A squirrel’s diet is extremely flexible, allowing it to thrive even in the hardest winters and the hottest summers. But what if these animals become pets and have siblings like rabbits? They would have to share their food!
Squirrels can presumably eat rabbit food as they eat whatever is offered to them or whatever they come across. But it cannot always be good for the squirrels to eat rabbit food.
Although they follow almost the same diet, there are some variations in their food intake. Continue reading this article to learn more about the food changes and preferences of squirrels in relation to rabbits and their food.
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Do Squirrels Eat Rabbit Food?
Rabbits usually are known for eating vegetables, especially carrots. Rabbit food consists more of vegetables, that can be consumed by other herbivore animals too. Squirrels’ diet also consists of vegetables that are essential. Hence, as the diet is almost similar, squirrels can eat rabbit food too.
And squirrels do eat rabbit food if they are offered some. They don’t make a fuss about what they get to eat. Very flexible in their diet, they are open to any kind of new tastes. Hence, they also eat rabbit food if provided.
Is Rabbit Food Good for Squirrels?
We all being living beings, have different nutritional requirements. Similarly, the nutritional requirement of squirrels and rabbits differ. Though squirrels can feed on rabbit food, it is necessary to understand if it is good for the squirrels.
Rabbit food mostly consists of vegetables or hay grass, but squirrels have a wide variety of food choices. Just vegetables are not sufficient to fill their diet. They require a high protein and vitamin content which is not much in rabbit food.
Rabbit food may also be some packed pet foods. These may not be suitable for squirrels. Although, they would love to eat it if offered to them.
A squirrel usually eats nuts that not just provide the right nutrients, but also help them in sharpening their teeth.
Hence, rabbit food can be given to squirrels but is not truly good for them. It goes with the saying “not everything that looks good is actually good”. Not all foods are good for squirrels, so make sure you select foods that are good for our sweet, bushy-tailed pals.
What Common Food Can You Feed Rabbits and Squirrels?
When rabbits and squirrels live under the same roof, they will have to share common food. There are many such common foods that can be shared by them.
Squirrels are like the adjusting sibling who is fine with any food offered. On the other hand, rabbits are demanding sibling who needs their special food. Hence, squirrels can eat rabbit food, which is healthy for them as well.
Some common food that can be fed to squirrels and rabbits is vegetables. These veggies can be carrots or any green leafy vegetables. Yes, you read it right! Squirrels love to eat carrots as well.
But do not forget to give squirrels their share of other food too. Feeding them only rabbit food will not be sufficient enough to fulfill their nutrition requirement.
What Animals Eat Rabbit Food?
Keeping multiple pets is in trend now and one looks for those who gel well together. Having this in mind, people also wonder if their food can be shared too.
So if you are one of them, looking for a companion for your rabbit, look no further. We have you covered here.
One such animal can be a bird. Rabbit food is safe for birds to eat because it contains natural nutrients and substances that are similar to the nutrients found in the diets of birds.
There are various kinds of rabbit food. One such type consists of plants with a hay base along with seeds, dried food and nuts too. This food can be consumed by squirrels too.
Many herbivores and omnivores share many foods with rabbits, thus they can consume them without difficulty.
Horses, cattle, goats, fowl, and ducks are among the animals that can eat rabbit food.
What Food is Toxic to Squirrels?
A major portion of squirrels, though herbivores, eat any kind of food offered to them. Be it junk food or human food, they’re ready to try everything.
But some foods are harmful to squirrels and must be avoided at all costs. Toxic foods are what they’re called.
Toxic food can be avocado skin, fruit seeds, wild mushrooms, cardboard palm, florist flowers, and pine nuts. They can increase the loss of vitamins and minerals in the squirrels.
1. Avocado Skin
Avocado skins and fruit seeds, like apple seeds, are two foods that squirrels should not be given. These are the most dangerous and poisonous things that they can eat.
2. Peanuts
Many people are startled to learn that squirrels should not consume peanuts. They believe that rodents enjoy eating them. Peanuts are not actually nuts, but legumes that must be consumed by squirrels in a limited quantity.
