What can I feed the squirrels in my yard? A squirrel needs to have protein, fat, and vitamins and minerals like calcium. Heres the most comprehensive list youll find about what NOT to feed squirrels. Their bodies need all the nutrition they could find, and a bird egg provides all those nutritional elements. In general, squirrels are fairly harmless little animals that are fascinating to watch. So feeding them nuts constantly is not a good practice. They found that while squirrels will eat eggs and even the occasional bird, they do not eat them in large quantitiesand, given a choice, would rather get fruits and nuts. They wont hesitate to eat a baby bird, too, if they find it in the nest without protection. We can hear you asking: What? Fats and proteins found within eggs are attractive to these rodents; moreover, their shells provide important calcium for their development. They dont need it. Squirrels, chipmunks, and ground squirrels WILL eat bird eggs. ", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Some of their favorite foods include acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts and Osage orange fruits. You might like to try a combination of these to ensure that the baby birds are safe and get to enjoy a full life. Here are some foods that are gourmet for squirrels. Squirrels definitely get calcium from shells and other natural calcium sources in the wild. Sprinkle a mixture of red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and paprika around your garden. Theres even more risk if theyre nesting in open forest habitats. However, being omnivores also means that they're opportunistic feeders. The bird eggs provide the squirrels with a good dose of calcium that is found in the shells. They should have to leap, hunt, and scavenge their meals. They can easily steal eggs, too, due to their high speed and small bodies. Their meat is mostly in the form of insects and snakes, but they might dip into Fido or Fluffys dish if you raw-feed your pets. Im sure a lot of us remember visiting the zoo and having a sandwich or two stolen by a monkey that thinks its funny! Heres the list of food items that squirrels will naturally avoid eating:if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'rangerplanet_com-sky-3','ezslot_28',182,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rangerplanet_com-sky-3-0'); Weve found the ideal resources to continue your learning at home and at school. Notes: Yolk are optional. When an animal eats out of your hand, your heart grows three sizes. Thank you very much. They often raid bird feeders and pet bowls for snacks. Generally, youll find that a lot of commercially available birdhouses have large openings to allow different types of birds easy access. Theyre known for their quick flight, thanks to two skin folds placed between their front and rear legs. It is worth noting that peanuts are nutritionally poor for squirrels and salted peanuts should always be avoided. Then their curiosity will have them exploring all kinds of foods and food groups. And, they arent particularly fussy eaters. Human junk food. They can sometimes have to grow on them a deadly toxic mold that is near invisible to squirrels. They may also feed on wild tree fruits, nuts, and tree buds when food is scarce later in winter. Like us, protein is essential for a squirrel diet to help build body tissue and cell regeneration, which is why you shouldnt be surprised for squirrels eating poultry eggs. This is similar to attaching a squirrel baffle to the top of the birdhouse. What is the best food to put out for squirrels? Get designated squirrel feeders. Hazelnuts, hickory, walnuts, and beechnuts are popular with squirrels. Can animals eat hard boiled eggs? Keep your feeders elevated to simulate your squirrels' feeding habits in the wild. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'rangerplanet_com-portrait-2','ezslot_26',183,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rangerplanet_com-portrait-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'rangerplanet_com-portrait-2','ezslot_27',183,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rangerplanet_com-portrait-2-0_1');.portrait-2-multi-183{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Heres the Ranger Planet video showing the same content as outlined above. But theyre more likely burying food, harvesting a hidden stash, or hunting insects, worms, and grubs. 223 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 1 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from St. Luke United Methodist Church Lancaster, SC: Celebration of Life Service. November 6, 2022. Copyright 2023 Birdwatching Buzz | As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. [7 Different Types of Tongue!]