Squirrels are one of those cute and sharp animals, to which we all love. Not only adults, but even squirrels are charming to Childs. As squirrels would like to come down from trees just for food. Squirrels usually love to eat nuts. But that doesn’t stop them to eat other foods. To keep in mind this fact there is a query that can squirrels eat chocolate?
As, chocolates are favorite of everyone’s around the world. And now a day’s chocolates are part of numerous recipes. So there is a wonder that either these cute, naughty small rodents can eat chocolates.
Can Squirrels Eat Chocolate ?
Squirrels are belonging to the family of Sciuridae. This family includes all small and medium-size rodents. Squirrels usually cannot digest cellulose, so they have to eat proteins, carbohydrates, and fats rich food.
Therefore, that doesn’t mean that they can’t eat or like human beloved chocolates. Even there is a number of incidents captured in-camera where we can see squirrels try to eat chocolates. Apart from this, if they can eat chocolate, then is chocolate safe for them to eat.
The answer of the question can squirrels eat chocolate? is that of course squirrels can eat chocolate but they shouldn’t just like other animals like dogs and cats.
Even, eating chocolate can cause their death. Whereas the reason is that there are some nutrients in chocolates are not for squirrels, and even not for other animals.
However, the reason is that chocolates contain theobromine which is not healthy for squirrels. Chocolates can cause death for squirrels and this doesn’t happen if they eat a large amount of chocolate.
But a mild quantity of chocolates can cause a mess in their digestive process. For example, it will cause diarrhea, seizure, high blood pressure, and many other unhealthy conditions.
From this debate, we can say that, yes squirrels eat chocolates but they shouldn’t. Not only squirrels but also keep away your pets from eating chocolates.
And now as we know that chocolates can cause harm to squirrels that’s why it is our responsibility to not throw chocolates or any other food having chocolate in it near to trees. Not only trees keep an eye to not throw such things in parks or your backyard garden.
Instead of this, we have to teach children to not throw such things in parks or gardens. And in this way, we can teach our child’s that how we can protect these cute, small rodents.
Not only chocolates but there is also a list of other foods which we don’t have to give squirrels. As they will cause their death or serious health issues to them and their offspring’s also.
Other Harmful Foods For Squirrels:
Following is the list of other foods that can cause health issues is squirrels. Moreover, these foods can cause their death. For example
- High Sugar Foods
- High Starch Foods
- Salty Foods
- Cashews, Sunflower Seeds, Pine nuts, and Dried Cons:
High Sugar Foods:
In high sugar foods if they are fruits, are good for us. As they don’t raise our blood sugar level that much early and high as refined sugars do. However, at the same time, high sugar foods for squirrels are not good as well as not healthy. There are certain reasons for this.
Read also: How do Squirrels Drink Water in the Wild ?
Firstly, high sugar foods cause tooth decay. Secondly, these high sugar foods because unwanted weight gain for them which is not healthy for squirrels. As it will affect their motions from one place to other.
High Starch Foods:
High-starch foods are high glycemic load means they can raise our blood sugar level. However, high starch foods are not good just for us but they are also harmful for squirrels.
As squirrels have to eat foods with the natural and low glycemic load. For example, nuts, which are their most favorite food with zero glycemic loads.
Salty Foods:
Foods with normal salt in them are okay for all. However, an overdose of salt for an extended period is not healthy for us as well as for squirrels also.
But a few amounts of salt will be fine for them as their favorite food nuts also have some amount of salt in them. But we have to avoid giving them too many salty food.
Cashews, Sunflower Seeds, Pine nuts, and Dried Cons:
Cashews, sunflower seeds, pine nuts, and dried corns are great snacks for us. But we cannot keep this fact the same for squirrels.
The reason is that squirrels shouldn’t eat these things because they are rich in phosphorus. And this increase in phosphorus cause calcium loss in squirrels.
That’s why we avoid giving them these foods. But a small amount of these foods as a treat is okay. But avoid giving them too much of these foods.
