Squirrels are typical inhabitants of forest-steppe, taiga zones and city parks. Nice appearance, the small size and sociability of this small animal led to the fact that quite often they become pets. The food allowance of squirrels is various. In the habitat they eat more than hundred types of natural forages therefore contents them in bondage does not bring great difficulties.
The food allowance of a squirrel directly depends on the territory of its dwelling. The animal can find a forage practically on any area. Squirrels with pleasure eat seeds of plants, cones, acorns, nuts, mushrooms and young escapes.
Food of a squirrel in the habitat
Seeds of trees and bushes take the main place in a diet of a squirrel. Such type of a forage can be found both in summer, and during the winter period. Animals give preference to seeds of a fir, a pine, a fir-tree, a beech, nut and a filbert. Satisfy with acorns of a squirrel hunger only when to find other type of a forage it is problematic. Quite often population of these small animals directly depends on productivity of coniferous breeds. In lean years the number of squirrels in forests and parks considerably decreases.
The squirrel eats not only seeds and fruits of plants, quite often these small animals ruin bird's nests, eat eggs and even little baby birds. Besides, squirrels can attack also other rodents who concede to them by the size.
Squirrels eat nuts, as a rule, during the winter period. These fruits become the main stocks for the winter which animals reliably hide under bark of trees, in old hollows or dig in in a moss. Pine nuts and fruits of a filbert prevail in a diet. Mushrooms for squirrels are the second most important food product. Animals not only stock, hanging out them on branches of trees, but also dig out the frozen mushrooms from snow. Squirrels give special preference to tubular types of mushrooms. Except mushrooms and seeds, squirrels eat inflorescences of trees and bushes, backs of plants, needles, lichens and many other types of vegetable food. However such products for animals are not the main, and an additional forage. In lean years the small animals can eat bark and buds of trees. However at such diet to save up enough fat deposits for the winter at a squirrel it will not turn out. Life of squirrels in city parks is substantially facilitated. People regularly feed up small animals therefore search of food does not make for them big work. Some flavoring preferences of certain individuals differ in identity. Not each squirrel, for example, will want to regale on cookies or corn sticks.
At a lack of calcium of a squirrel can even gnaw the dumped horns of elks and deer and also bones of other animals.
Food of squirrels in house conditionsIn house conditions the diet of a squirrel can be diversified considerably. Animals with pleasure eat berries, dried vegetables and fruit. It is noticed, for example, that most of all small animals love dried apricots, prunes, raisin and apples. Many squirrels do not refuse also white loaf. Besides nuts, cones and seeds, it is necessary to include seeds of sunflower, pumpkin, grapes and fresh carrots in a diet of an animal. Extremely it is not recommended to feed squirrels with stones from apricots or cherry, to limit a diet only to nuts and it is impossible to treat with almonds at all. Holding a squirrel as a pet, it is very important to provide her enough water. The small animal has to eat at least twice a day.