. When theyre not eating any nuts they find on the trees, squirrels will take a few to store in various places and as a tasty meal over the wintertime. I was sitting outside the other day watching the birds and getting ready to fill up my squirrel feeder and I started wondering "can squirrels eat cheese?" Once the mother bird leaves its nest, it can sneak in, grab an egg, and then scurry off before its attacked. It may make you wonder can squirrels eat eggs? If you want to find out more about squirrels, their diet, and why they eat bird eggs, keep on reading. Balance the foods your squirrels love with foods that are good for their health. But how do they get into those tricky corners? So even if they love it, dont give them food that will make it harder to forage or dodge their predators. But, if theres a shortage in their food supply, squirrels may eat baby birds as well as bird eggs. However, those are only a few species, and the majority stay on the vegetarian, omnivore side of the diet spectrum. Squirrels are omnivores that eat plants and meats. They (chickens) will eat the entire egg- shell and all. Good news is, all three can usually be eliminated with high heat or chemical disinfectants. This may, unfortunately, make them fond of food that they should not be eating, like your favorite candy bars! if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'rangerplanet_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_18',176,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rangerplanet_com-narrow-sky-2-0');These are just a selection of the types of insects a squirrel is likely to catch and feed upon. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Lets check out some tips. Do squirrels eat egg shells? Walnuts are beneficial as it contains protein, carbohydrates, fat, dietary fiber, and vitamins that keep our furry friends healthy. Foxes generally carry eggs away from nests. Grays have better memories, so consider burying seeds next to their stash. If you're like me, then you've often wondered "do squirrels eat birds?" Eggs can meet many of those caloric needs and are easy for squirrels to find. If the nest has young birds or fledglings in it, squirrels eat them too. ", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "In general, squirrels eat a mixture of seeds, nuts, corn, fruit, leaves, fungi and bark. Best to try to make sure your trash is secure from squirrels and other scavengers. Not only squirrels but ground squirrels and chipmunk also do it to get some protein into their diet. But remember, even harsh chemical disinfectants cannot claim 100% elimination of harmful bacteria associated with poultry eggs. Flying squirrels are native to North and Central America, but some populations live in Northern Europe. Squirrels dont live indoors. Its too sugary and or too salty. Squirrels are also known to steal from chicken coops. Flying squirrels have smaller bodies than most species. Human junk food (cookies, cake, potato chips, popcorn) is a no-no. Many forests have been cut down to make way for buildings or farmland, so there are no nuts or fruits for them to eat. At the end of the day, anything could be risky. Human foods are not a natural part of a squirrel's diet. They can safely fall 100 feet, using their tails to balance and as a parachute. This is a real concern in areas where bird numbers are dwindling. This means that the squirrels are unable to reach in and grab the eggs. We live on 3/4 of an acre in Seminole County FL. Lichen grows in more moist areas such as behind tree bark or in damp crevices. But, in fact, peanuts are not nuts, they are actually classed as legumes, so these along with corn are not an ideal food for squirrels. Are they ground-dwellers (like chipmunks) or tree climbers (like fox squirrels and grays)? This means the seeds can be dispersed far and wide. Do Squirrels Eat Bird Eggs Or Baby Birds? Is Their Love of PB Good, Bad or Deadly? Will squirrels eat eggs? If youre going to try giving egg shells to squirrels, its only fair to do everything in your power to remove associated risks. If a squirrel locates an active nest, they will climb up and steal eggs while the parent birds are away. Youre more like their favorite fast-food joint. Other than the food they find in their habitats like vegetables, fruits, nuts, plant materials, bird's eggs, insects, and fungi, squirrels have also adapted to eat food they find in human habitats like birdseed, cereals, pet food, cheese, and trash. This means that the squirrels cant easily jump onto the birdhouse from overhanging or nearby tree branches. This makes their skin fan out into wings that let them glide through the air. Dried corn. They can even chew through the wood to get to the eggs. Instead, theyll be tempted to steal a chicken egg before eating one youve placed at the feeder for them. Will birds eat egg shells? While cooked eggs are good for humans, they can be harmful to squirrels, especially if salt and other spices have been added. Depending on the season and availability, squirrels eat fruits, vegetables, plants, fungi, trees, nuts, seeds, animals, eggs, and bones. Well, squirrels