Wild Squirrels
Hello. My name is Gretchen, and I am new to The Squirrel Board and want to say HELLO! Also, wanted to ask if this board has any help for those of us with WILD SQUIRREL questions?
I live in Minnesota and we have white, gray ,black red, and flying squirrels. We have 4 squirrel nesting boxes in our backyard and have several white, black, and gray babies every spring. They are so much fun to watch and I love them all! I started out years ago with bird feeders and love to watch all the birdies... and then as more squirrels would come by, I started putting some seed, peanuts, and corn on the ground in specific areas, just for the squirrels (and the turkey's that come by, too). We made some squirrel proof bird feeding stations, so that has never been a problem...and I don't care anyway because the squirrels are not usually destructive. Anyway, after some research on what squirrels "should" be eating, I realized I wasn't being their friend because the whole peanuts, corn, and sunflower seeds are not that nutritious for them. I had been noticing some squirrels with mange and some others that looked sick, maybe with the bone disease I also read about. I felt just terrible, and so I have been buying bulk black walnuts from orchards in South Carolina and Missouri...and also pecans. They love all the nuts! But, after more research, I read that they should only be eating nuts as a "dessert" and only after they've eaten vegetable and wild food they would normally find on their own. Now, I feel just terrible and feel like I've let them down because now they probably have poor nutrition because they've been relying on me and I am not giving them what they need to stay healthy! It is so difficult to see them hurting and suffering...and now, it has been below zero for over a week...last couple nights -12 degrees...when it gets this cold, they seem to like the sunflower seeds best...and peanuts. I did buy some vitamins and protein powder from Henry's and found some nut ball and bar recipes and made some of that to offer them...and they were actually eating them! Not all the squirrels liked them, but most and that makes me feel a little better, but I wouldn't be able to afford to make as many as I would need for all the wild squirrels that come into my yard. And, with it being so cold, they come out every morning when the sun is coming up because they know that I always have peanuts, sunflower seeds, wildlife mix with seeds, dried fruit, etc. and sometimes I have vegetables and cut up apples and blackberries...but, I cannot afford to have enough of all the nutritionally good stuff for 30-40 squirrels daily - so I am looking for advice. How do I "wean" them off the sunflower seeds, peanuts, and corn and provide more of what they need nutritionally? My niece works for HyVee in the produce department, and I was going to ask her about getting some produce...stuff that is still good that they were just going to toss...or, should I gradually offer less of the things that are not so good nutritionally for them, and just put out some vegetables and fruit and nut squares? I ordered a bulk order of vegetable and nut squares from Squirrelnutrition.com...those will be delivered tomorrow. It's a large bulk order of about 200 vegetable and nut squares, but I could go through that pretty fast. Just trying to have a plan to get the squirrels what is best for them, but not leave them high and dry...like providing all this stuff most of the winter, then all of a sudden I take it away...I feel like when its below 20 degrees, they just need something in their tummies, even if it's not the best nutritionally for them, but I don't want to do that anymore...I want to only do good things for them...provide what the need nutritionally, and maybe not what they "like" (peanuts, sunflower seeds, corn)...they are like human teenagers, if they like it they will eat it, even if it might not be the best for them. I always thought animals instinctively knew what's best for themselves, but I guess not in this case. Any thoughts or help would be most appreciated. Sorry for the long post...just having a difficult time finding anyone, or even animal refuge places to return my emails with answers to these questions....thank you so much for any help or direction you can offer...and thank you for this Squirrel Board!
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