Do squirrels eat carrots? This is one of the many questions squirrel lovers and gardeners ask. Squirrels are known to eat just anything and everything they can find. There’s a theory that they are notorious eaters because of their inability to find food during winter but there’s no fact backing this theory up.
It’s no longer news that squirrels are voracious eaters, but some foods shouldn’t be given to them, under any circumstance. This however is the reason some people wonder if carrots should be added to a squirrel’s diet.
Yes, squirrels do eat carrots, they are omnivores therefore they can eat both veggies and meat. Carrots are well packed with lots of nutrients in them and they are great sources of fiber, potassium, beta carotene, carbs, vitamin A, and vitamin K1. Squirrels can get these minerals and vitamins just by munching on carrots.
Carrots are extraordinary when it comes to their nutrients and squirrels will appreciate it if they are added to their meal plan as it balances their diet and makes up for any possible deficiency.
Do Squirrels Eat Carrots?
Squirrels will consume anything they get their paws on this is why gardeners do everything under their power to keep them away.
Carrots are no exception, some squirrels might not be interested in them at first. Do not worry after the first munch, they will end up loving it. All the same, adding other veggies with carrots is the best technique for balancing their diets.
Carrot is very rich in essential nutrients like beta carotene, antioxidants potassium, soluble fiber, and vitamin K. They are also low in calories and fat which makes them a great snack for a squirrel, it is very very filling without getting the squirrel overweight. The dental health of a squirrel is usually improved by constant chewing on crunchy carrots.
Vitamins are very vital in a squirrel’s diet. Apart from improving their dental health, the vitamin A in carrots can strengthen the immune system and keep their skin and fur healthy. Carrots are very safe for squirrels but it is best to slice them into smaller pieces convenient for the squirrel before giving them to them.
How Do You Feed Squirrels Carrots?
You can either feed carrots to your squirrel raw or cooked, but it is most preferable if you serve raw carrots to your squirrel.
Raw carrots enable squirrels to get all the benefits and nutrients. And it encourages your squirrel to do a lot of chewing as it improves its dental health but when you serve cooked carrots instead of the raw ones then there will be fewer chewing activities.
Cooked and uncooked carrots are loved by squirrels. Take precautions to ensure that you do not overfeed. You can also feed them with frozen or peeled carrots, but if you notice that your squirrel doesn’t like chewing you can opt for carrot juice.
Whichever way you choose to feed your squirrel carrots make sure you cut the carrots into smaller pieces to prevent them from choking.
What Do Squirrels Like Eating?
Most times, squirrels prefer to eat healthy greens. But species like Eastern Grey Squirrels would rather munch on meat such as moths, insects, bird eggs, and amphibians. Naturally, squirrels love eating nuts, seeds, and tree buds from trees such as hemlock and maple trees.
Here’s a list of snacks your squirrel love eating;
1. Nuts
It is common knowledge that squirrels love to eat nuts. Nuts are one of their favorite dishes among others. You can give them any kind of nuts they will love as they have a lot of healthy nutrients to offer such as protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber.
If you have a pet squirrel in your home or you want to feed some squirrels at the park, you can give them nuts, it delights them.
2. Insects
Might sound disgusting to you but squirrels love this snack. They are not only crazy about nuts and fruits. Insects are very nutritious meals for squirrels; they contain protein, calcium, vitamin D, and minerals. Crickets and mealworms are said to be their favorite. Do not be bothered if you see your squirrel munching on insects, it is natural.
3. Seeds
Squirrels love seeds and it shows, that’s why you see them digging around the gardens. The seeds they usually love are sunflower, maple, mulberry, pumpkin, safflower seeds, and some other large seeds that they can find in the garden.
4. Legumes
This gives squirrels a satisfactory amount of protein. Asides from insects, carrots, seeds, and nuts squirrels cherish legumes as it comes top five on the list of food squirrels enjoy. Looking for a great way to balance your squirrel’s diet then you should add lentils, peas, and beans to the list of food to give it.
5. Fruits
It’s so obvious that squirrels love fruits. They tend to go from tree to tree in search of fruit. They eat almost all types of fruits from apples, grapes, bananas, watermelons, papayas, mangoes, and passion fruits and they also love berries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do squirrels eat carrots and potatoes?
Of course, they do. However, white potatoes are not as healthy as sweet potatoes. But if you must give your squirrel white potatoes, you should opt for the ones with the darker flesh such as ruby crescent, and purple Viking. Also, carrots and sweet potatoes are a great meal option for your squirrel. Raw or cooked, they are very safe and healthy for them.
Can wild squirrels eat raw carrots?
Yes, they can. Wild squirrels don’t mind munching on raw foods, especially raw carrots. Eating raw carrots is very beneficial to them as it improves and strengthens their teeth. Other nutritious veggies like tomatoes, corn, peas, root vegetables, greens okra, eggplant, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, celery, and cauliflower can be eaten raw by squirrels.
Do chipmunks and squirrels eat carrots?
Chipmunks and squirrels are relatively similar to each other, both are omnivores, meaning they both love eating fruits, vegetables, and meat. That being said, chipmunks and squirrels do eat carrots. You can also give them other vegetables like pears, bananas, oranges, sweet potatoes, bean sprouts, and tomatoes as it can help to better balance their diet.
Are carrots bad for squirrels?
No, they are not. Just like a lot of fruits and veggies, carrots can cause squirrels no harm. Every component of carrots is safe for consumption by squirrels. Carrots are packed with a lot of nutritional goodness such as antioxidants, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin K, and beta carotene which are necessary for squirrels’ health.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, squirrels are ravenous eaters that are always ready to give any food a try.
In many cases, squirrels are usually disinterested in carrots for the first time but they eventually get to love them. Also mixing carrots with other foods that you know they love is another technique to introduce enough nutrients into their system.
Furthermore, carrots can help strengthen the immune system of your squirrels and protect them from diseases. It’s always better to take precautions so you don’t overfeed them as this can make them overweight.