do not have a hard time getting their hands on the gooey . Daily intake of 2.5 grams should be enough to meet your requirements, though speak to your health professional. This site is owned and operated by Suzan and is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Squirrel enthusiasts feed squirrels with cereals. So do not put corn out for squirrels. Squirrels, chipmunks, and ground squirrels WILL eat bird eggs. Birds are fantastic creatures, with such a great presence in every culture around the globe, and are one of the crucial elements of the equilibrium of all land-based ecosystems. But once they reach maturity and are able to eat solid foods. Yes, both bird and chicken eggs are convenient for squirrels and contain more protein than other foods such as cashews, peanuts, pecans, etc. That includes cats, dogs, and squirrels. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It means they not only eat nuts, but also plants and meat. In the same vein, remove any perches from the exterior of the birdhouse as these can allow easy access for the squirrels. If you don't want to bother with hanging them in a tree, you can crumble and place them on the ground in your flower beds and any place that is easy for the birds to find. For wild seeds, offer pine and spruce in addition to low-calorie commercial seeds. Keep these feeders well away from your birdhouse and your bird feeders. But, if you want to keep squirrels out of your yard totally, weve given you a few handy tips that you might like to try. They eat from a variety of fruiting trees that includes (but are not limited to). They have white underbellies like red squirrels, except their bodies are covered with a soft brown coat. Also, make sure the length of the tube is longer than the length of a squirrels arm. If you have a pet squirrel or like feeding the ones you see in the park, its best to bring a raw egg or offer fresh fruits and nuts. Squirrels will also eat junk food, cereals, bread, and pet food, even though these aren't good for them. Check Out Our Brand New North American Birdwatching Guide eBook, Squirrel baffles are designed to make it very difficult for squirrels to get into or even onto the birdhouse, Do Birds Have Tongues? You can, of course, purchase some wild squirrel food to add to their feeders, especially if the food supply is scarce. Some squirrels will even eat baby birds, if they are hungry enough. Theyll feed on bird eggs whenever they find them, and they may eat baby birds, too, if theyre left without protection. Many different species eat crushed eggshells both for the calcium they provide to nesting females and for use as grit in the food-digesting process in the gizzards of seed- and insect-eating birds.F""}}
They also dont like sweet smells such as peppermint. OwnTheYard.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites. The only sign is maybe some yolk colored discoloration on your shavings. Consistently, squirrels are seen attacking bird nests in trees and even stealing chicken coop eggs. Squirrels are opportunistic eaters which means they will often eat foods that are not good for them. The shells of chicken eggs are extremely high in calcium. If your birdhouse is mounted on a pole, you can easily mount a squirrel baffle below it. Alternatively, you can pre-crush them into a sieve for easy handling through the washing process. Squirrels are omnivores and they will eat whatever . This is part of their scavenging instinct, and since theyre omnivores, theycantheoretically digest any food they found. So, they encounter bird nests without even trying, making eggs an easy food for them to get. Eggshells are left some distance from the nest. The best evidence for that is that they dont get the eggs when the mother birds are around. so what do squirrels eat? Eggs are simply apartof their diet. Do squirrels eat baby birds and eggs? Squirrels are routinely seen raiding birds nests in tress and even stealing eggs from chicken coops. You shouldnt be feeding your squirrels excessive carbs. So, they will eat whatevers most readily available in their natural habitator whatever they can find in and around trees. Because of thorny branches and thin vines, these can sometimes be harder to get to, but theyll always figure ways of getting to them. For starters, eggs have a high content of protein and calcium, thanks to the shell, so they provide a decent food source whenever nuts become scarce. Human foods are not a natural part of a squirrels diet. Some circumstances also force squirrels to look for bird eggs. This predatory behavior often comes as a surprise because most people think squirrels are vegetarians. How do I prepare eggshells for birds? Since chemicals would be totally unsafe for squirrels to consume. However, theyre opportunistic eaters, meaning theyll eat a bird egg when they see one, and they see those a lot because of their jumping habits and high