SQRL Health

Squirrel Food

If you’re wondering what food you should & should not give to squirrels (& why), I have put this list together and organised it into categories. I will start with the bad, so you know what to avoid, as this will boost squirrels’ life-spans. Please familiarize yourself with and share this list to all other squirrel lovers out there, so we can keep these glorious creatures healthy. This list is general, for all tree squirrels around the world, but there are some subtle differences in diet so it will be best to look up specifics about your own.​

AVOID !!!

Peanuts (poor calcium / phosphorus balance [Ca:P – 1:6]. Over-eating can lead to metabolic bone disease. Raw peanut can contain mould that is toxic to rodents. Ingesting mould will cause severe illness. Even aflatoxin free or roasted peanuts can develop the toxic fungus if they are buried. Peanuts are not a nut, so squirrels don’t instinctively know to avoid the mould.

Processed, Fatty & Sugary Foods: Candy, cookies, chips/crisps, bread, donuts, etc. (High in salt, sugar, unhealthy fats, and potentially toxic additives [like xylitol}, leading to obesity, metabolic bone disease, and dental issues)

Salty, Seasoned, or Spiced Foods: Salted nuts, pretzels, chips/crisps, cooked foods etc. (Can cause dehydration and salt toxicity, especially if fresh water isn’t available)

Almonds: Bitter (high in fat and phosphorus. Even one bitter almond contains too much cyanide for a squirrel)

Brazil Nuts (selenium makes squirrels impaired, like alcohol – easily leading to predation)

Chocolate (contains theobromine, which affects the heart and nervous system and can be fatal in large amounts)

Seafoods: Fish / shellfish (high salt content and generally harmful due to not being a part of their normal diet)

Avocado: Pit & Skin (toxic to rodents, non-American squirrels may not instinctively know to avoid them)

Dairy: Milk, cheese, etc. (Squirrels are lactose intolerant and cannot digest dairy, causing stomach upset)

Dried Fruits: Raisins (high sugar content and concentrated form can lead to calcium deficiency, making them unhealthy)

Citrus Fruits (can be hard on their digestive system)

Corn (Insanely high phosphorus) [Ca:P 1:50]

Pine Nuts (extremely high phosphorus) [Ca:P 1:33]

Conkers/Horse Chestnuts (very high phosphorus) [Ca:P 1:16]

Cashew Nuts (very high phosphorus) [Ca:P 1:13]​

Notes: Calcium to Phosphorus ratio” [Ca:P] is one of the most crucial elements in a squirrel’s diet. Squirrels need to maintain a balance of 1:1 to 2:1. Higher phosphorus to Calcium ratios blocks calcium absorption, leaching calcium from the bones and leading to metabolic bone disease (weak bones, claws, teeth and jaw). An inability to climb will lead to a shorter life.​ Most nuts have a lower than ideal ratio, so overfeeding them any nuts is not good. The lower they are, the more sparing they should be given. They will need to be offset by higher calcium foods. In the case of Eurasian Red squirrels, they cannot overeat, so you should be extra careful. If you fill them up with nuts, they won’t want to eat anything else and whichever nut you give them, it will become a problem