselves for consumption by wild creatures such as squirrels. While each flower species offers its own unique coloration and texture to the table, most generally provide a valuable source of vitamins and minerals upon ingestion.
Viola Tricolor
This specific type of pansy is noted for its smaller petals when compared to the more commonly known viola sorority variety. Additionally, due to its short stature when growing from seedling form onward, viola tricolor presents itself as quite appealing in terms of taste for animals such as squirrels who prefer not to spend too much energy in fetching food.
Viola Sorority
Viola sorority is perhaps the most recognizable type of pansy amongst local flora enthusiasts. It’s likely the one you spot in most backyard gardens or parks due to its vibrant petal colors ranging from purple or blue hues to yellow shades.
Other Foods In The Squirrel’s Diet
Fruits, Nuts, And Seeds
Although pansies form part of a typical squirrel’s diet, these animals typically rely more heavily on simpler fare. These include fruits like apples, pears, berries and cherries. Squirrels will often fill up with nuts like acorns, walnuts, hazelnuts and peanuts. As for seeds, these include sunflower seeds, corn kernels or any type of birdseed mix available nearby. All these dietary items are commonly stored away in tree crevices or underground burrows until consumed several days later. One thing’s true – sometimes you’ll witness a squirrel never really ‘finishing’ off one particular nut or seed before moving onto another!
FAQ
What is preying on my pansies?
It is likely that slugs and snails are eating your pansies. These slimy pests come out at night to feed on plant leaves and blooms, leaving behind large, irregular holes in the foliage. Slugs and snails also leave behind a slimy mucus trail as they move.
What type of animal is getting into the garden and eating the pansies during the night?
It seems that your pansies are being eaten by slugs and snails at night. These slimy creatures can cause large, irregular holes in leaves and flowers in a single night due to their feeding. You can often tell if they have visited your plants due to the slimy trail of mucus left behind as they move.
What is feasting on my pansies during the night?
It appears that slugs and snails are likely to blame for the damage to your pansies. These nocturnal creatures feed on the leaves and bloom of pansy flowers, leaving behind large, uneven holes and a slimy trail of mucus. To help mitigate these pests, consider surrounding your pansy plants with an effective barrier to deter them or set up traps containing beer or a mixture of yeast and sugar.
Conclusion
So, do squirrels eat pansies? The answer is yes! Squirrels are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Pansies are an edible flower, so they would be naturally included in the squirrel’s diet. It is important to remember that squirrels also enjoy other sources of nutrition such as seeds, nuts, fruits, fungi, and insects.
While many people believe that squirrels just take what they want from the garden, it is important to remember that their diets depend on a variety of natural sources. Therefore, if you have pansies planted in your garden, it’s entirely possible that your local squirrel population may enjoy snacking on them. So while you may not want your flowers nibbled on by these furry critters, it is nice to know that you can provide them with a source of nutrition.
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