Question about feeding wild squirrels please

[connie1961]

Hello everyone!

I just have a question about feeding wild squirrels. I live in Michigan where the weather gets cold with lots of snow. I started feeding the wild squirrels black oil sun flower seeds so they did not go hungry all winter.

It was not long before I had seven squirrels at one time. I had to start placing 7 separate piles of seeds out so they would not fight.

It is now May, the weather is nice and the trees are budding. I just finished up my last 40 pund bag of seeds for them. My dilema is: should I feed them during the summer months? I have been told no. They need to keep their wild instincts and find teir own food when it is plentiful or they will starve becuz they won't fend for themselves and the only time they should be fed is winter time.

It breaks my heart becuz I have this one Mama who comes. She has little ones and you can tell she is nursing. She is quite tame and she will just look at us for food.

Should I only feed them during the winter months?

:thankyou

[JLM27]

I feed my Mamas and one or two males get "treats" once spring has sprung. They are out there eating tree buds like mad. See if you can coax the Mama to come and feed with you while you are there until she stops nursing.

[Rhapsody]

I think you cant still feed the squirrels during other times of the year, just cut back on the amount of food you leave out (more snack than meal) and take care of the mommies over the other adult squirrels.

[MyBushyTail]

We choose to feed ours all year long, cutting back just a little during the better seasons where their natural foods are more available. Also we do always leave food available for them incase one really in need (injured or sick, etc) shows up, then they have easier access to food.

[NewMommy]

I feed mine all year long as I really enjoy watching them and their antics. I cut back on some of the things I feed them though and stick mainly to black oil sunflower seeds.

[connie1961]

:thankyou

The little Mama has become very spoiled. She came to the house and my son got her on the front steps. Gave her a piece of my 12 grain whole grain bread at $5.00 a loaf and spread peanut butter on it for her. She came right up to him. My son said <well she is a mama and she needs the good stuff.> :rotfl
I came home from work and she was in the yard. By the time I got in the house to get her piece of bread and peanut butter, she was gone but as soon as I called for her she came running!

She is a sweet little girl!

[JakesLittlePrincess]

They learn quickly where the goods are. We started off with one or two and now when I walk the dog in the morning they all come racing down the roof and wait outside for me to come back and give them their snacks. Sometimes it is like a scene from the birds when they are all crouched on my roof. I also feed them year around and love to watch them be little clowns out there. Momma's always get more. I have two feeders that stay out there and two dishes that I put out twice a day. I see them digging around all day and eating stuff in the trees so I know that I am not their main source of food. I just let them know I am there if they need it. A few are rambunctious and will bang on my screen or slam the feeder against the wall if it is empty or I am too slow and putting some snacks out.