Love Squirrels? Here’s How to Support Them

From eating your garden to knocking over bird feeders, squirrels are definitely a precocious bunch. But for every bit of mischief they get into, we can’t help but love them. From their silly antics to their adorable expressions and fluffy tails, what’s not to love? Show your love for these fluffy critters with the following squirrel care tips:

Hang a Squirrel Feeder with Their Favorite Foods

You may have heard a lot about squirrel-proof bird feeders, but what about squirrel feeders? Not only will they keep squirrels away from your bird feeders, but it helps them store up food for a cold winter. Plus, you get the added benefit of hanging them in eyesight of a window and watching them play!

With so many squirrel feeders for sale, which type should you choose? Here are some popular types of squirrel feeders:

Table & Chair. Mount a corn cob on the “table” of this cute feeder and watch your squirrel friends pull up a chair and help themselves! Our Recycled Poly Squirrel Feeder Table & Chair easily mounts to a trees, posts, and walls.

Snack Box. Invite squirrels to help themselves with a snack box that has an easy-lift lid like our Squirrel Feeder Snack Box. Prefer red cedar? Our Squirrel Munch Box has a similar functionality and construct, but with a natural cedar finish.

Swing. Squirrels are known for their acrobatics, so why not enjoy a little show with our Squirrel Feeder Swing? This cute, squirrel-sized porch swing has a spike for mounting corn cobs, and a base that holds bird seed. Hang it from a hook or tree branch; it’s zinc-plated chains make mounting easy and secure.

Squngee. Like a bungee jump, but for squirrels! Our Squngee Deluxe squirrel feeder holds one or more corn cobs. When a squirrel jumps on the cob, watch the Squngee bounce the squirrel back and forth as he feeds on one of his favorite snacks.

Standard. With its straightforward design that includes a landing platform and two spikes for corn cobs or fruit, our standard Squirrel Feeder mounts to trees and fence posts in minutes.

What should you put in your squirrel feeder?

You may be wondering, “What do squirrels eat?” Here’s a list of squirrel-friendly food to use in your new feeder:

• Corn cobs
• Sunflower seeds
• Peanuts
• Acorns
• Pecans
• Walnuts
• Pine nuts
• Hazelnuts
• Beech nuts
• Macadamia nuts
• Squash
• Broccoli
• Apples
• Oranges
• Apricots
• Avocados

Know What to Do with a Sick or Injured Squirrel

If you come across a sick or injured squirrel, it’s important to know how to get it help properly. Here are some steps to protect both yourself and the injured squirrel when seeking to rescue it:

1. Wear thick gloves.
2. Use a box with ventilation holes and place the open top over the squirrel without touching it.
3. Place a piece of flat cardboard under the box and slowly and gently moved it until it’s under the injured squirrel.
4. Slowly rotate the box until the piece of cardboard is on top of the box, with the squirrel inside. Secure the box while keeping the ventilation holes unblocked.
5. Call the wildlife rehabilitator in your area.

If you find an orphaned baby squirrel

If you see a baby squirrel on the ground and don’t see a parent around, its likely that it has fallen out of its nest or a tree. If alive, the mother will look for her baby. If the baby looks uninjured, leave it where it is and keep people and pets away. From a safe distance, watch the baby to see if the mother returns. If she doesn’t return that same day, the squirrel may be orphaned, or the mother may not be able to find the baby. In this case, contact your local wildlife rehabilitator immediately.

If it’s cold outside, follow these steps to keep the baby squirrel comfortable until wildlife professionals can take over:

1. Wear thick gloves.
2. Get a cardboard box without a top and line it in warm, thick fabric (like a fleece scarf or similar).
3. If it’s cold outside, place a hot water bottle or a heating pad set to low underneath the cloth (careful not to burn or overheat the baby).
4. Gently pick up the baby squirrel(s) and place them in the open box on top of the cloth.
5. Place the box with the squirrel inside a carrier.

Read More About Squirrels

Learn more about these fun and frisky critters on our Squirrels page.