The Best Squirrel Food
Squirrels aren’t known for being good pets, but their presence in a backyard can be almost pet-like with how playful and cute they can be. If you’re looking to attract more squirrels to your yard, the best way to do that is with food. But what do squirrels eat? If you want to know, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a list of the best squirrel food on the market so you can enjoy feeding your furry friends all you want.
What to Look For
When narrowing down the best squirrel food on the market, we considered size, price, and ingredients. If you want a nutritious snack for all kinds of backyard wildlife, Wagner’s backyard wildlife food is a great option. However, if you want one simple ingredient in a bulk bag, EasyGoProducts squirrel peanuts make it simple to order large quantities of peanuts for your squirrels. Keep reading to see all our top picks and find the right squirrel food for you.
Wagner’s Backyard Wildlife Food
Mix it up
If you’re not sure where to start with feeding your squirrels, this bag of wildlife food is a great place to begin. This catch-all food attracts many different kinds of backyard animals and gives them a nutritious treat to enjoy. You can use it to distract them from your bird feeders, or just feed them for the fun of it. Scatter the food on the ground or use a platform feeder to watch them all in one place. No matter how you use it, this versatile food is up to the task.
Pros:
- This mix comes with a variety of ingredients, including peanuts, corn kernels, sunflower seeds, and more.
- The price per ounce is very affordable, and the bag overall is a great bargain for the price.
Cons:
- Some squirrels may prefer the peanuts over the other ingredients, so if the peanuts run out, they may start eating out of bird feeders again.
Kaytee Corn On The Cob Food
The art of distraction
From humans to deer, from pet rabbits to the humble squirrel, almost everyone loves corn. If you’re looking to feed your backyard animals to keep them away from the bird feeders in your yard, this may be just what you need. While birds have a diet all their own, squirrels will tend to sneak into bird feeders and chow down. To make sure your birds don’t get robbed, you can spread some of these corn cobs in another part of your yard to drive the squirrels in that direction. This classic distraction may just save your bird feeders and gain you some new furry friends in the process.
Pros:
- The price is great for the quantity and quality of corn.
- It comes with mostly full cobs that multiple squirrels can nibble on at once.
Cons:
- The cobs are fairly firm to the touch, so it may be too hard for some squirrels to bite into.
Exotic Nutrition Squirrel Food Starter Package
If you take your role as a caregiver seriously, this variety pack from Exotic Nutrition may be just what you need to take your feeding habits to the next level. This starter pack comes with a standard food bag, veggie blend treats, rose hips treats, a multi-vitamin supplement, and calcium supplements to cover all your squirrels’ needs. It gives them basic nutrition, tasty snacks, and even added nutrients they may not get in the wild. If you want to treat your squirrels just as well as the pets in your home, this is the food for you.
Pros:
- The complete food boasts all-natural ingredients for a nutritious diet and also healthy dental hygiene.
- The treats and supplements contain plenty of vitamins such as vitamin C, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and vitamin K for added nutritional benefits.
Cons:
- Some picky squirrels might avoid the pellets and blocks in the complete mix.
Kaytee Backyard Wildlife Food Blend
Don't break the bank
Since the squirrels outside aren’t pets you own, sometimes it can be hard to justify spending any money on them. If you want to feed them but aren’t thrilled about the cost, this budget-friendly food blend may be just what you need. It feeds all kinds of wildlife, including birds, rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks, and it’s meant to supplement their natural diet. Best of all, it can feed the wildlife in your backyard without emptying your wallet.
Pros:
- It comes in a 5-pound bag, which is an excellent size for the price.
- It has a good variety of ingredients so that it won’t attract just one kind of animal.
Cons:
- This may have more filler than other types of wildlife feed.
EasyGoProducts Squirrel Peanuts
The more the merrier
If you’re looking to keep things plain and simple, it doesn’t get much more straightforward than this. This 25-pound bag of peanuts is meant to attract all kinds of wild animals, including squirrels, deer, raccoons, and more. They’re raw and unsalted, meaning they’re just about as pure as you can get them. They’re easy to toss around the yard, and the ingredients aren’t a mystery. They’re simply peanuts through and through. If you’re looking to stock up, this is your best bet.
Pros:
- Even though the price is fairly expensive, it’s not bad considering the number of peanuts you get with your purchase.
- Peanuts are high in protein and low in cholesterol, so they’re great for keeping animals well-fed.
Cons:
- The large bag may be hard to manage and store if you’re tight on space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do squirrels eat?
Squirrels are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and meat. Their meat usually comes in the form of insects and small reptiles. As for plants, they eat all kinds of vegetables and seeds. However, their favorite foods are probably nuts. They eat acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts, pecans, and more. Their diets are relatively similar to humans.
Can I keep a squirrel as a pet?
The legality of keeping a squirrel as a pet depends on your state or country. In many places, squirrels are considered game animals and are legal to hunt but not to own as a pet. However, even if you can legally own them as a pet, they aren’t domesticated and will probably not make a very good pet. They’re wild animals, after all.
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