Squirrels’ Food – Part 2
Continuation from an excerpt from an article by Niroshi Jayathuga and Lilani Ramanayake.
Many claims that our chicks don't consume any veggies or greens. They will absolutely refuse to eat greens if we start with sweet fruits. However, for the squirrel's diet, veggies and greens are essential.
If they don't eat veggies or greens, you can steam them without adding salt or pepper. Similarly to that, squirrels should be taught to consume tree leaves, bark, leaves, and flowers. In addition to that, Mango peels, ambarella dalu, kankun dalu, mukununanna, spinach, and grass leaves are also foods that squirrels consume. As well as give them medicinal flowers such as wada, sepalika, katarolu, rath mal, etc.
Another consideration when feeding the squirrel is to avoid offering it hot fruits like mangosteen, durian, rambutan, and pineapple. Additionally, it is not advisable to give really cold fruits like watermelon. Rambutan, varaka, and mango are examples of delicious fruits that should only be given in small amounts and seldom.
Additionally, avoid giving the squirrels too many nuts because they like to eat them. The seeds from pumpkins, watermelons, and cucumbers are the best to scatter. However, you should avoid processed nuts like sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, and almonds. Never provide them with salted, hot, or roasted nuts. It is also improper to give excessive amounts of nuts and bean seeds. Giving soft, unripe nuts is encouraged, nevertheless.
The foods listed below are harmful to squirrels.
• Sweets and sugary foods
• Biscuits, chocolates, dates, etc
• Foods mixed with chilly and salt
• Food that contains flour
• Banana avocado and Kamaranga
• Food cooked with salt and chilly.
Squirrels raised in homes should not consume this kind of food, even outside squirrels. But we can’t prevent them from finding and eating. However, the squirrels grown outside know how much they need to eat and how to avoid emergency diseases.
The squirrels require water to survive. However, milk-drinking squirrel water is not necessary because milk already contains water.
When they start eating, squirrels get worm diseases depending on the food they are given. Also when they go outside, they get various worm diseases. That is why they need to be given medication. Similarly, it is necessary to give them calcium and iron vitamins. Don’t try to give them as you want, without knowing the amount and responsibility.
The squirrels we fed them at home attempt to consume as much of it as they can because they are unable to comprehend the amount of nutrition. Therefore, be careful about the quantity of food. Give them a range of nutritious foods on a regular basis.