You can enjoy visits from squirrels without causing problems for your yard or the animals themselves. Feed them small amounts of plain, unsalted nuts, seeds, fruits, or veggies at a set spot and time—this helps keep them healthy and avoids dependence.
Honestly, the best way to feed squirrels is to stick with natural, unprocessed foods and only offer them in moderation. Set up a dedicated feeding area to limit the mess and keep other wildlife from crowding in.
You’ll find out which foods are actually safe, how to put together a simple feeding station, and a few easy tips to make the whole thing fun—and responsible—for both you and the squirrels.
What’s the Best Way to Feed Squirrels?
If you want to feed squirrels safely, try to match their natural diet. Offer the right foods, and skip anything that might harm them.
Squirrels need high-calorie nuts and seeds, plus a little fresh fruit or veggie now and then. Pick a clean, sheltered spot for feeding—that keeps pests away and makes cleanup easier.
Essential Squirrel Nutrition and Diet
Squirrels need fats, carbs, and a bit of protein. High-fat nuts like walnuts and pecans give them energy, especially when it’s cold or they’re super active.
Black oil sunflower seeds pack a lot of calories and are easy for squirrels to eat or stash. You should offer food that’s close to what they find in nature: nuts in the shell, tree seeds, berries, and maybe even some fungi or insects.
Keep some fresh water nearby, especially in hot or dry weather. Try to keep portions small so they’ll still forage and won’t just rely on you.
Let them work for food sometimes—scatter nuts or use ones in the shell so they stay busy and get some exercise.
Best Foods to Offer Squirrels
Give them unsalted nuts in the shell—walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts are all great. Plain peanuts are okay once in a while. Black oil sunflower seeds are a solid pick since they’re calorie-dense and easy to eat.
Offer raw pumpkin seeds, unsalted corn kernels, and a little bit of fresh veggies like carrots or squash. Fruits like apple slices work in moderation, but take out the seeds and cut them up small.
Use platform feeders or shallow trays to keep food dry and easy to reach. Switch things up—maybe nuts one day, seeds or veggies the next.
Buy bulk unsalted options if you want to save money and cut down on packaging. Don’t go overboard with treats; aim for a mix that matches what they’d eat in the wild.
Foods to Avoid When Feeding Squirrels
Skip salted, roasted, or flavored nuts. Don’t give them processed snacks, bread, chips, or candy—they’re missing nutrients and can even cause health issues.
Chocolate, onions, and garlic can be toxic or mess with their digestion, so leave those out. Avoid cow’s milk and dairy; they can cause diarrhea.
Don’t feed raw beans, unprocessed potato peels, or anything moldy. Limit high-sugar fruits and never give fruit seeds—apple seeds have a bit of cyanide, so always remove the core.
If you start seeing rats or other pests, stop putting food out for a while and clean up the area. Keeping things tidy and sticking with natural, unseasoned foods helps protect both squirrels and your yard.
Tips and Tools for Safe and Enjoyable Squirrel Feeding
Keep the food simple. Place it where squirrels feel safe, and try not to attract unwanted guests.
Use feeders or natural plantings that fit with squirrel habits. Protect your bird feeders and gardens from getting raided.
Choosing and Placing Squirrel Feeders
Pick a feeder made for squirrels or just use a sturdy platform tray. Metal or heavy wood works best since squirrels love to chew.
If you’re offering nuts, choose a feeder with a shallow dish. For corn or fruit, a wider tray does the trick.
Put feeders 6–10 feet from bird feeders and at least 10 feet from fences or roofs. That way, you cut down on raids and keep squirrels from jumping onto buildings.
Mount feeders on a pole with a baffle about 4–5 feet below the tray to block raccoons. Keep feeders close to trees or branches so squirrels can escape fast, but not so close they can leap to your house.
Clean feeders every week or two. Hot, soapy water works fine—just rinse well to get rid of mold and old food.
Change up feeder spots now and then to stop pests and keep droppings from piling up in one place.
Balancing Squirrel Feeding with Bird Attraction
If you feed both birds and squirrels, separate their feeding stations by distance and by the type of food. Put bird feeders on poles with squirrel-proof cages and set up squirrel feeders on nearby platforms or lower stations.
This helps cut down on competition and keeps the birds safer. Give birds sunflower seeds and nyjer; offer squirrels unsalted nuts, pumpkin seeds, and fresh fruit.
Don’t put out bread or processed snacks—they attract raccoons and ants, which nobody wants. Use squirrel-proof bird feeders if you’re trying to protect birds.
There are options like weight-sensitive ports and cages. Watch who’s visiting and move feeders if you notice one group taking over. That keeps your yard a bit more balanced and, let’s be honest, a lot cleaner.
Enhancing Your Yard for Squirrels
Try planting food-producing trees and shrubs—oaks, hickories, even sunflower patches. Squirrels go nuts for sunflower seeds, so plant them in groups and leave some seed heads standing through winter.
Give them shelter by adding dense shrubs or piling up some brush for nesting. You could also mount a small, weatherproof box high up in a tree; some squirrels will claim it as a den. Just make sure you don’t put the box where predators can get to it easily.
Water and safety matter, too. Set out a shallow birdbath on a pedestal so squirrels can grab a drink, but avoid deep pooling. Pull out any toxic plants like avocado, and skip the pesticides around their feeding spots if you want to keep them healthy.
