Do you like to feed your birds? Do you have a bird feeder in your yard? If so, you’ve probably seen squirrels hanging around the feeder. You may be wondering, ‘can squirrels eat bread?’
Perhaps they’re nosy and want to see what other birds are eating, or maybe they’ve spotted the birdseed and think it’s an easy way to get some food. Whatever their reason, they seem to enjoy storing up birdseed.
Quick Answer
Squirrels love nuts, especially walnuts. They also love bread. Although not nutty enough for them (we think). Too much bread is bad for squirrels.
When it comes to feeding squirrels, is bread bad for them? Let’s take a look at what the evidence says in this article.
What You Need to Know About Squirrels and Bread
Like humans, squirrels are omnivores that eat both plants and animals. In order to get enough nutrients, squirrels will eat a variety of different foods.
Some, like bread, are relatively high in calories and fat, which can pose a health risk for them. Like fruits and veggies, others are low in calories and fat, which means less to eat for other creatures, like birds that like to feed them.
Should You Feed Squirrels Bread?
No. Although feeding bread to squirrels (they really love it) might seem like a great idea, it poses serious health risks.
Bread is not a nut. It’s made of flour and water and is low in protein, calcium, vitamins, and minerals that are important to squirrels.
Bread is also relatively high in sugar, with white bread containing up to 100 g of sugar per serving, which is a lot for squirrels. And what about the crumbs that fall on the ground?
Think about how squirrels are naturally supposed to eat. They’re small, so they can eat right up next to the feeder. But now, imagine putting your face right next to the feeder, then leaning back to drink the birdseed that you’ve been soaking in.
These crumbs could cause a lot of health problems for your squirrels.
Diet is just one of the many factors that go into health and well-being in any creature, so offering them bad food can have serious consequences.
Why is Bread Bad for Squirrels?
Bread is bad for squirrels because it poses nutritional deficiencies, can lead to obesity, and if squirrels eat too much of it, it could lead to some serious gastrointestinal issues.
Nutritional deficiencies can occur due to a lack of certain nutrients in the diet, which typically causes them to be deficient first.
But too much of a certain bad thing can also result in nutritional deficiencies. This is called toxicity, and it’s what happens when a certain level of a certain nutrient is consumed. Too much can cause health problems.
If you’ve ever noticed squirrels raiding your bird feeder, you might have noticed that they tend to eat seeds at least twice a day. Although you might have thought they were getting some extra food, the truth is that they’re getting a nutritious meal.
What’s really going on is that when a squirrel eats seeds, they’re eating the kernel’s outer hull or the endosperm.
The kernel is what most of us eat and find in cereal, bread, and other baked goods. When a squirrel eats the kernel, they get the protein and carbohydrates found in the endosperm.
Endosperm is a nutritious part of the seed that contains oils and proteins essential for a squirrel’s survival, and it’s also a great source of energy for us humans.
Other Foods squirrels Might Enjoy
If you’re determined to feed the squirrels bread, but you don’t want to mess with the risks of a sugary diet, squirrels might enjoy some alternative treats.
– Corn is a good alternative, and it’s easy to find at your local grocery store. But be careful. Corn is a very high-carbohydrate food and can lead to obesity and other diseases.
– Fruit, especially apples and pears, are a good alternative as well. Again, be careful because fruit is also high in carbohydrates, and like bread, it can lead to obesity and other diseases.
While not as sugary as bread, nuts are still high in water and carbohydrates. Again, be careful because nuts are also high in minerals and fats, making them a high-calorie treat.
– Cereal is a good alternative to bread, and it comes in many varieties. You can find oat cereal, wheat cereal, corn cereal, etc. Again, be careful because cereal is also a high-carbohydrate treat.
Can squirrels eat bread: Conclusion
The bottom line is that feeding squirrels bread is bad for them, and there are plenty of other options to feed them that also pose a less nutritional risk.
If you want to feed your squirrels something other than birdseed, try offering them some natural fruits, veggies, or nuts. These are all nutritionally rich foods that squirrels will appreciate.
Related Article: When Are Squirrels Most Active?