Squirrels in garden

[tigwig]

this morning when I opened the curtains to the delight of my daughter there were 2 squirrels on our lawn. They were sniffing around everything, were they looking for food? If so should I feed them or would it cause a nuisance? I also have a cat who was obviously asleep unless I'm sure he would have chased them away! Are nuts good for squirrels?

[Josyjo]

Squirrels will eat pretty much anything, but monkey nuts are a big favourite! Its best to be wary tho, there have been reports of squirrels getting a bit 'feisty', so just bear in mind if your daughter is quite young... I think squirrels are luvly! :-)

[Ethel]

They will dig holes in your garden burying their food and retrieving it.

If you have any high walls or trees close to your house be warned that they may get in to your loft space where they cause a lot of damage.


Squirrels love nuts - it is a major source of protein and the fat content helps keep them warm.

They will eat birds eggs in the spring.

[tigwig]

so I guess it maybe best to just not bother feeding them!

[Ethel]

If any of your neighbours has an air rifle, squirrels are legitimate targets, provided the neighbour is shooting them in his own garden.

[Cetti]

I would never encourage anyone to kill any animal, but neither would I encourage anyone to feed grey squirrels as there is plenty of natural food around for them.

They are cute, especially the fluffy babies, but they are a pest, damaging garden and orchard trees by stripping the bark. Eating birds eggs and nestlings is another less welcome aspect of their behaviour - so enjoy their antics, but please don't feed them.

[Clanad]

As usual, I'm in agreement with Cetti (where have you been?).

Squirrels, be they grey or the larger reds or (here in the western U.S.) the small, uber-agressive Pine Squirrels are kinda like a weekend visit from your Aunt Bessy. Nice to see her when she arrives, but soon your wondering if Sunday will ever come.

Don't encourage them, for all the reason listed as well as having them figure out a way to eat any and all bird food you may have out. I've witnessed them making their way upside-down paw over paw on a clothes line wire to a hanging bird feeder to almost totally destroy it getting to the shelled sunflower seeds... forewarned is forearmed, so to speak...

[paddywak]

As already stated on several previous posts grey squrrel are Vermin and should not be encouraged no matter how "cute" they act

[Lonnie]

Like Clanad, Cetti, you've been sorely missed, good to see you back, I still have your fighting Robins.

To the Question, further to all the above answers, don't encourage them close to the house, if they get in, they'll ruin it for you.

[bensmum]

Squirrels can look very cute but they are pests really and can cause a lot of damage. If you saw a rat in your garden (which incidently is just as intelligent and resourceful) you wouldn't dream of feeding it.
I get the lot in my garden - I don't actively encourage any of them but I live out in the country so I am fighting a losing battle against vermin. They leave me alone and I do the same for them

[Cetti]

Hello Boys!

Lovely to see you both as well. New house and garden is stretching me to the limit, timewise, but I am still around AB. xx

[Ice-Maiden]

We have lots of squirrels in our garden, and apart from them pinching all our hazelnuts - we leave them alone. The children like watching them, and although they're classed as pests because of the damage they can do to trees, etc., I've never personally noticed this.

[snug]

Use an air rifle. Grey squirrels make good eating but it takes a few to make a pie as there is not much meat on them.
But beware "they may contain nuts"

[gelda]

Very funny Snug, I don't think, would you like someone to shoot you with an air rifle !!

[snug]

Come on gelda. They are vermin, a foreign species driving to extinction our native reds. We kill other animals to eat so what is wrong with eating squirrel.
I must admit I didn't enjoy being shot at (it was bigger than an air rifle) but he wouldn't have eaten me if he had hit me.