Hence, if you feed squirrels, at least make sure that they stay outdoors and that you close your doors properly so that they will not be able to enter your home. Attract a lot of squirrels to your neighborhood and the chances of parasites jumping onto you and your pets and … Many government municipalities forbid the feeding of wildlife, since there are negative consequences involved including feeding squirrels incompatible foods, affecting their migration patterns, increasing human-and-wildlife interaction, and more. Feeding wildlife from or near vehicles is dangerous to animals, people, and property. Not only your own kids can benefit from your squirrel feeding, but also the kids from your neighborhood may want to come over and see those squirrels jumping around in your yard. According to FeedingNature.com, many people love to feed squirrels simply because it brings animals to their property, and feeding them also gives the rodents another source of food during the harsh winter months. Moreover, you also not only have to buy food for them. You also don’t need a squirrel sitter if you want to go on vacation. Some people will say no, while others will say it’s okay. "Wild animals have specialized diets, and they can become malnourished or die if fed the wrong foods. "I hate squirrels. If you decide for feeding squirrels, you can also install an awesome squirrel feeder. Bread is OK for squirrels, but you should stick to feeding them nuts that are good for them. We’ve all seen the typical portrayal of a cute squirrel shoving a peanut in its mouth and hurrying away to his nest. The same is true of squirrels. You should aim to provide a few legumes in a squirrel's daily diet. Also, animals cannot distinguish food from wrappers or foil and can get sick eating these items," the USDA site says. Bender suggests that is all directly related to feeding squirrels. While they are cute to watch, they often also mess up your garden and do some weird things and they will generally not care about the appearance of your garden at all. Healthy seeds for squirrels to eat include poppy seeds, pumpkin seeds, safflower seeds, sesame seeds, and sunflower seeds. However, if you feed squirrels, chances are that they will also enter the yard of your neighbors and your neighbors may get really angry in case there are too many squirrels around due to your feeding activities. So, unless you live in Loveland, Colorado, the decision is yours. This means letting it grow instead of just removing all weeds so that you can provide a natural biotope in your yard and attract local wildlife. Nevertheless, you also have to expect some minor injuries from squirrel feeding sooner or later. This gives your children plenty of opportunities to make new friends and to socialize with other kids in your neighborhood. If they have a bad day and are aggressive, they will often bite you in your finger. Wild squirrels can become dependent on people for food and will lose their fear of people. You may want to reconsider your stance for the following reasons. Another problem with squirrel feeding is that many people also just don’t know what squirrels eat in nature and how to feed them properly. You will soon realize how to attract them and how they behave. Compared to feeding other animals or having your own pets like dogs or cats, squirrels don’t need much and are often happy if you only give them a few nuts a day. Ask most electricians and they'll tell you squirrels and other small rodents like them are responsible for a lot of the damage to wires and insulation in attics. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. In general, you will also be able to learn a lot about nature if you feed squirrels. And they can also do some serious destruction to siding, as well. However, I will not take any responsibility for incorrect information and will not be liable for any negative consequences that might occur due to the reliance on this information. It is actually the first and most important type of nutrition item in their diets. Yet, you can still learn from these experiences and can also better evaluate whether you want to have other pets in the future. After all, we are all mammals, aren't we? Compared to feeding other animals or having your own pets like dogs or cats, squirrels don’t need much and are often happy if you only give them a few nuts a day. However, you will not be legally responsible for squirrels that might come over to your home and if you forget to feed them, they will just get their food from other people. Hence, feeding squirrels can be great for lonely people who barely have any friends or relatives left and are looking for a purpose in life. What not to feed squirrels Image © Deposit Photos As previously mentioned, squirrels are opportunistic feeders, so they are not picky eaters but will eat almost anything that they come in contact with while hungry. Ground feeders and any feeder not well protected from squirrels was filled with safflower, a food they are not supposed to like. In fact, they often feel pretty comfortable in the attic and if you are not careful, you will just have many squirrels inside your four walls which can greatly damage your home. Many people, including wildlife experts, don't think it's a great idea, for a variety of reasons. If youre like us, then you absolutely love feeding squirrels. Another benefit of feeding squirrels is that they simply don’t need that much food. For many people, squirrels are more than just wild animals. This means that they will get up pretty early in the morning or even wake you up in the middle of the night by jumping around on your porch. The best compromise, the Humane Society says, is to give a little for the squirrels and more for the birds. Yes, you can. You can feed squirrels if you want to, but try to be neutral about it. Animals are smart and once they see that you feed them, they will likely come back for a quite long time and will expect that you feed them. But still, befriending squirrels can be problematic because they can lose their innate fear of humans and become aggressive. … Your neighbor may just offer better food than you or provide a better overall habitat for squirrels. Consequently, not only you will profit from feeding squirrels. If generous humans do manage to keep the food supply steady, the happy, lazy squirrels go out and inform their squirrel friends that they've discovered a food paradise. Squirrels are wild animals that live their best lives in the wild, rather than being kept as pets.If you find a baby squirrel that you’re sure needs care, contact a wildlife rehabilitator first to get expert guidance.Prepare a rehydrating solution or milk replacement formula as advised, and feed the squirrel slowly, carefully, and frequently as directed. Compared to owning a pet, you will also not have the same level of responsibility for your little friends. This is not only good for squirrels, but you can also give many other animals and plants a home if you design your garden in a natural manner.