It’s summer, and the squirrels are out in full force. They’re begging for food, and giving them a little something to eat is tempting. This article will discuss the dangers of feeding squirrels and tips on keeping them away from your property. But before you do, you should know some excellent reasons you should not feed squirrels.
Contents
- 1 Feeding Squirrels Leads To Housing Issues
- 2 Feeding Squirrels Will Lead Them To Destroy Your Vegetation
- 3 Parasites & Diseases
- 4 Dangers When Feeding By Hand
- 5 Human Food Isn’t Good For Squirrels
- 6 Increased Aggression
- 7 Squirrels Fight Amongst Themselves
- 8 Attract Larger Problems
- 9 Feeding Squirrels Simply Isn’t Worth It!
Feeding Squirrels Leads To Housing Issues
One of the biggest problems with feeding squirrels is that they will begin to see your home as a food source, damaging your property in their search for food. They may chew through wiring, tear insulation, or gnaw on wood beams.
They may even try to build a nest there if you have an attic or shed. Not only is this a nuisance, but it can also be dangerous. Chewed wiring can lead to fires, and nests can block ventilation and cause respiratory problems.
Feeding Squirrels Will Lead Them To Destroy Your Vegetation
Many people enjoy feeding squirrels, as they are fun to watch and seemingly harmless. However, what many people don’t realize is that feeding squirrels they are doing more harm than good. First, squirrels are natural foragers; their diet consists mainly of nuts, seeds, and insects. When you provide them with an easy food source, they become lazy and stop looking for food independently, becoming malnourished or even dying.
Additionally, you encourage squirrels to visit your yard more often when you feed squirrels. And since squirrels are notorious for digging and chewing on things, this increases the chances that they will damage your vegetation. So if you want to help squirrels, the best thing you can do is leave them alone.
Parasites & Diseases
If you’ve ever wanted to feed a squirrel, you might want to think twice. While squirrels may look cute and harmless, squirrels can carry many parasites and diseases that can harm humans. One of the most common diseases carried by squirrels is rabies.
Although it’s rare for humans to contract rabies from a squirrel bite, it’s still possible. Additionally, squirrels can carry fleas, mites, and ticks, which can transmit diseases to humans. So if you’re planning on feeding the squirrels in your backyard, wash your hands afterward!
Dangers When Feeding By Hand
If you want to feed the squirrels that visit your yard instead of putting up a feeder outside, think again. Squirrels should retain their natural fear of people and the places they dwell in. Feeding squirrels by hand teaches them that humans are harmless, which might make them too familiar with people and residential areas.
Otherwise, they are at risk of being hunted by predators, including local predators like cats and dogs, and getting hit by cars while fleeing on roadways. Squirrels can also bite you if you offer them a handout, potentially spreading illnesses and diseases.
Human Food Isn’t Good For Squirrels
You may have seen squirrels eating garbage, rummaging through your trash can, or even chewing on electrical wires. While it may seem harmless, feeding squirrels human food is detrimental to their health. Unlike their wild cousins, domestic squirrels are not used to foraging for their food. As a result, they often lack the essential nutrients they need to stay healthy.
In addition, human food is often high in fat and sugar, leading to obesity and other health problems in squirrels. So next time you see a hungry squirrel begging for a snack, resist the urge to feed it. Your furry friend will thank you in the long run.
Increased Aggression
Most people who live near nature have, at some point, wanted to feed the wildlife. After all, what could be more adorable than a furry little squirrel scurrying around your yard? Unfortunately, feeding squirrels is not always in their best interests. One potential downside is that it can lead to increased aggression. Squirrels are naturally timid animals, but when they become accustomed to being fed by humans, they may start to see us as a food source.
As a result, they may become bolder and more likely to approach us, even when we don’t want them to. Sometimes, this can lead to aggressive behavior, such as biting or scratching. So while it may be tempting to feed the local wildlife, it’s important to remember that it’s not always in the squirrels’ best interests.
Squirrels Fight Amongst Themselves
If you live in an area with a high population of squirrels, you may have considered feeding them. However, there are several reasons why this is not a good idea. One of the most significant problems is that squirrels are very territorial. If you start feeding them, they will soon become accustomed to coming to your property and may begin to view it as their larder, leading to conflicts with other squirrels in the area, who the food will also attract. The resulting fighting can damage property and harm the animals involved.
If more squirrels compete for food, this can exacerbate the problem of scarce resources and lead to even more fighting. In addition, feeding squirrels can also lead to an increase in their population. Ultimately, then, it is best to avoid feeding squirrels altogether.
Attract Larger Problems
Understandably, many people enjoy feeding squirrels. They’re adorable little creatures, and watching them scurry around collecting food can be fun. However, there are several good reasons why you shouldn’t feed squirrels. For one thing, it can attract other animals to your yard. If you’re constantly putting out food for the squirrels, you may also start to see rats, skunks, and other wildlife looking for a free meal.
These animals are known for chewing through wood, insulation, and wiring to access food. As a result, you may end up having to repair damage caused by chewing if you regularly feed squirrels. In addition, feeding squirrels can lead to problems with property damage. Ultimately, it’s best to admire these creatures from a distance rather than trying to provide them with a handout.
Feeding Squirrels Simply Isn’t Worth It!
You may think feeding the neighborhood squirrels is harmless fun, but there are some excellent reasons why you shouldn’t do it! Squirrels are wild animals, and as such, they can carry diseases that can harm humans. When you feed squirrels, you are encouraging them to depend on handouts from humans rather than foraging for food on their own, which leads to problems down the road if the food source suddenly disappears. Finally, if you’re not careful, you may attract other wild animals to your property, including rodents and snakes. So while it may be tempting to feed the squirrels, it’s actually in everyone’s best interest to leave them be.