speeds. ", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, both bird and chicken eggs are convenient for squirrels and contain more protein than other foods such as cashews, peanuts, pecans, etc. This means they mainly survive on plant materials and, as you probably already know, love to eat nuts and seeds from bird feeders. In normal conditions squirrels will generally not kill baby birds. Lets go over tips for both types of egg shell waste. You can use hot water and dishwashing soap since its safer and food-grade. Setting out a variety of these items can help them get a balanced source of nutrition. The grey squirrels are better at remembering where they buried their supplies. Squirrels are omnivores, which means they can digest food of both plant and animal origin. Squirrels are not necessarily choosy eaters though. Lastly, during colder times of the year, nuts and fruits become scarce. How you feed your squirrels will depend on their species and habits. You just want the shells to dry, not brown. Peanuts are not nuts! Squirrels love eating chicken eggs and poultry feed, so collect eggs frequently and store feed in secure, preferably metal, storage cans for feed.J, Many species, including tree swallows, eat crushed eggshells both for calcium and for use as grit.F. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Your email address will not be published. How they Evade Predators (Video: Hiding from Hawk), Do Squirrels Sleep with their Eyes Open or Closed? They'll also take food from bird feeders in gardens. Acorns, whole roasted pumpkin seeds, and almonds are the healthiest, followed by hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, English walnuts, pecans, pistachios, and peanuts, in that order. Squirrels are omnivores, which means they can digest food of both plant and animal origin. Hi! Squirrels will absolutely eat bird eggs and baby birds! Consider The Placement Of Your Birdhouse, 5. On the contrary, they can get quite vicious when their hands fall on an active nest they can feed on. Go for fruit, veggies, and shelled nuts. But peanuts are legumes rather than nuts. The energy gained by sugar can then be used by these tiny furry animals to keep foraging for more food throughout the day, theyll look to store any that they dont consume immediately. Nesting birds under the attack of a squirrel often abandon their nests to flee, leaving their eggs and chicks at the mercy of the squirrel. Studies show (1) there is so much calcium in chicken egg shells, there is good reason to explore the potential of our scraps. Therefore, you might like to set up one or more squirrel feeding stations around your yard to keep the squirrel population happy. How to Attract Backyard Birds for a Wildlife-Friendly Home, How to Get Rid of Squirrels: A Brief Guide, How to Trap Squirrels: Everything Youve Ever Wanted to Know, How to Sharpen Garden Shears in 6 Easy Steps. And dont feed them out of your hands theyll get dependent and you may get sick from scratches. This includes meat and also bird eggs. Squirrels are omnivores. When you're done, crush them up. Squirrels are omnivores and so eat plants and animals. For the many species that don't eat seed or suetlike robinsyou can give them leftover chicken eggshells instead. The biggest threats of feeding any poultry egg shell to a squirrel would be salmonella, E coli, and campylobacter. ", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Therefore, you want to make sure that there are no easy access points for them to use to jump across to the birdhouse. The two halves of the shell are often found close together. Remove the offending ducks. So, they will eat whatevers most readily available in their natural habitator whatever they can find in and around trees. They feed on bird eggs frequently, and if they find a baby bird, theyll eat it too. However, this isn't the first time a squirrel has been caught eating fried chicken. And theyre high-energy nibblers. Squirrels will gladly eat poultry eggs. Squirrels tend to aim for the more tender parts of young plants. Squirrels dont like the smell of peppermint and this is likely to keep them away. Follow our handy tips to keep squirrels away from your birdhouses to keep the eggs safe so they can hatch and grow to live a full life. There are humane measures you can take to prevent squirrels from eating and sometimes destroying your bird feeders. So opt for squirrel feeders and avoid having direct contact as your feed the local rodents. Flying squirrels eat more meat than other species because they mostly live above ground. Red squirrels, however, are a little more forgetful. Think keto or paleo. Whole eggs, including the shells are common ingredients found in pre-packaged, pet squirrel foods. That includes nuts, fruits, fungi, insects, and eggs. As a last resort feed the squirrels or put out squirrel food and maybe they will leave your flowers alone. Here ten more common squirrel questions. