Squirrels teeth

[LISAB]

We have quite a few squirrels living in the trees in our garden and I want to feed them. Mr LISAB is quite confident we can give them the bag of mixed unshelled nuts left over from christmas but Im worried they wont be able to chew the shells off the brazils considering how hard they are. Any ideas anyone? Ive no nutcrackers either or would do the obvious thing and shell them myself.

[Cetti]

I think you're right about shelling the brazils first - I don't think they're teeth can take it - be interesting to see though. Another thing, before you start feeding them, when the word gets round on the squirrel grapevine you will probably be inundated with them!! Anyway, they like nuts of all types, these should be raw, preferably in their shells. Do not try to feed them salted or roast nuts. Hazelnuts in shells are particularly favoured, followed by raw peanuts in shells. They also like shelled brazil nuts, sweet chestnuts and acorns. They also appreciate it if you put out a shallow bowl of fresh water for them every day. It is not a very good idea to put out shelled peanuts or other small nuts as these either attract large numbers of pigeons, which also like them, or if they are picked up by smaller birds they can choke on them. Look forward to good entertainment!!

[LISAB]

Thanks Cetti for that great informative answer. I shall be out at the weekend chucking hazelnuts for all im worth. I think we only have the 2 squirrels at present so maybe we'll get some new additions in our garden soon.

[xyzzyplugh]

Squirrel Attacks; This is not a spoof. Even though six of these attacks occured in Knutsford; " A grey squirrel has attacked six people in Knutsford. - It mauled its latest victim, two-year-old Kelsi Morley, as she walked with her mother Karen in the Cheshire town. The rodent jumped on to her face and scratched her forehead, cheeks and ears with its claws" More at-http://www.orange-today.co.uk/news/story/sm_704815
.html?menu= More attacks, see; http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_311804.html?m
enu=news.quirkies be warned.

[Cactus]

I think squirrel's teeth are stronger than you might think - you could probably encase the brazil nuts in diamond and they'd still get inside. I have several bird feeders that i keep stocked with nuts in my garden, and i've had to resort to metal ones to prevent the squirrels from chewing them open and stealing all the nuts! They're resourceful little bugg3rs, i now put seperate food out specifically for the squirrels - just to deter them from trying to get into my metal bird feeders. I'm sure if they tried hard enough they'd succeed! I have visions of looking out of my window and seeing a squirrel in a welders mask...

If still in any doubt, just leave a hammer out with the nuts; i'm sure they'll soon figure out how to use it!

[vittoria]

I agree with Xyzzyplugh, I have a friend who was in a park one day feeding a biscuit or something to her baby, and a squirrel climbed all over the baby to steal the food, scratched the baby, who now (5 or 6) has a phobia of squirrels. Other mums have told me they can be dangerous even though the look cute.

[KEJ2000]

I would like to add that squirrels adore walnuts too, and that they don't like almonds... they will ignore an almond as if it is non-food!