Do Squirrels Like Fruit? Best Sweet Treats

In the wild, squirrels love to eat nuts, seeds, and berries. But things get a little more interesting when they live in your backyard. Just like you, your squirrel friend wants something sweet once in a while. Keep your squirrel healthy and happy by balancing sweet treats with healthy snacks. So, keep reading so we can help answer the question – do squirrels like fruit?

Do Squirrels Like Fruit?

Should You Limit Fruits in a Squirrel’s Diet?

While squirrels adore a juicy apple or a ripe banana, it’s important to balance their love for fruits with their nutritional needs. Fruits should be a treat, not the main course, to ensure these furry friends get a well-rounded diet including essential nuts and seeds.

A squirrel’s digestive system is sensitive, and too much sugar can cause digestion problems. Only offer fruit treats after a squirrel has eaten healthier foods first.

Squirrel Digestive System

There are a variety of factors that can affect a squirrel’s digestive system.

For example, what they eat can play a role. If they eat foods high in fat or sugar, their digestive system may have more difficulty processing these items and cause diarrhea.

Additionally, if they eat foods that are difficult to digest or that are spoiled, this can also lead to digestive problems.

Stress can also be a factor, as it can interfere with their appetite and lead to gastrointestinal upset. Also, if they are sick or have an infection, this can disrupt their digestive system.

What Do Squirrels Eat?

Squirrels are omnivorous, which means they eat a variety of foods. Their diet primarily consists of plant material, but they also consume insects, small animals, and bird eggs on occasion. Some common food sources for squirrels include:

1. Nuts and seeds: Acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts, beechnuts, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, and other nuts and seeds are favorites among squirrels. They also store nuts in various locations (called caching) to consume later, particularly during the winter months when food sources are scarce.
2. Tree buds and bark: Squirrels eat tree buds and the cambium layer under the bark of trees, particularly during the winter and early spring when other food sources are limited.
3. Fruits and vegetables: Squirrels enjoy a variety of fruits, such as apples, cherries, berries, and grapes, as well as vegetables like carrots, peas, beans, and corn.
4. Fungi: Squirrels are known to consume fungi, including mushrooms, which are an important source of nutrients.
5. Insects and small animals: Although they primarily eat plant material, squirrels occasionally consume insects, such as beetles and caterpillars, as well as small animals like baby birds and eggs, particularly when other food sources are scarce.
6. Birdseed: Squirrels are often attracted to bird feeders and will consume birdseed if given the opportunity.

It’s important to note that there are many species of squirrels, and their diets may vary slightly depending on their habitat and the availability of food sources.

What is a Squirrels Favorite Fruit?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as squirrels enjoy different fruits. However, the most commonly reported favorites include apples, strawberries, oranges, apricots, and avocados.

What Do Squirrels Eat – Apples?

One of their favorite fruits is apples. While wild squirrels will often eat whatever type of apple they can find, domestic squirrels usually prefer red apples. In addition to apples, squirrels eat nuts, berries, seeds, and insects.

What Do Squirrels Eat – Grapes?

Yes, squirrels eat grapes. Grapes are a type of fruit that squirrels enjoy eating. Grapes are one of the most popular foods for squirrels. If you have a grapevine in your yard, chances are good that a squirrel or two will visit it at some point to snack on the grapes.

Any food that contains sugar should be fed in moderation to squirrels as it can affect their health. Since grapes contain a lot of sugar, squirrels can have small amounts. Also, squirrels can eat many other fruits like mango, apple, banana, pears, kiwi, peach, pineapple, and many more.

What Do Squirrels Eat – Pears?

Yes, squirrels eat pears. They are high in sugar, so just a slice will do, but they contain a lot of water which is good. Squirrels will typically eat the flesh of the pear first and then the seeds.

What Do Squirrels Eat – Pineapple?

Squirrels are not often seen eating pineapple. Pineapple is not typical for squirrels, but they may eat it if they are attracted to the sweetness or if there is not much else to eat. If you see a squirrel eating pineapple, it is probably because it is hungry and has no other food options.

Do Squirrels Eat Avocados?

While their diet varies depending on the season and availability of food, squirrels have been known to eat avocados occasionally. Avocados are a good source of healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, which makes them a nutritious option for squirrels.

Do Squirrels Eat Bananas?

While different squirrel species have different diets, most squirrels enjoy eating bananas. Bananas are not only a tasty treat for squirrels, but they are also a good source of nutrients, including potassium, vitamin C, and fiber.

What Do Squirrels Eat – Kiwi?

Yes, squirrels can eat kiwi fruit. Kiwi is a safe fruit for squirrels to consume in moderation. It contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can be beneficial to their health. However, it is essential to remember that squirrels should have a varied diet that primarily consists of nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, fungi, and insects.

When feeding squirrels kiwi or any other fruit, make sure to offer small portions and avoid making it a primary component of their diet.

Do Squirrel Eat Oranges?

Squirrels love citrus fruits and appreciate the sour taste of oranges, which can be given to them occasionally. Like raisins, they can eat them, but they are not the best choice due to their high sugar content. An orange slice given occasionally should be fine, but remember, high sugar can cause digestive issues.

Do Squirrels Eat Limes?

Yes, squirrels will eat limes if they are available. Limes are not a squirrel’s natural diet, but they are not harmful to them and can provide a little bit of nutrition. If you have limes available and want to offer them to your squirrel, just cut them up into small pieces and put them out in a bowl.

Do Squirrels Eat Lemons?

Squirrels are known to eat just about anything, so it’s not surprising that they would also eat lemons. While lemons are not a squirrel’s preferred food, they will eat them if available, and there is nothing else to eat.

