Chipmunks and Squirrels LOVE Sunflower Seed Sprouts!

[cnmnnaturalist]

For many years around our yard and gardens, we have found little clusters of Sunflowers sprouting from various places in the soil. Sometimes in the yard, sometimes in the forest, sometimes in the garden. Eventually they would disappear one by one, and then be replaced by another patch. I finally found the answer when I witnessed one of our local Chipmunks burying a clutch of sunflower seeds near it's burrow. Normally, most squirrels and chipmunks nip at the seeds to destroy the embryo and keep them from sprouting. But not these. Eventually the seeds would sprout, and the chipmunks would eat these sprouts! They never really 'gorged' on them, just browsing on them. The Red and Gray Squirrels would eat the sprouts, but only bury a seed or two at a time haphazardly. I pull the sprouts out of the gardens and yard to keep them from growing, and I toss them near burrows and where the squirrels feed and they will happily munch on them.

These sprouts are sweet in flavor, crunchy and very satisfying. I grow them from time to time to eat them myself. They seem to have decent nutritional content (depending on the variety of seed, it seems). I have been foraging for these sprouts and growing them for my three young Gray Squirrels, and they really love them. It became a transition food to eating greens.

I really don't know if the chipmunks consciously bury these seeds for the sprouts, or just bury them automatically and blunder upon the sprouts. Either way, it's really cool. Even when they garden in our containers, new plantings and anywhere else they can find fresh dirt. ^^

[GTSally]

I didn't know that the squirrels like the sunflower seed sprouts. I live in Kansas and we get alot of wild sunflowers. Plus I get the sprouts growing all the time in my flower garden under my bird feeder from the bird food. I know they like sunflower seeds because I have fed a few to my wild squirrels. Normally they just get almonds and walnuts though. I will have to put some of the sprouts out to see if my wild squirrels will eat them, instead of tossing them. :)

[lamb57]

We have one grey sq, Lily, that we have nick-named the Gardener because she is constantly "planting" sunflower seeds. I find them sprouted in all my potted flowers as well as popping up in the yard. Now that you mention it we have found them eaten once they start to come up. Just never thought about them doing it on purpose. Makes sense though! :grin

[sqrl luv]

I buy sunflower sprouts at Whole Foods for my rehabs... they LOVE them!