What Should You NEVER Feed Squirrels | Nature - Daily Express

TikTok user's dog reacts hilariously to squirrel on the TV

Squirrels have lived in the UK for thousands of years. There are approximately 140,000 red squirrels and 2.5 million grey squirrels in Britain. Red squirrels are a native species in the UK and have lived in the country for around 10,000 with grey squirrels first introduced around the 1800s. But what should you never feed squirrels?

• Sometimes being dim can be sign of real wisdom, says John Ingham
• What you should NEVER feed to garden birds

What should you never feed squirrels?

Squirrels tend to be herbivores, although they are known to feast on the odd bird egg if other foods are in short supply.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

Grey squirrels will adapt to the conditions around them, but they will eat a variety of items.

Grey squirrels particularly enjoy peanuts, hazelnuts, walnuts and almonds.

They tend to eat many items, but the issues with feeding squirrels surround filling them up on foods that have little or no nutritional value, while some foods are outright dangerous.

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: What you should NEVER feed to garden birds

Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT

What should you NEVER feed squirrels: What should you NEVER feed squirrels (Image: GETTY)

What should you NEVER feed squirrels: There are 2.5m grey squirrels in the UK (Image: GETTY)

• What you should never feed to ducks: Six common items including bread

Peanuts

All rodents particularly enjoy peanuts, but they do not have a lot of nutritional value.

Peanuts are not actually nuts and are instead legumes.

This means they do not hold much nutritional value for squirrels.

What should you NEVER feed squirrels: Squirrels have lived in the UK for almost 10,000 years (Image: GETTY)

Junk food

You should not give squirrels salty and sugary snacks.

These have little nutritional value for squirrels.

Squirrels are naturally hyper and sugar can make them even more excitable which is bad for their health.

Other junk food including hot dogs, pizza and more is also bad for squirrels.

DON'T MISSPrince Charles shows animal-loving side in bizarre confession [INSIGHT]Can’t teach an old dog new tricks? No, but you can learn from them [EXPLAINER]Bubonic plague detected in the US - after teen dies from black death [PICTURES]

• Red squirrels to thrive again in Britain as new plan considered
• Grey squirrels should be EATEN to eradicate 'destructive' species

What should you NEVER feed squirrels: There are around 140,000 red squirrels left (Image: GETTY)

• Squirrel who thinks he's Tommy Cooper wins photographer top award

Breakfast cereal

Breakfast cereals do not have much nutritional value for squirrels.

They may enjoy cereal, but it will most likely just fill them up with no real health benefits.

Eating food which fills them up and offers no nutritional value can lead to severe malnutrition.

What should you NEVER feed squirrels: Squirrels should not eat pet food or junk food (Image: GETTY) The day's biggest headlines in UK and World news Subscribe Invalid email

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Get More of Our News on Google

Set Daily Express as a 'Preferred Source' to get quicker access to the news you value.

Pet food

Meats are not part of a squirrels diet which means cat and dog food are usually bad for feeding squirrels.

Squirrels are vegetarian and can actually die from consuming food which has a high meat content.

Corn

Squirrels can eat a little amount of corn cut up into pieces, but as squirrels have a tendency to overeat, they should avoid corn.

Corn turns sour very quickly and can grow mouldy quickly so you should make sure it has not reached this stage before you give it to squirrels.

Mouldy or sour corn can be toxic and even fatal to squirrels.

Other foods you can feed to squirrels include:

• Chopped apples
• Green beans
• Carrots
• Spinach
• Bean sprouts
• Celery

Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments Most Read Most Commented Latest videos UK PlayStation owners could get £162 payouts each RAF jets shoot down kamikaze drones over Middle East in historic first Game of Thrones movie ‘in the works’ with Star Wars screenwriter Yellowstone fans divided over Kayce Dutton's 'new love interest' in Marshals Nigel Farage loses it as France sends warship to defend British base from Iran Anyone with blackbirds in garden urged to 'do this now' in February as virus hits I spent a day caring for rhinos and tigers at a top UK safari park - one thing stunned me Popular UK zoo looking for new staff member - to look after its lions, tigers and jaguars One of UK's biggest zoos looking for new giraffe keeper - and the pay is £26k I helped British birds in my garden by doing one simple thing that anyone can do Major UK company pays £1m after pollution incident left 1,000 fish dead Rare bird spotted in England for first time in over 30 years One of the 'most enchanting' gorges in the UK is ideal for brisk January walk I visited 3,000-acre wildlife sanctuary that will transform British countryside World's biggest spider web spans two countries and houses more than 100k creepy crawlies

Daily Express

Baby beaver born in UK county for first time in 400 years Man leaves experts floored when he drops camera into the ocean Eight foods 'could kill' birds if left out in gardens this winter Nature experts express delight after trail cameras finally capture footage of rare animal Seaside town invaded by thousands of bizarre tiny sea creatures covering 2 miles of beach 5 berries that will make your garden a magnet for birds this winter The rare reason why acorns are everywhere this autumn The tiny abandoned island so remote it's been overrun by bears Giant fish-eating spider surging in numbers in UK - and they are in our homes Households urged to put two fruits on their lawns this winter to help blackbirds Scientists make insane discovery as 'world-record' 750kg 'real-life Jaws' is caught Record-breaking great white shark 'heading towards resort' Tricky animal quiz will test your knowledge of the natural world - take it now ‘Beautiful’ fully feathered dinosaur tail found preserved just like Jurassic Park Teen girl shares ordeal after returning from 4 days in Mount Everest's 'Death Zone' Wildlife park takes photo of koala then something incredible happens Where did all the birds go? The surprising reason UK gardens are so quiet

Daily Express uses notifications to keep you updated

Keep me updated No thanks