Most people have a soft spot for animals like squirrels, and it’s easy to understand why – squirrels are simply adorable. Some squirrel fans are not simply satisfied with watching these little hairy critters in action – they want to make friends with them. And what better way to do that than to offer them food that makes them want to come closer?
If you’ve been trying to make friends with a cute squirrel nearby, you may be wondering whether you can use apples to attract them. So, can squirrels eat apples?
The answer to this one is simple. Squirrels love apples. The fact that they are a little harder to obtain than peanuts may make them even more attractive to squirrels.
Besides, being bright, sweet fruits can also make them all the more desirable to squirrels. It’s, however, not a good idea to offer apples or other similar sweet treats to squirrels too frequently. That’s in consideration that the high sugar content can be damaging to their health.
A squirrel’s healthy diet should include nuts and seeds, with fruit and other foods coming in as occasional meals or snacks.
As we dive deeper into this article, you will learn more about the health benefits of apples – if any – to squirrels, feeding ideas, and other related topics.
Do squirrels naturally like eating apples?
Before answering this question, it would be a great idea to know more about the natural diet of squirrels while in the wild.
Squirrels are omnivores and apart from that, they also have a reputation for being scavengers. That’s why they are commonly seen gathering leftovers from their prey that other animals may have missed, including fruits, insects, and other such forms of food.
True enough, this also includes apples. Squirrels love eating apples and destroying unused fruit can be a fairly amusing activity for them as well. You may wonder why squirrels go after apples in the first place.
The answer is quite simple: the sweetness and crunchiness of the fruits. In truth, squirrels have a liking for almost any sweet fruit that they can find.
Are apples healthy for squirrels?
Now that you know more about the natural diet of squirrels, it’s high time to ask whether apples are good for them. Health-wise, apples can be very beneficial to squirrels. Apples contain Vitamin A, which can promote a squirrel’s eyesight, enhance the health of their respiratory system, and ensure that their productive health is at its best.
In addition, apples also contain Vitamin B, and C, which will improve the squirrels’ immune systems and help them get stronger with each passing day. As if that is not enough, apples also contain minerals such as Magnesium, Phosphorous, and Calcium, all of which promote bone strength and health.
Calcium is one of the most important nutrients that apples contain, taking into consideration that it enhances the lifetime growth of teeth in squirrels.
If therefore, you have been wondering whether apples can make good treats for squirrels, then you should be happy to find out that they are excellent treats.
Are there downsides to feeding squirrels apples?
Having read this far, you already are aware that apples have a great nutritional value to squirrels when offered as a treat. However, you don’t want to offer apples to squirrels so regularly, as this can be counterproductive.
When it comes to making sure that apples are beneficial to a squirrel’s health, the key lies in moderation. There are various reasons why that is the case. The first reason is that apples contain high sugar content. You might be wondering why that sugar is an issue, given that it’s natural and as such, will only boost their energy.
Well, one thing to keep in mind si that squirrels are already energetic. As such, giving them too many apples will only make them hyper-excited. Depending on how many apples they feed on, their blood pressure could eventually spike, and that’s not in any way healthy.
What’s more, the fibre content from eating a lot of apples is excessive compared to what squirrels need, and thus can cause issues when it comes to digestion. As such, if you have to offer apples to the squirrels in your yard, be sure to do it with caution. You can give them several slices twice a week just to keep them coming.
How to feed apples to squirrels
Before giving apples or any other fruit or vegetables to squirrels, you will want to first wash the fruits thoroughly.
It’s recommended that you soak non-organic apples in lukewarm water for approximately 5 minutes before using fresh water to wash them. For organic apples, a simple thorough wash should do.
After you have washed the fruit, you will want to peel the non-organic apples to get rid of any pesticides or insecticides that, despite not being dangerous to humans can be lethal in their smallest amounts to squirrels. Organic apples are, however, good to feed with the skin on. Be sure to cut all apples – organic or non-organic – through the middle to remove the seeds.
After readying the apples, the feeding process will depend on your relationship with the squirrels. If you have not already established a relationship with the squirrels, throw the chopped apples around the yard and give the squirrels some distance as they feed. As time goes on, your relationship with them should grow to a point where they are comfortable eating straight from your hand.
Do Squirrels Eat Apples?: Conclusion
After reading this article, you now know that squirrels can indeed eat apples. If you’ve decided to feed the squirrels in your neighbourhood to try and develop a relationship with them, you can go ahead and do so with much joy.
Just be sure to practice moderation in your feeding plan and offer them the freshest apples you can find. Squirrels naturally eat nuts and can even plant trees by burying nuts for the winter and forgetting about them.
Whatever your reason for feeding apples to squirrels is, we hope that this article has been able to provide you with the information that you need.
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