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'rangerplanet_com-leader-2','ezslot_12',170,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rangerplanet_com-leader-2-0');The benefit of these cereals is that theyre loaded with sugar that gives them extra energy. In the wild, squirrels rarely live beyond 4 years and half of them die out every year. There are lots of different types of fruit that are readily available in abundance during summer and fall so they will consume more of it during this time. So, they will eat whatevers most readily available in their natural habitator whatever they can find in and around trees. These squirrels are known for being destructive when it comes to getting food. Like all animals in the wild, squirrels must forage for their food so they can survive to see another day. Bird eggs are found all year round in abundance, so they should be easy to find at any time of the year. Always try to feed squirrels nuts that they would otherwise have found natively in their natural habitat. Humans leaving cheese, or any similar savory leftovers around outdoor dining spots have left a cheese treat for squirrels. As it turns out, squirrels do love to steal. Their kits or kittens (baby squirrels) are born blind, deaf (their ears are fused shut) and hairless. Toxic peanuts, recalled formulas, rancid suet, moldy feed, etc.. That said, you should avoid feeding them cooked, boiled, poached, scrambled eggs. Guide to Animal Diets! It may sound like it's impossible for squirrels to be able to eat eggs because of their shells. So, they will eat whatever's most readily available in their natural habitatu2014or whatever they can find in and around trees. This means that they'll eat a variety of foods to get a balanced diet. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'rangerplanet_com-banner-1','ezslot_3',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rangerplanet_com-banner-1-0');Much like foxes, squirrels tend to forage and scratch around for anything they feel is edible. As the availability to eat cheese comes as mere luck, squirrels arent choosy about their cheese type! Theyre best known for being carnivorous, which means they eat meat as their main diet. However, it can also be because of the habitat and the food availability. Eggshells are especially important for squirrels and other rodents due to the calcium found within the shell. As infants, squirrels rely only on their mothers milk. Squirrels can eat raw eggs and only eat raw eggs if they cant find other food sources. Do you fill your feeders year-round or is this a holiday thing? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'rangerplanet_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_15',171,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rangerplanet_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0');So if youre feeding squirrels these kinds of cereals, try not to, or at least minimize the amount you give them or mix them as a small amount like a treat, alongside other more natural foods so that theyll more likely eat those too. The answer is they are a great addition to your bird-feeding program. There are even reports of large squirrels capturing baby snakes. Squirrels eat plant and tree materials. When that happens, the squirrels have to adapt and source other types of food. . If the nest has young birds or fledglings in it, squirrels eat them too. What kind of animal will eat an egg? Squirrels could eat walnuts all day if they had a choice. There are also some populations in the Western USA. But there are precautions you can take to make it harder for them. Grey squirrels mainly eat seeds and plant buds, shoots, fungi and flowers, but will also eat insects and birds' eggs. Additionally, the fats and proteins inside the egg are highly desired by squirrels.N. If you place a raw egg for them at their feeder, they likely wont eat it. However, there are a lot of other factors that make birds more susceptible to having their eggs eaten. The ground underneath the trees is covered several inches deep with twigs and leaves attached. Generally, bird eggs are easy pickings for squirrels because they can easily access the nests. Love my squirrels and want to keep them happy and healthy. Even with allergies! Plus, if you use gravel or decorative stones, the squirrels will have a hard time trying to bury their loot. