Most people think that squirrels are just pests because they scamper around and steal your birdfeeders.
But if you look closely, it’s easy to see why this is one of the most popular backyard animals. They are cute, cuddly, and fun to watch. If you want to make these little guys a part of your backyard ecosystem, there are some easy strategies that will help.
Squirrels are largely dependent on food availability and prefer areas that are forest-like or woodsy in nature with tall trees.
Luckily for us, though, there are ways we can change our yards, so they’re more attractive to these super cute critters!
Here are some tips on how to attract squirrels to your backyard:
- They like to eat tree nuts from oak, walnut, hickory, beech, chestnut, and basswood trees.
- They enjoy seeds from sunflowers, acorns, berries, and fruit.
- Squirrels are also attracted to suet, peanut butter, and cornmeal.
- If you have a pond or stream nearby, they’ll enjoy fishing for aquatic insects in your backyard!
- They need a nearby shelter, like an abandoned birdhouse or tree cavity.
- You can provide the perfect environment by adding plantings of oak trees and shrubs such as holly and dogwood.
- To attract squirrels, you can also add some brush piles and hollow logs around your yard for shelter.
- They love to dig holes, so you can provide them with mulch or dirt in your backyard.
- There are also several squirrel feeders that you can buy that will allow you to safely feed squirrels in your backyard without any risk of being raided by other animals.
Squirrels are a wonderful addition to the backyard ecosystem, so if you want to attract them into your yard, try implementing these tips and tricks!
What kind of food attracts squirrels?
Squirrels are mostly herbivores feeding on plants and nuts like acorns, walnuts, and butternuts with occasional insectivorous intake.
They do not normally eat meat; however, they will eat carrion and other dead animals if the chance arrives.
In their natural habitat, they mostly feed on:
trees such as beech mast, acorns, walnuts, pine seedlings, and other plant parts like flowers and fruits; nuts; fungi; insects, and larvae.
Squirrels are largely dependent on food availability and prefer forest-like or woodsy areas in nature with tall trees.
If you want to attract squirrels into your yard, you can make it more attractive by planting a variety of fruit and nut-bearing trees as well as other flora that attracts other wildlife, such as a birdfeeder!
Planting food for them to eat will help attract squirrels to your backyard. Choose what type of trees you plant carefully. Try planting berry-producing bushes, nut-bearing trees such as:
- oaks;
- walnuts;
- hickory trees.
They like areas that have lots of foliage for them to hide and nest in. Plant the trees far enough apart so that there is a decent amount of shade, but not too far apart where they cannot reach each other.
Try to plant your trees in an area where both sunlight and water can easily be found as well.
Squirrels will also eat suet if they have easy access to it, so placing a suet feeder in your yard might also be a good idea.
Make sure that you keep your birdfeeders well-stocked with seed, as this will add to the attractiveness of your yard as it will attract other birds, which will attract squirrels.
What colors attract squirrels?
The color red is a great way to attract squirrels. The bright and bold color will make it more likely for the animal to come close to your yard.
Beyond red, squirrels are also attracted by the color green. Fake foliage plants near your feeders will make it more likely for a squirrel to want to come onto the property.
In addition, try hanging some bird feeders with green items in them like artificial grapes or berries. These colors and items will help you lure in squirrels for feeding and viewing.
Is it bad to have squirrels in your yard?
Most people think it’s bad to have squirrels in their yard because squirrels dig holes, ruin garden/flower beds, and eat up plants.
However, this can be prevented if you manage to attract squirrels into your yard and feed them!
Squirrels are not harmful! The only time a squirrel might become a pest is when it enters your house – otherwise, they’re just looking for food.
In fact, squirrels can be beneficial to your yard as they will help pollinate flowers and trees.
They will also eat harmful bugs and weeds that are in your yard.
However, you might want to keep them out if they start eating food that you have stored for yourself or pets/livestock!
If you want to get rid of them, just put away any bird feeders or scraps in your house. Try using a motion-controlled sprinkler or an ultrasonic repellent.
How do you get a squirrel to come close to you?
For a squirrel to come close to you, you will need to keep some food in your hands, such as peanuts, sunflower seeds, and seed blocks.
Try peanut butter with sunflower seeds mixed in or sunflower seeds alone.
If you don’t have any, then bread and cheese will do!
Bread and cheese (or peanut butter) are one of the most popular ways to attract squirrels, especially in urban areas where there aren’t many natural food sources available for them to eat.
When they smell your food, they will approach you and eat it out of your hand!
However, be careful not to stay near them for too long because squirrels are known to carry diseases like rabies!
What should you do if a squirrel bites you?
If a squirrel bites you, then gently pull your hand away and immediately wash the wound with soap and water.
It’s recommended to go see a doctor in case the bite becomes swollen or infected!
You can also contact animal control or the health department for information regarding rabies, as squirrels can carry the rabies virus.
What are some squirrel facts that you might find interesting?
Squirrels are very quick, and when attacked, they will roll into a ball so that their sharp teeth can’t be used against them!
They have great balance and can easily run along branches while holding food with their front legs!
They have great eyesight, hearing, and smell, which help them survive.
If they sense danger nearby, then they will warn the rest of their group by making a specific noise that only other squirrels can hear!
Their teeth are constantly growing because once they fall out, new ones grow in to replace them!
They have great memories and can remember places that they found food at for up to a year!
Their back legs are longer than their front, which is why they have such great balance.
Do you want to know more about squirrels? Maybe you just want some fascinating facts or even how to get rid of them if they are causing trouble. Whatever the case may be, you will find all of that and more right here!
