do squirrels need organic food?

[Smee_squirrels]

i ussually feed them organic unless ive run out and i only have not organic. Its really expenzive so i was wondering if it was nessesary to give organic.

[CritterMom]

There are some things I will only buy organic - kale for example. That is because they dump a ton of insecticides on kale if it is not organic.

I am a real nut about washing all of my vegetables. First I dump them into a big bowl of water and let them sit for a few minutes. Drain and refill the bowl and sit a little longer. Drain one more time and refill with water that has a couple drops of GSE (grapefruit seed extract, get at any health food store) in it. Then I run them under water and lay them on towels to dry. Then, finally, everything goes into plastic bags in the crisper. On grocery day I have no counter space in the kitchen - they are covered with drying veggies.

You can google up lists of fruits and vegetables that are grown with a lot of insecticides. Those are the ones that you should definitely spring for the extra $$.

[island rehabber]

Critter Mom has it right. I actually find that, although organic IS a lot more expensive, in the long run my organic veggies seem to stay much fresher than the regular grocery store stuff. When I buy 'spring mix' lettuce in the plastic container, the organic variety lasts at least 3-4 days longer, so I throw away nothing -- as opposed to the grocery store stuff that lasts a day or so and becomes gross.

[Shaena]

Hey I only get organic for the squirrel because he is tiny and wild and needs the best, why risk it, right? I don't buy organic for the people in the house though, we can deal.

[DarkLies212]

Hey I only get organic for the squirrel because he is tiny and wild and needs the best, why risk it, right? I don't buy organic for the people in the house though, we can deal.

Same here! It's pretty crazy that our critters eat much better than any of us do!! :grin3

[Shewhosweptforest]

Hey I only get organic for the squirrel because he is tiny and wild and needs the best, why risk it, right? I don't buy organic for the people in the house though, we can deal.


Same here! It's pretty crazy that our critters eat much better than any of us do!! :grin3

:highfive Exactly....I always feel a little self righteous in the grocery line...little do they know it's all for my squirrels :hidechair

[Sara in NW MS]

:highfive Exactly....I always feel a little self righteous in the grocery line...little do they know it's all for my squirrels :hidechair

Ha ha!! I know exactly what you mean. I'm glad I'm not the only one like that!

[Anne]

Grapefruit seed extract is a natural disinfectant. Veggies soaked and washed in it with a tiny bit of baking soda will remove any nasty stuff, including wax on veggies and fruit! Can't beat ​organic for freshness. I soak veggies in one side of my sink and rinse in the other side. Dry wax off with towel.

[BarnyardBen]

Well they certainly seem like they need to raid my garden every year.

i ussually feed them organic unless ive run out and i only have not organic. Its really expenzive so i was wondering if it was nessesary to give organic.

[astra]

@Smee - are you asking about feeding squirrels in rehab or wild ones?
Based on your other posts, I assume that you are talking about wild squirrels, in which case most people will not bother buying organic.

Besides, wild squirrels generally do not eat "human" veggies, only squirrels in rehab will (such as brocolli, cauliflower and so on and so forth).
Therefore, it is a bit unclear about what type of food for wild squirrels you are asking. Are you asking about veggies? fruit? nuts?
(If your wild squirrels eat "human" veggies - please share your secret :)).

If you are asking about wild squirrels, your answer will depend on how many squirrels you have and what you can afford.
If you have lots of squirrels and can afford to feed them all organic nuts and apples - awesome. But most people cannot afford feeding their outside squirrels organic stuff.

If you only have one or two squirrels - then, depending on your budget, perhaps you could get them organic apples here and there. Apples are one of the "dirty dozen" fruits and veggies, which should be organic. If you Google "dirty dozen," you will find the lists of foods CrM mentioned.

So, bottom line - for the outside squirrels it depends on what you can afford to do.
The posts above refer, primarily, to the indoor squirrels in rehab.

GEnerally, wild squirrels will rarely eat our "human" greens. They will consider peeled apples, peeled banana pieces, watermelon, maybe pumpkin/squash, peeled avocado (no pit and no skin - toxic) but rarely any greens. And in the summer they don't really need any of that because they have plenty of natural foods outside much more nutritious and diverse than we can offer.
In the winter - a bit different story. They are more willing to check out "our" fruit choices.

Whenever you are in doubt to feed or not to feed something - never hesitate to ask here. :thumbsup