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'rangerplanet_com-leader-4','ezslot_14',172,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rangerplanet_com-leader-4-0');As nuts are arguable squirrels favorite food, they pretty much eat any nuts available, but squirrels are predominantly herbivores, and as such need to maintain a balanced diet of vitamins and minerals from vegetables and other sources. ", "acceptedAnswer": {"@type": "Answer", "text": "As a last resort feed the squirrels or put out squirrel food and maybe they will leave your flowers alone. Do you prefer take-out squirrels that grab and run or sit-down diners that hang around and wait for dessert? The. Including those unfortunate enough to have fallen from their nests and died but this is rare. Most weigh roughly 1lb, but gauge their mass in pounds and check they have at least 1/7th of that amount every day. But what do squirrels eat? That includes nuts, fruits, fungi, insects, and eggs. Red and Grey squirrels often steal robin eggs and blackbird eggs. Animals called Squirrels are obviously going to steal bird eggs! Where we are theres an abundance of acorn trees and chestnut trees. After all, we get tons of squirrels I want My name is Suzan and I absolutely love feeding squirrels. We do not recommend feeding bread to squirrels. They feed on dead birds a lot, but theyll attack an alive baby bird, too, if they had the chance. Thats not enough to impact a birds population. The fat helps squirrels to build up fat reserves for the winter when food is scarce. For best practices, we include tips to follow for using egg shell waste as a calcium boost for squirrels. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'rangerplanet_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_8',167,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rangerplanet_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');The high levels of natural sugar in fruits help them to increase their weight ready for the winter, as well as an added energy boost for foraging. Squirrels love nuts of all kinds. However, if the birds nesting in your yard are small, you could easily decrease the size of the opening so that squirrels simply cannot get in to steal the eggs. Theyre merely a good source of nutrition thats conveniently found in a squirrels way frequently. If you want to feed the squirrels in your backyard, the best foods to offer are nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Squirrels, chipmunks, and ground squirrels WILL eat bird eggs. So its probably best to clear out any dog food or cat food after its been eaten by your pet. As said, squirrels will pretty much eat anything. For starters, the birds that nest above the ground with no shrub to cover them are an open invitation for squirrels and similar creatures. Heres a list of all the animals that eat grass. If you have any nut trees or bushes in your backyard or you live near a nut tree orchard, then theres a good chance youll have squirrels living nearby, and youll see squirrels carrying away nuts from the trees or bushes to either eat or store. As the empty shell dries out, the inner membrane contracts and 'rolls' the chipped edge inwards. Occasional treats are fine, but the bulk of your squirrel diet should be protein-packed dishes that encourage them to exercise. Eggshells are especially important for squirrels and other rodents due to the calcium found within the shell. And yes, that includes your pets. Wir teilen auch Informationen ber Ihre Nutzung unserer Website mit unseren Social Media-, Werbe- und Analysepartnern. Feed them and water them, but make them work for their food. Yes, the squirrels will eat them and probably beg for more, but you dont want obese rodents. Whole eggs, including the shells are common ingredients found in pre-packaged, pet squirrel foods. Compared to Cat & Dog Odor and Territory Marking. Hopefully this resource puts you on a path toward reducing risk by adopting the best practices we already know about egg shells and calcium. Yes, they love certain things, but that doesnt mean you should offer ice cream in excess. For hanging birdhouses, you can get squirrel baffles that have a pointy spire on top. Squirrels have been known to eat eggs, so if you keep chicken, squirrel-proof the pen. Another reason that squirrels may eat bird eggs instead of other available food sources is that the eggs may be easier to find if theres an abundance of nests in any one season. Risks of feeding raw egg shells to squirrels. Olfactometers are used in conjunction with human subjects in laboratory settings, most often in market research, to quantify and qualify human olfaction. Nuts are indeed a favored food for squirrels. The inside of the egg also contains fats and proteins that squirrels absolutely love. When times are hard, squirrels will turn to most foods. They may also feed on wild tree fruits, nuts, and tree buds when food is scarce later in winter. Chocolate contains theobromine, which is bad for small mammals. The main diet of squirrels consists of fruits, nuts, and veggies. Bear in mind that you only need to feed the squirrels during nesting season unless you want to at other times of the year. Animal speeds are often hard to capture and calculate. Squirrels try to fatten themselves in the winter to keep warm. A Certified Ecologist and an Entomologist, Michael has been interested in all aspects of Nature for many years. Even where any kitchen scraps that have bits of cheese have been thrown out a squirrel will forage for and find.