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Feeding squirrels: how to help rodents find food
If you want to feed a squirrel, you need a special feeder
© Alphotographic / Getty Images
They are small and nimble, always appear a little stressed, while they never lose sight of their goal (tracking down food): Squirrels stock up in autumn for the winter. But what do they eat – and how can you help them find food?
Unlike other wild animals, squirrels do not hibernate, but hibernate. In other words, they shut down their activities in order to save energy – and accordingly eat less. Nevertheless, they cannot avoid foraging if they want to survive the cold season without worrying. On their menu are nuts and seeds that they hide in trees or bury in the ground. But there is not always enough food diversity for the animals: This is due to the fact that, due to changed environmental and climatic conditions, there are fewer mixed forests, so that squirrels are literally driven into our cities – where there are, in turn, far fewer trees. In addition, the earth freezes in icy temperatures and buried nuts no longer serve as a source of food. Then your help is needed. Find out what you can do here.
What is suitable for feeding squirrels?
Even if many believe that acorns are a favorite food of squirrels due to the similarity of their names, this is a misconception. The animals will certainly gnaw at one from time to time or bury it – as a rule, they will not be eaten. In the wild, the rodents feed on hazelnuts and beechnuts, but these trees and bushes are often in short supply in urban areas. Since the females in particular have a higher energy requirement in winter, as they are already pregnant in January, additional feeding in the city is definitely recommended. Make sure you have a balanced mix (there is also ready to buy) from nuts and seeds:
- Hazelnuts
- Walnuts
- peanuts
- Pine nuts
- Pine nuts
- Beechnuts
- Sweet chestnuts
- Hornbeam seeds
- Sunflower seeds
Important:
Squirrels’ gnaws are constantly growing back, so the animals rely on hard shells to sand their teeth on. For this reason, you should not only feed shellless nuts and seeds, but also those with a shell. Walnuts, on the other hand, are better cut in half so that on the one hand you can examine them for possible mold – on the other hand, the shell is very difficult for squirrels to crack. Furthermore, you can do something good for the animals by giving them a little peel offer with water. Because even sources of drinking are difficult to find in winter when the water freezes.
Where should the food be placed?
Squirrels have an innate escape behavior, which is why you shouldn’t just put the food somewhere, but always near a tree – so that the animals can get to safety when danger threatens. Ideally, bring a special one Bird feeder a little higher on the trunk, which you then fill with nuts and seeds via the flap. The special thing about the wooden construction is the rainproof roof, the seating platform for squirrels as well as the edge-free Plexiglass pane with a narrow slot – through which the nimble animals can skilfully make their way Lining can fish out. With the help of the pre-drilled suspension, you can easily attach the house to the tree so that the rodents do not even have to leave their territory to forage. Alternatively, you can use a classic bird house so that squirrels and birds simply share the food.
Note:
Never place the food or the water bowl on the floor. Especially cats lurk here who are after the young animals, who are not yet able to judge their enemies so well. In addition, it is important that you clean the feeding station regularly in order to avoid possible mold infestation – and the associated diseases.
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