what to feed a flying squirrel

Flying squirrels have been known to eat the following variety of foods:

• Seeds
• Nuts
• Pinecones
• Mushrooms
• Acorns
• Truffles
• Various plant matter
• Lichen
• Fruit
• Eggs
• Small birds
• Small rodents
• Decaying animals

Full Answer

What is the cheapest food you can feed a squirrel?

You can also feed the squirrels loose corn either on a tray or inside a box feeder. Dried corn is incredibly inexpensive IF you can purchase it from a farm supply store.

What kind of fruit and vegetables should you feed a squirrel?

You can get your local squirrels used to eating veggies by feeding them small amounts of raw fruits and vegetables. Many squirrels love to eat apples, peas, watermelon, grapes, broccoli and yellow squash . However, it's important to go easy on the fruit because it can reduce a squirrel's ability to absorb calcium.

What food can I give to a squirrel?

What To Feed Wild Squirrels

• Dried Corn. If you are feeding the squirrels in your backyard then dried corn is the most affordable food choice.
• Peanuts (Roasted or Raw) Peanuts are another great choice for feeding squirrels but there are a few things you need to be aware of before you start feeding them.
• Pecans and Walnuts In The Shell. ...
• Birdseed. ...
• Pumpkin and Pumpkin Seeds. ...

Why feeding squirrels can be dangerous?

Why feeding squirrels can be dangerous. When squirrels, whether native or not, becomes dependent on humans for food, they can lose the instinct to feed themselves and lose their fear of humans An area overpopulated with squirrels can mean an increase in diseases (like Lyme disease) that can be transmitted to pets, humans and other rodents (like more squirrels).

What do you feed a pet flying squirrel?

In captivity, they do well with a varied diet that can include nuts (pine nuts, pecans, walnuts, acorns, hickory nuts), seeds (pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds), birdseed mixes, hamster pellets, mealworms, moths, waxworms, and a variety of fresh veggies (corn, sweet potatoes, mushrooms).

What fruit do flying squirrels eat?

Fruits. In the wild, flying squirrels are opportunistic foragers, and will eat fruit growing in their environment. For southern flying squirrels, this may include berries, pears, apples or plums.

What to feed northern flying squirrels?

Northern flying squirrels have a typical squirrel diet. They eat nuts, acorns, fungi, and lichens, supplemented by fruits, buds, sap and the occasional insect and bird egg. Northern flying squirrels differ from many squirrels in that lichens and fungi are a large portion of the diet and are not just supplements.

What do flying squirrels drink?

Water can be placed in a water bottle or a small dish, and either needs to be washed each time water is refilled. Offer commercial squirrel or hamster food daily, as well as fresh fruits, nuts and seed. Hard nuts such as pecans and walnuts will help keep his teeth from getting too long.

Do flying squirrels eat carrots?

At least 40% of their diet should be fresh fruit to keep their digestive system working smoothly. Fresh fruits may include apples, grapes, oranges, peaches, pears or plums. Other foods that may be included in their diet are carrots, mealworms and sunflower seeds.

Do flying squirrels eat lettuce?

Flying Squirrels like eating all types of vegetables; they will enjoy lettuce, tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, and much more.

Can flying squirrels eat bananas?

Pine nuts, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed, pecans, walnuts, acorns, berries, broccoli, white clover flowers, corn, sweet potatoes, portabello mushrooms, etc are some of the favorite food items of a flying squirrel. They also love fresh fruits including bananas.

Can I keep a flying squirrel as a pet?

The following states do not allow residents to keep flying squirrels as pets: Alabama, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, Utah (Southern Flying Squirrels are banned), Vermont and Virginia.

Can flying squirrels eat celery?

Squirrels will also eat other delicious veggies such as tomatoes, radishes, corn, squash, beans, corn, peas, root vegetables, greens (such as beet greens and the greens of any root vegetables), okra, eggplant, brusssell sprouts, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, celery, cauliflower, cabbage, leeks–basically ...

Do flying squirrels like peanuts?

With over 200 species of squirrels, including grey tree squirrels, red tree squirrels, ground squirrels, fox squirrels, flying squirrels, striped squirrels, and black squirrels....Squirrel Feeding Guide.FoodNutritional ValueCornOkayCheeseOkayHickory NutsGreatPeanuts, rawBad (never feed squirrels raw peanuts)23 more rows

How do you tame a flying squirrel?

