Ever wondered what our furry friends, the squirrels, enjoy munching on? As an avid nature lover and squirrel enthusiast who has spent years observing and interacting with squirrels all around the world, I have been asked, “Do squirrels eat plums?” often. And now I’m here to answer this question decisively!
Do Squirrels Eat Plums?
Squirrels are omnivorous, which means they feed on both plants and animals. While they typically eat seeds, nuts, fruits, and fungi, they have also been known to eat eggs, insects, and small animals. Plums are a type of fruit that can be consumed by squirrels. Some squirrels may even prefer plums to other types of fruit due to the sweet taste.
Wild squirrels are intrepid explorers when it comes to food. It’s not uncommon to see them foraging through your garden, or raiding bird feeders in search of a tasty snack. But do they eat plums too? Yes, squirrels will eagerly consume plums and other types of fruit if given the opportunity.
Fruit Eating In The Wild
Fruits generally comprise a small portion of a squirrel’s diet in the wild; however, nuts and seeds make up the bulk of their meals. Nevertheless, fruits provide important vitamins and minerals that can help keep squirrels healthy. A wide variety of fruits can be found in a typical squirrel diet including apples, pears, blackberries, mulberries, cherries, raspberries, melons, and – you guessed it – plums!
In addition to eating fresh fruit straight off the branch or tree trunk, squirrels also enjoy munching on fermented fruit that has fallen to the ground. Alcoholic plums are a particular favorite among our furry friends!
Nutrition Of Plums For Squirrels
Plums are an excellent source of dietary fiber as well as essential vitamins such as B6 and C. They can also provide potassium, some calcium and iron in their composition. For all these reasons and more, plums should be included in any balanced diet for our furry friends.
What Do Squirrels Prefer?
Squirrels have sophisticated taste buds; they prefer ripened fruits with sweet flavors such as cherries and plums. However, they will happily take unripe fruit if there is nothing else available. An interesting fact about our scurrying friends is that they remember the location of their favorite food sources; so once they discover a plum tree they won’t forget it!
In addition to being tasty snacks for squirrels, ripe plums are also good sources of sugar energy; something that they need to keep active in their busy lives.
Protection Of Fruit Trees From Squirrels
One problem with allowing wild squirrels into your garden is that sometimes they may start to cause damage by eating too much fruit from trees or bushes. If this becomes a problem then there are several solutions you can implement, from physical barriers around your trees to chemical repellents.
Physical Barriers
Physical barriers are an effective way to protect fruit trees from pesky squirrels. To help keep them away, consider installing metal or plastic mesh on tree trunks, wire spikes around the base of trees, or even electric fences. Additionally, providing noxious-smelling materials like garlic or cayenne pepper at the bird feeder, in the garden and on branches can help deter them.
Chemical Repellents
Squirrels are clever and can adapt to a variety of food sources, including plums! However, if you’re looking for chemical repellents to deter them from eating your fruit trees, there are options available. There are sprays that use ingredients like capsaicin and garlic that create an unpleasant flavor or odor in an attempt to deter squirrels from eating your fruit trees. Additionally, mixtures of castor oil with garlic or hot pepper can be used as a liquid spray.
Scare Tactics
A popular way to protect fruit trees from curious squirrels is using scare tactics. While these methods may seem cruel, they can be effective in deterring the rodents from coming near the tree. Examples of scare tactics include placing plastic owls or snakes around the tree, hanging aluminum cans filled with rocks, and investing in motion-activated water sprinklers.
However, it’s important to note that these measures do not always work on their own and should be combined with other methods for maximum efficiency. Additionally, some of these techniques may end up scaring other animals away from your property as well.
Feeding Squirrels Away From The Trees
Another option for preventing squirrels from eating your tree’s fruit is to feed them away from the tree. This method involves placing food sources such as seeds and nuts in different locations throughout your garden which will entice the rodents away from the trees. Additionally, you can purchase special blocks of food specifically designed for squirrels which are meant to reduce digging and encourage them to stay away from the fruit tree.
- It’s important to monitor where the squirrels go after they take a bite, as they may still wander over to the trees if they’re still hungry.
- You can also create feeding stations made out of wood or plastic tubs that provide a safe place for the squirrels to eat without putting themselves at risk of predators or getting too close to your trees.
Types Of Squirrels That Enjoy Eating Plums
The type of squirrel that enjoys eating plums depends on their natural diet and available resources. Generally speaking, tree squirrels such as red and gray types tend to enjoy plums more than ground-dwelling species such as chipmunks due to their preference for sweet fruits. Additionally, certain species such as fox and flying squirrels are also known to consume ripe plums when available.
- In addition to common North American species, tropical and Asian varieties such as Grizzled Giant Squirrels have been known to feast on plums too!
- When it comes to nutrition, plums are a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin C and potassium – all beneficial nutrients for any type of squirrel.
FAQ
What type of fruit do squirrels not consume?
Squirrels generally refrain from consuming citrus fruits, such as lemons and oranges. Other fruits they likely avoid are melons and avocados. While some have encountered squirrels eating pomegranates, by and large this isn’t a standard dietary preference.
What fruit do squirrels enjoy the most?
Squirrels are quite the fruit lovers! Their favored snacks include apricots, apples, persimmons, pomegranates and dried berries. In the winter months they may often be found scrounging for a fresh or stored piece of fruit to enjoy.
Some of their favorites include:
- Apricots
- Apples
- Persimmons
- Pomegranates
- Dried Berries
Can squirrels consume any kind of fruit?
Squirrels have a broad diet and many find that they’re particularly fond of fruit. While they cannot eat all fruits, there are a few common favorites, such as apricots, apples, persimmons and pomegranates. This means they can access a range of energy sources, depending on what is available to them in the environment.
Conclusion
So, do squirrels eat plums? The answer is a resounding yes! Squirrels are omnivorous, meaning they will enjoy both plants and animals. Plums provide squirrels with a sweet taste that may be preferred to other types of fruit, so it’s definitely pertinent to include them in the diet of our furry friends.
If you have a chance to observe squirrels in their natural habitat or right in your backyard, keep an eye out for evidence of plum consumption. You may even find that they prefer plums to other types of fruit!
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