Hi Everyone.
I need some suggestions. I have four young back yard squirrels that I feed, or try too anyway. They have become my little babies The issue is all they want is roasted unsalted peanuts.
I bought some special mix called veggie squares that are not commerley made but rather by a long time very reliable squirrel rehabber from Ohio. This mix contains every single nutrient a squirrel needs for a whole day.
You make the mix yourself by adding like baby food fruit or whatever your squirrels like. One package will make about 100 squares and you give them one a day. OK Now they will not eat them so I know rodent blocks would be out. The base of this mix is pecan, and when made they are like little brownies. The gentlemen that maxes this mix I am sure has forgotten more about squirrels than I will ever know. I trust him explicitly.
Ok So I took the veggie square mix and made more only into little balls, thinking ok they like peanuts so much then I'll melt some peanut butter, chope some peanuts up and coat the veggie balls with that. Nope no takers.
I took some and coated them with Honey, Nope no takers. I have tried avocado pieces skinned, coated with peanut butter, and some with honey. Nope No Takers. I tried broccoli, celery sweet potato No Way.
They will not even look at apple slices. I have tried almonds in the shell, beechnuts in the shell, they did eat some unshelled walnuts but not much. I went and got fresh acorns after a wind storm we had, fresh off the tree. They ate a few but bury the rest, and that I can understand. I am worried now because I just am out of ideas. It's getting so cold here in Northern Massachusetts yesterday we had snow squalls and this morning the feels like temp is -1 degree. I have been giving some peanuts in the morning then let them go forage then later in the afternoon they will come back and I will go out and give them a few more. Sometimes they will eat them or bury them so I think they are getting some food by foraging. I want to find something they will eat before we get clobbered with snow then the foraging for the most part is done.
Any help or suggestions would so greatly accepted. I want to make sure my little ones have all they need to stay alive and healthy.
Thank You all in advance so much.