Encourage your flying squirrel to ride in your sleeves or climb under your shirt to bond with your scent and familiarize itself with you. Reward your flying squirrel for interacting with you by feeding it snacks such as small nuts after putting it back into its cage.

What do flyers eat?

In the wild, flyers eat insects such as cicadas, crickets, grasshoppers, grubs, and moths. If you're caring for a rescue, you can offer insects that are readily available for reptiles in most pet stores. Look for mealworms or wax worms. Freeze dried crickets or mealworms are also an easy alternative - as are hard boiled eggs.

What do possums eat?

Flyers get their Vitamin D by dining on mushrooms and other fungus including truffles when in the wild. A rescue possum can eat portobellos as well as other mushrooms safe for human consumption.

Why do flyers chew on trees?

Trees provide an important source of nutrients and chewing on their branches helps flyers maintain healthy teeth. Always provide clean, young branches untreated by pesticides. You can also offer the sap, lichens, flowers, buds, and fruits. Always use the trees and plants listed in the below safe foods for flyers graphic.

Can squirrels eat a balanced diet?

Variety is key! We can never replicate the perfect balanced diet for any species of squirrel. There are many factors such as geographical range, time of year and the lack of research available on the nutritional needs of flying squirrels. The best we can do is provide local natural foods supplemented with a wide variety of items we can purchase in pet and grocery stores.

Do flying squirrels need a block?

Unlike tree squirrels, flying squirrels require a special type of block designed specifically for their nocturnal needs. We highly recommend specialty block like Henry’s Healthy Pet Block for Flying Squirrels, but remember, even this should be regularly supplemented with a healthy mix of fruits & veggies.

What to feed squirrels if you can't beat them?

If you can’t beat squirrels, feed them corn and nuts.

How to keep squirrels away from my garden?

One of the best ways to keep squirrels (and other wild critters) away from your gardens and feeders is to establish a feeding space just for them. Tammi places spoiled apples, corncobs and other unprocessed foods underneath a pear tree.

What squirrel holds a nut in its paws?

An American red squirrel holds a nut in its paws.

Do squirrels like nuts?

The stereotypes are indeed true—squirrels love nuts. They enjoy eating most nuts, but Nichole recommends large varieties. Set out nuts with the shells still on to maximize their benefit for the squirrels (the gnawing keeps their teeth healthy) and the viewing fun for you. Birds love peanuts, too!

Do urban tree squirrels live?

Urban tree squirrels live and look for food almost everywhere. So instead of waging a war you will not win, perhaps it’s time to learn what to feed squirrels, and how to live peacefully alongside the furry creatures.

What do squirrels eat?

Most urban squirrels survive periods of food shortage by being highly opportunistic feeders. These squirrels will happily eat cookies, cake, and ice cream. These ‘people foods’ are not particularly good for people, and even less so for squirrels.

How to decide on a squirrel's diet?

In summary, when deciding the diet for any captive squirrel, you must first know its specie and natural history to fully understand the types of foods its body is adapted for and present those foods as naturally as possible so that the animal can demonstrate normal food seeking and storage behaviors.

How do squirrels survive?

Another survival strategy that has serves wild squirrels well is to eat a lot in times of plenty to build fat store that help them survive through lean times. This tenancy, along with lack of exercise, can result in very fat captive squirrels.

Do squirrels urinate on water?

All food and water left over from the prior day should be discarded and replaced with fresh since some squirrels will urinate on their food or water making it unfit for consumption.

Is Squirrel Refuge accurate?

Squirrel Refuge makes every effort to publish accurate information. It is your responsibility to verify the accuracy of all information, claims, and advice before taking any action that may cause harm to your pet or wildlife in your care. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us.

Do squirrels eat rodents?

Unfortunately, most squirrels wont eat rodent block unless they are raised on it and even then will snub it over almost any other food you offer them.

What do flying squirrels eat?

In the wild, they eat acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts, pine nuts (and pine cones), lichens (that stuff that grows on the side of the trees that looks like fungus), fruits, tree bark and buds. They also like to occasionally catch beetles, larvae and grubs.

What is the best formula for squirrels?

Squirrels require 30% to 40% fat content in their diet! The ABSOLUTE BEST choices of formula for infant squirrels are Esbilac or GOAT ’S MILK ESBILAC. These are puppy’s milk replacers, and closely resemble the components of a flying squirrel's mother's milk.

How to tell if a squirrel is a squirrel?