3. Junk Food
Junk food has no nutritional value for squirrels, just as it does for us. They’re frequently sweet, salted treats that aren’t just fillers, but can also be harmful to their health. Squirrels are poisoned by salt.
4. Corn
Squirrels can be fed corn if only little amounts are given and the corn is cut into small pieces. Squirrels will binge themselves on whole pieces of corn and they can sometimes overeat to death due to an abundance of food.
5. Some Vegetables
Certain vegetables should be avoided from feeding squirrels. Red, yellow, and green bell peppers, eggplant, okra, spinach, turnip, dried vegetables, garlic, onions, and sprouts are just a few examples.
6. Starchy and Sugary Food
Bread, pasta, cereals, rice, seeds, and potatoes are among starchy foods that must be avoided for squirrels. Sugary foods like cookies, candies, dried fruits, soda, banana chips, sweetened yogurt, and fruit juices should also be avoided.
7. Some Fruits
Feeding squirrels some fruits that are heavy in carbs and sugars is not a good idea. Bananas, cherries, mangoes, grapes, pomegranates, and passion fruit are among them. Avocado is not suggested for squirrel feeding due to its high-fat content.
Will Squirrels Eat Baby Rabbits?
Squirrels enjoy nuts, but they aren’t opposed to preying on unprotected newborn bunny rabbits, either dead or injured, helpless rabbits. Baby rabbits can be eaten by squirrels, but they won’t go out of their way to do it.
Squirrels eating rabbits is a phenomenon that occurs in severe circumstances where squirrels are starving and find a chance to grab a juicy meal from the rabbit. Though they are herbivores, they may turn into a carnivore when they starve to death.
Squirrels can be dangerous to rabbits, so be aware. Squirrels will make a tasty treat of a rabbit if they find an opportunity to do so.
Are Squirrels Dangerous to Rabbits?
As mentioned above, squirrels can be dangerous to rabbits. This may happen in extreme situations when they are extremely hungry.
Squirrels, though being a herbivore, can hunt down rabbits for their survival. This is called survival of the fittest.
But this will not happen with the regular squirrels around your area. It is only done by red squirrels. Red squirrels will regularly stalk, hunk, kill, and consume rabbits.
Squirrels may be scared away by rabbits that are larger than them. However, a rabbit that is sick or even dead will be done for.
Will Squirrels Starve if You Stop Feeding Them?
Squirrels are avid eaters. They do not stick to a particular kind of food to feed on. They eat whatever they can get their hands on. They can even go to the point where, as herbivores, they will eat other smaller animals if they are hungry.
But when we humans start feeding them on a regular basis, there are chances where they can become dependent on us for their living.
They may not look for any other source of food. Slowly, they may forget to find food on their own making them starve if they are not fed by us.
So, certainly, squirrels may starve if we stop feeding them after getting them accustomed to such an environment. Make sure you don’t make them wholly dependent on you. This will be harmful to them when you leave the place for a long time or forever.
What Can You Feed Wild Squirrels?
You may obviously find one or many bushy-tailed visitors around your place and would feel like feeding them. But you may wonder what to feed these squirrels.
You must feed them with something that will not hinder their natural ecosystem. This will not make them sick.
While they will happily eat everything you serve them, this does not imply that the foods are healthy or beneficial to them. You can feed them with nuts, seeds, or even vegetables, avoiding processed foods, to keep them safe and healthy.
Final Thoughts
Finally, squirrels can eat rabbit food. Though rabbit food may not be the most nutritionally adequate diet for squirrels, they can eat it if they are hungry. They may also eat this food if they find it somewhere and the taste is appealing to them.
If you want to feed squirrels, provide them with a diet that is comparable to what they eat in the wild. If they can locate it, it will be easy for them to survive without being dependent.
Squirrels and rabbits aren’t dangerous to each other because they stay to themselves, but if you get into a fight, the squirrel can injure the rabbit.
We hope that this article has provided you with a better understanding of a squirrel’s nutrition.