Human’s Junk Foods:
Human junk foods contain high sugar and high starch level. And these things can cause super hyperactivity in squirrels. Which is ultimately not good for their overall health.
So we have to avoid them giving humans junk foods as well. And we have to teach our youngers to not throw these things in gardens, parks, and on roads as well.
What Foods Squirrels Should Eat:
Squirrels are those animals cute, short, animals that love to eat everything. However, it’s our responsibility to try to give them healthy foods.
Read also: Do Cats Eat Squirrels?
The foods which will provide them nutrition’s, proteins, and minerals. So keep them healthy and provide the necessary nutrients following is the list of foods that are healthy for squirrels.
Vegetables:
Nature is the best nourishing source for squirrels. As fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts, bugs, fungi, eggs, seeds, and plants are naturally the best foods for squirrels.
In healthy foods for squirrels, we have to provide that food to squirrels which are rich in fiber, fresh vitamin C, and minerals. So in vegetables following vegetables should be your priority to feed squirrels.
- Arugula,
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage
- Chayote
- Chinese Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Mushrooms
- Purslane
- Watercress
But one thing to keep in mind that doesn’t provide foods to squirrels that are high in fats, starches, oxalates.
Fruits:
Fruits are also healthy for squirrels but in a limited amount. Mostly two pieces of fruit per day will be enough. Following is the list of fruits that are healthy for squirrels.
- Apple
- Apricot
- Banana
- All types of Berries
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries
- Crabapples
- Cranberries
- Grapefruit
- Grapes
- Honeydew
- Lemon
- Lime
- Mango
- Nectarine
- Orange
- Watermelon
Nuts And Seeds:
Nuts are usually favorite to squirrels but we have to feed a balance amount of them. Mostly two pieces of them per day will be enough. Following is the list of nuts and seeds that are healthy for squirrels.
- Almonds
- Hazelnuts
- Pecans
- Peanuts (in roasted and unsalted form)
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Sesame Seed
- Walnuts
Insects:
Squirrels also can eat insects. However, all insects are not healthy for them. That’s why here is the list of insects that can be healthy for them:
- Mealworms
- Crickets
Not only a healthy diet but for squirrels daily exercise is also important if they are your pets in a cage. On daily basis to run, jump, and exploring places is very healthy and important for pet squirrels.
Moreover, to control your pet squirrels weight gaining is also necessary with a healthy diet.
Can Squirrels Eat Cacao Plant:
Actually, chocolate is made from the seeds of the cacao plant. And this is done after a long process, of course. However, as we already know that chocolate is not healthy for squirrels. So I’m wondering that is cacao plant safe for squirrels?
And the answer is yes squirrels can eat cacao plants. And it is not harmful to them at all. The reason is that making chocolate from cacao seeds taking a lot of refining process. But naturally, cacao seeds are not harmful to squirrels.
Not only for squirrels, cacao seeds are also safe for other predators. As there are four main cacao plant predators. Which includes, humans, monkeys, and bats. And cacao seeds never harm any of them ever.
Final Thoughts:
Can squirrels eat chocolate? As there is no reason for squirrels to not eat chocolate, maybe they love it even more than us. However, actually we shouldn’t give them chocolate to eat. As the theobromine in them is highly toxic for them and can kill them.
Instead of this, there is a lot of other foods that you can give to them. As broccoli, cabbage, apple, apricot, banana, all types of berries, grapes, mangos, nuts, peanut butter, sesame seeds, etc. Moreover, these foods are healthy for squirrels and also provide the necessary nutrients and minerals.
However, there are lots of other foods which we don’t have to feed to squirrels just like chocolate. Like we don’t have to feed them high sugar foods, high salty foods. Cashews, sunflower seeds, Pine Nuts, dried cons, and any type of human junk foods.
Moreover, in the last, I want to say that in this article I try my best to provide the best feeding guide to squirrels. So that we can do our best to save this cute wildlife.