#2) AGE: You can guess-timate the age of the squirrel by looking at these factors: 1 No dark pigment, skin is primarily pink in color, the infant is probably 1 to 1 & 1/2 weeks old. 2 If the infant has no fur yet, but does have darkened pigment to the skin, eyes and ears still closed, then it is probably 2 to 2 1/2 weeks old. 3 "Peach fuzz" fur starting to develop, eyes still closed, ears starting to pull away from the head, the Infant is probably 3 to 3 1/2 weeks old. 4 Tail starts to develop hairs that stand out from the "pencil" tail at about 3 1/2 to 4 weeks. 5 Eyes open at approximately 4 1/2 to 5 weeks in Flyers, Fox, and Gray squirrels. 6 The tail starts to "spread out" with fur and look more flat at about 5 weeks. 7 By 6th week the baby flyer starts to look like a miniature adult flying squirrel, and becomes more active in the evening/night hours. 8 By the 7th week, the baby will look and try to act like a small adult.

What should a squirrel cage be made of?

An ideal cage for longer term housing should be made from hardware cloth.

How to heat a baby flying squirrel?

Infant flying squirrels younger than 5 weeks, do not produce their own body heat, they need a heating pad, set on LOW setting. Place a bath towel, folded to make about a 1 to 1 1/2 inch thickness and put it on the heating pad. Now, place a box on top of the towel.

What to add to regular feeding?

Start adding a variety of nuts, fruits and vegetables (listed below) to regular feeding)

When do squirrels open their eyes?

Eyes open at approximately 4 1/2 to 5 weeks in Flyers, Fox, and Gray squirrels. The tail starts to "spread out" with fur and look more flat at about 5 weeks. By 6th week the baby flyer starts to look like a miniature adult flying squirrel, and becomes more active in the evening/night hours. By the 7th week, the baby will look ...

What do squirrels eat?

Here’s how to do it. Flying squirrels can be attracted to platform feeders with bird feed, including suet, sunflowers and peanuts. (Photo by Jerry Davis) Every now and then it is good to consider trying a new outdoors activity. Fish for brook trout where they are likely to be.

How to keep a small feeder from a tree?

Build a tiny platform feeder, 4 by 6 inches, add a half-inch railing to keep the food contained and attach the feeder to a tree, about 6 feet up or more. Check the feeder with a flashlight or yard light from the house. It is sometimes helpful to tap a metal object with another metal to alert these inquisitive animals.

How many species of squirrels are there in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin has four species of tree squirrels, three of which are huntable species, including the tiny red (pine) squirrel. In addition to gray and fox squirrels, Wisconsin is home to a few populations of northern flying squirrels and the more common southern flying squirrels in most of the state.

Do squirrels live in woods?

If someone lives near woods, these squirrels are probably living there and can be attracted by putting any type of bird feed out at dusk, when the birds and bigger tree squirrels are holed up in a next or hollow tree.

What do squirrels eat?

In the wild, southern flying squirrels eat a variety of nuts, seeds, fruits, and insects. In captivity, they do well with a varied diet that can include : A variety of fresh veggies (corn, sweet potatoes, and portabello mushrooms are popular) and fruit (oranges provide calcium)

What is the best wheel for squirrels?

A running wheel is good to provide for exercise. A solid-surface wheel is the safest choice for flying squirrels because of their long tails.

Why do squirrels sleep in their pouches?

Bonding pouches are essential in helping create a strong attachment between an owner and a southern flying squirrel and are often used throughout the life of the squirrel. Even though they are primarily nocturnal, southern flying squirrels can spend an entire day sleeping in an owner's pouch or pocket.

How tall should a squirrel cage be?

The floor space of two feet by two feet is adequate. The minimum height should be 3 feet tall, but 5 or 6 feet tall is better.

What is the smallest squirrel?

Southern flying squirrels are the smallest of the tree squirrels. Their northern cousins, a larger species, are also kept as pets. Southern flying squirrels are primarily nocturnal with large, round eyes that help them see at night.

Can you keep a flying squirrel as a pet?

Check the legality of keeping southern flying squirrels as pets as the laws vary and change over time. As of 2017, flying squirrels were legal to keep as pets in Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Washington.

Do Southern Flying Squirrels like their owners?

Like sugar gliders, southern flying squirrels form an intense bond with their owners if acquired at a young age from a breeder. They are usually quite happy to spend time climbing and playing on their owner (as though the human is a tree).