If you are feeding a squirrel, be sure to remove the apple core and the seeds, as they can be deadly if ingested by the squirrel. If given the opportunity, a squirrel will eat the apple – fruit, core, and all. Sometimes, squirrels will eat apples that have begun to rot, which can be dangerous – the fermentation within a rotting fruit is toxic to squirrels. Some squirrels have even been seen eating crab apples. Squirrels eat and enjoy nearly any apple variety, and a squirrel will eat an apple no matter its ripeness. Some of a squirrel’s favorite foods include corn, mushrooms, squash, apples, oranges, apricots, and avocados. Most squirrels are not particular regarding their diet and will eat readily available food. Research has found that grey squirrels even use landmarks to remember where food is stored! Grey squirrels will eat nuts and tree bark but have been known to raid gardens, eating basil, corn, and tomatoes. Grey squirrels will use their heightened sense of smell to relocate a stock as well as their incredible memory. All grey squirrels are hoarders, meaning they will collect and store caches of food for delayed consumption. In North America, there are various grey squirrels, including the Eastern, Western, Arizona, and Mexican grey squirrels. Still, in some cases, particularly in an area with few coniferous trees, red squirrels are known to eat spruce needles, mushrooms, blackberries, and flowers. Denoted as granivores, the red squirrel does not often incorporate other items in its diet. The American red squirrel, sometimes called the pine squirrel, primarily eats the seed and other pulp from pine cones. Foraging is their primary method used to acquire foods, and a flying squirrel’s diet consists of fruits, nuts, and birds’ eggs. Unlike many other squirrels, flying squirrels are primarily nocturnal. Flying Squirrelįlying squirrels achieve their flight by gliding through the air using excess skin that connects their front and hind feet and their long tails to navigate in the air. Ground squirrels are omnivores and often ingest nuts, fruits, seeds, insects, and eggs. Particularly interested in grassy areas, ground squirrels can be found on golf courses, parks, and landscaped backyards. The ground squirrel will regularly sit on its hind legs and hold its front feet at chest level to look over grasstops and be better heard by members of its family. Ground squirrels most often live close to the ground rather than in the trees, thus giving this squirrel its apt name. The four most common squirrels found in backyards include ground, flying, red, and grey squirrels. The type of squirrel in your garden can vary depending on where you live and what foods might be available in your area.
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