Avoid giving the pits from stone fruits like cherries, peaches, plums, and nectarines.

Do Squirrels Like Cherries?

There is no harm in squirrels eating cherries in limited amounts, but eating the pits or seeds of cherries is a no-no.

The poisonous chemical found in the pit or seeds of stone fruit is called amygdalin. If the pit or seed is crushed or chewed before swallowing, the amygdalin is released and causes poisoning.

Do Squirrels Eat Nectarines?

There is no definitive answer to this question, as squirrels have different diets. Some squirrels may eat nectarines, while others may not. It is important to note that nectarines are not a natural food source for squirrels, so if they eat them, they are likely only in small quantities. Avoid giving the pits from stone fruit such as nectarines.

Do Squirrels Eat Plums?

Squirrels are known to eat various fruits and nuts, including plums. While the plum is not a squirrel’s preferred food, they will eat them if other food sources are scarce. When eating a plum, a squirrel will typically eat the fleshy part of the fruit and discard the pit.

Do Squirrels Eat Apricots?

Apricots are a good source of vitamins A and C and fiber. Squirrels will typically eat the fruit’s flesh and leave the pit behind.

Do Squirrels Eat Berries?

Yes, squirrels love berries. Below, you will find some of their favorite berries.

Do Squirrels Eat Strawberries?

Squirrels love to eat berries. If you grow strawberries, squirrels might be frequent customers in your garden.

Strawberries provide Vitamin C, antioxidants, and fiber, which is suitable for their digestive system, preventing constipation.

Do Squirrels Eat Blackberries?

The squirrels here at Kitty City Squirrels love fruit, especially blackberries. Blackberries are a type of fruit that grows on bushes. They are small and round with a dark color. Squirrels like to eat blackberries because they are sweet and tasty.

They also love blueberries, raspberries, and mulberries. The seeds from these kinds of berries are safe for squirrels to eat.

Do Squirrels Eat Raspberries?

Raspberries are not only a tasty treat for squirrels, but they are a good source of nutrition and water. In the wild, squirrels eat fruit to get their daily water intake.

Do Squirrels Eat Mulberries?

Mulberries are a type of berry that grows on a tree and are loved by many animals for their sweet taste. Squirrels will often eat the entire berry, including the seeds. Squirrels help spread the mulberry tree’s seeds when they ? (poop) and help more mulberry trees grow.

Do Squirrels Like Blueberries?

These little berries are packed with nutrients and antioxidants that can benefit squirrels, helping boost their immune system and keep them healthy overall.

Plus, they’re just plain delicious! If you have a squirrel in your backyard, you may want to consider offering them some blueberries as a treat.

Do Squirrels Eat Dried Fruit?

A piece of dried fruit here and there is okay but not a wise choice due to the sugar content. The main difference between dried and fresh fruits is the sugar and calorie content. The fruit loses water during drying, and the calorie and sugar content becomes more concentrated than fresh fruit.

Dried fruit is not recommended because it can cause weakness, diarrhea, and stomach problems.

Avoid Dried Fruits like:

• dried mango
• dried apricot
• dried cherries
• dried cranberries
• raisins

Do Squirrels Eat Raisins?

Raisins are dried grapes and contain a high amount of sugar. Raisins are not toxic to squirrels, but the fruit has no nutritional value. They are incredibly high in sugar, damaging a squirrel’s delicate digestive system. Raisins are a poor choice for a squirrel snack.

Can Squirrels Eat Dates?

Squirrels can eat dates, but do squirrels eat dates? They typically prefer nuts, seeds, and other fruits over dates.

You can give one or two dates periodically, but they are also high in sugar, containing 16 grams each. As mentioned before, squirrels that consume too much sugar can get an upset digestive tract resulting in diarrhea.

Can Squirrels Eat Raisins and Cranberries?

Squirrels can eat raisins and cranberries, but they should only be given these foods in small quantities and as occasional treats. Both raisins and cranberries are dried fruits, which means they have a high sugar content. A squirrel’s natural diet primarily consists of nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, fungi, and insects. Consuming too many sugary foods can be harmful to their health and lead to digestive issues or obesity.

When feeding squirrels, it is best to provide them with a diet that closely resembles their natural food sources. If you want to give them a treat, consider offering small amounts of fresh fruits or vegetables, such as apples, berries, or carrots, rather than sugary dried fruits like raisins and cranberries.

Do Squirrels Eat Fruit Often?

In the wild, squirrels typically eat fruits that have fallen from trees, as they are easier to access than those still on the tree.

However, if a squirrel is desperate enough, it may climb a tree to get to the fruit. Squirrels will eat other foods, such as nuts, seeds, and insects.

What Do Squirrels Like to Eat In the Wild?

Squirrels eat about anything they can get their hands on, including fruits, vegetables, and even small animals. In the wild, they will often eat whatever is available, but in captivity, they can be given various foods. One of the best things you can feed a squirrel is a mix of nuts and fruits. This will give them the nutrients they need and the opportunity to gnaw on something.

Nuts are also a good source of fat for squirrels, which is essential for survival. In general, squirrels like to eat foods high in protein and fat. This is because they need a lot of energy to survive and reproduce.

Do Squirrels Like Fruit: Wrapping Up!

Feeding fruit to the wild backyard squirrels is fun and provides entertainment. Did this article give you enough information to answer the question, “do squirrels like fruit?” Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have questions about a squirrel’s diet, what they like to eat, or any other topic. Check out our article by Karen Carpenter, a licensed rehabbed, about introducing foods to baby squirrels. Also, take a peek at what do squirrels like!

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