Do Squirrels Eat Apples? What Fruits Can Squirrels Safely Eat?

Do Squirrels Eat Apples? What Fruits Can Squirrels Safely Eat?

What Do Squirrels Eat?

Squirrels are omnivores, which means they eat both plant and animal matter. Their diets consist primarily of seeds, nuts, acorns, fruits, fungi, and sometimes insects. Some common foods squirrels enjoy include:

  • Acorns
  • Nuts (like pecans, almonds, walnuts)
  • Seeds (like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds)
  • Fruits (like berries, apples, pears, peaches)
  • Vegetables (like corn, root vegetables)
  • Mushrooms
  • Insects (like caterpillars, beetles, grasshoppers)
  • Eggs and baby birds

Squirrels are adaptive foragers and will eat a wide variety of foods depending on what is available seasonally in their habitat. This includes cultivated crops and orchard fruits.

Do Squirrels Eat Apples?

Yes, squirrels definitely enjoy eating apples! Apples are a nutritious treat that squirrels actively seek out in orchards and backyards where apple trees grow. Several features that make apples an appetizing food source for squirrels include:

  • Sweet taste – Squirrels have a natural preference for sweet foods like fruits.
  • Convenient size – Whole apples or pieces of apple are a perfect bite-sized snack.
  • High water content – Apples provide hydration which is important for squirrels.
  • Nutritional value – Apples contain carbohydrates, vitamin C, fiber, and some protein.

In autumn when apples ripen and fall from trees, squirrels will eagerly gather and eat them. Squirrels alsosample apples still growing on branches. Their sharp teeth make it easy for them to bite into apple flesh.

What Types of Apples Do Squirrels Prefer?

Squirrels will eat most any variety of apple. However, sweeter apple cultivars seem to be favorites. Some apples squirrels especially relish include:

  • Fuji – Sweet, crispy, and juicy.
  • Honeycrisp – Very sweet and crisp texture.
  • Gala – Mildly sweet flavor and aroma.
  • Red Delicious – Classic sweet apple.
  • Golden Delicious – Sweet with tender soft flesh.

Tart apple varieties like Granny Smith may not attract as many squirrels. But in general, any ripe apple will interest a hungry squirrel!

What’s the Best Way to Feed Apples to Squirrels?

If you’d like to intentionally feed apples to squirrels, here are some tips:

  • Cut the apple into small slices or pieces for easy eating.
  • Skewer apple slices on sticks or pinecones and hang near trees.
  • Chop apples into a bowl placed on the ground in your yard.
  • Stick apple slices directly on branches or wedged in forked sticks on trees.
  • Spread out cut apples across a raised platform or tray feeder.

Be sure to remove any uneaten fresh apple pieces within a day so they don’t rot and attract insects. Dried apple slices can be left out a bit longer.

Benefits of Feeding Squirrels Apples

Offering apples can actually provide some benefits for local squirrels including:

  • Supplemental nutrition – Extra fruit helps ensure squirrels get adequate carbohydrates and key vitamins.
  • Prevention of malnutrition – Apples may help improve nutrition during winter when fewer natural foods are available.
  • Hydration – Apple flesh provides a water source which helps squirrels stay hydrated.

Squirrels also just seem to enjoy eating refreshing fruits like apples!

Risks of Feeding Squirrels Apples

While apples pose minimal risk, there are a few things to keep in mind when feeding them to squirrels:

  • Avoid moldy or rotten apples which could make squirrels sick.
  • Wash apples to remove residues if not organic.
  • Introduce new foods like apples gradually in case they cause diarrhea.
  • Feed apples in moderation along with other foods.
  • Slice apples into small pieces to prevent choking hazard.
  • Keep apple feeding areas clean to avoid contamination.

Do Wild Squirrels Need Apple Handouts?

In most cases, healthy wild squirrels do not need supplemental feeding from humans. Squirrels have survived for ages without handouts by foraging, caching foods, and adapting their diets with the seasons. However, extra treats like apples may be appreciated, especially when natural food sources are scarce.

Before offering apples, consider the quantity of natural foods available. If the squirrel population seems undernourished, a few apple snacks can provide a wholesome boost without causing dependency. Just be sure to practice responsible feeding!

So in summary – yes, squirrels absolutely love munching on sweet, juicy apples! It’s fine to share some apple treats, but likewise appreciate squirrels for the resilient foragers they are.