Can squirrels eat tomatoes? The answer to this question is yes, squirrels can and do eat tomatoes.
In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why squirrels eat tomatoes, what part of the tomato they like best, and whether or not eating tomatoes is harmful to them.
We will also look at some questions about squirrels and tomatoes, such as “can flying squirrels eat tomatoes?” and “how many tomatoes can a squirrel eat?”
So if you’re curious whether your garden’s tomato plants are safe from pesky squirrels, keep reading.
The Simple Answer…
Can squirrels eat tomatoes? Yes, squirrels can eat tomatoes. Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C and other essential nutrients for squirrels. They are low in fat and calories, making them a healthy food for squirrels. Squirrels eat tomatoes off the vines and they don’t eat rotten tomatoes on the ground.
Why Do Squirrels Eat Tomatoes?
As anyone who has attempted to grow their own tomatoes knows, these furry little creatures can be quite a nuisance. Squirrels seem to have an insatiable appetite for tomatoes and are unafraid to steal them right off the vine. Why do squirrels love tomatoes so much?
There might be a few reasons. One is that squirrels take pleasure in the ripeness and sweetness of tomatoes.
Another possibility is they’re looking for something bright red to eat since that coloration usually means the fruit is ripe and ready to consume.
The most probable explanation, however, is that squirrels are lazy creatures who want an easy meal soft enough to eat without too much effort which also happens to provide them with nutrients.
Tomatoes fit this description perfectly which makes them the perfect food for a lazy squirrel.
There’s no getting around it – squirrels can decimate an entire tomato plant in a very short amount of time.
However, there are some ways to deter them, such as chicken wire or dogs patrolling the garden area.
For anyone who loves fresh tomatoes straight from the vine, it’s worth taking these extra steps to keep the little pests away.
Do Squirrels Eat Tomatoes On The Vine?
Any gardener who has ever dealt with a squirrel knows that these pesky creatures will eat just about anything. Tomatoes are no exception.
Squirrels can easily climb tomato plants and help themselves to the fruit.
In fact, they might not even stop at the tomatoes. Once they’re on the plant, they might also nibble on leaves or stems.
However, squirrels generally won’t eat tomatoes that have fallen to the ground. They prefer their fruit fresh off the vine. And, of course, they’re not content to simply eat the tomatoes; they also like to destroy them.
A squirrel will take small bites out of multiple tomatoes, making them unusable for human consumption.
As any gardener will attest, dealing with squirrels can be a real headache.
Do Squirrels Eat Tomatoes At Night?
Most squirrels are actively foraging for food during the daytime. If you’ve ever found your tomatoes eaten at night, it’s likely that nocturnal animals such as deer, raccoons, skunks, and rats are to blame.
These pesky animals are most active at night when people are asleep, so they’re more likely to go for the easy meal of ripe tomatoes.
So if you see your tomato plants being raided at night, don’t blame the squirrels – they’re probably not responsible.
Do Squirrels Destroy Tomato Plants?
Garden pests, like squirrels, love tomato plants. Even though they don’t eat the roots of the plant, they feast on leaves, stems, and most importantly fruit. Their preference for fruit often means that take a few bites out of each tomato before moving to another one.
This behavior can damage the plant’s ability to produce a bountiful harvest, though it may not kill the plant outright. If you want to protect your tomato plants, taking steps to deter squirrels is important. Squirrels often bury nuts and seeds in backyard gardens, which can lead to the growth of unwanted plants.
How Do Squirrels Eat Tomatoes?
Contrary to popular belief, squirrels don’t actually eat the entire tomato.
Instead, they will take small bites out of multiple juicy tomatoes, wasting a bunch in the process.
In some cases, they might eat the entire fruit, but this is relatively rare. Usually, a squirrel will bite into a tomato and pull out the seeds before eating the flesh. The seeds are then either discarded or buried, which can lead to new plants sprouting up in unexpected places.
So, if you’re trying to grow tomatoes, be on the lookout for these pesky critters.
What Part Of The Tomato Do Squirrels Like Best?
Squirrels have gained a bad reputation with gardeners, as they will steal flowers and vegetables. The one type of plant that they seem to prefer is ripe tomatoes.
While Squirrels will eat most parts of the tomato plant, stems and seeds aren’t their favorite part.
Squirrels have a particular fondness for the fleshy, red part of the fruit. This is likely due to the fact that this part of the tomato is the sweetest and most nutritious.
- Related: How Often! Do Squirrels Eat Apples?
Can Squirrels Eat Green Tomatoes?
Green tomatoes are under-ripe red tomatoes. They’re a little sour and acidic, but that doesn’t stop squirrels from enjoying them.
In fact, there is a myth that squirrels don’t like green tomatoes. But this is not true.
While green tomatoes may not be as sweet as ripe tomatoes, squirrels still occasionally eat them.
So, if you see a squirrel nibbling on a green tomato, don’t be alarmed. They just enjoy a little snack.
Can Squirrels Eat Rotten Tomatoes?
Squirrels have a better sense of smell than we do and can tell if a tomato is ripe or rotten before we can even see it.
Rotten tomatoes will attract many different wild animals, including birds, insects, and rats.
Squirrels don’t eat rotten tomatoes because they prefer the fresh ones that are on the vines.
However, if a squirrel is desperate enough it may take a bite out of one. If you see this happening it’s best to leave nature to take its course.
What Are The Nutritional Benefits Of Tomatoes To Squirrels?
Tomatoes are not only delicious, but they are also full of nutrients that help keep squirrels healthy.
Carotenoids, lycopene, folate, vitamin C, and potassium are all found in tomatoes and play an important role in maintaining squirrel health.
For example, carotenoids improve vision while scavenging free radicals; lycopene is an antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage; folate aids cell growth and development; vitamin c heals wounds and boosts immunity, and potassium regulates blood pressure.
As you can see, tomatoes offer a variety of nutritional benefits for squirrels. So next time you’re looking for a healthy snack for your furry friend, reach for a tomato.
Are Tomatoes Harmful To Squirrels?
Tomatoes are not harmful to squirrels if they eat them in moderation.
While tomatoes are not harmful to squirrels, there are many other food sources that are considered toxic to these animals if ingested in large quantities.
For example, avocados and chocolate can all be dangerous for squirrels.
As a result, it is important to be aware of the food items that are safe for squirrels to consume before feeding them any type of treatment.
How Many Tomatoes Can A Squirrel Eat?
Squirrels store food for the winter, so they’re especially drawn to gardens that have an excess of food.
Some gardeners reported that one squirrel could take small bites out of 20-40 tomatoes in a season.
Even though this may not sound like much, it can become a problem if there are several squirrels; given their lifespan of 10 years or more, one squirrel can do plenty of damage during its lifetime.
Will A Baby Squirrel Eat Tomatoes?
A baby squirrel’s diet consists mainly of his or her mother’s milk for the first three weeks of life.
After that, the baby gradually starts to eat solids, including fruits and vegetables.
Tomatoes are a perfectly safe food for baby squirrels to eat, and this home-grown food can provide valuable nutrients like vitamins A and C.
However, it’s important to remember that baby squirrels have very delicate stomachs, so they should only eat small amounts of tomato at first.
If you’re ever in doubt about what your baby pet squirrel can and can’t eat, always consult with a veterinarian.
Conclusion
Yes, squirrels can eat tomatoes.
While green tomatoes might be a little sour and acidic to the taste, they still provide valuable nutrients that help keep squirrels healthy.
Rotten tomatoes are not on the list of food items as squirrels prefer fresh tomatoes on the vines, but if a squirrel is desperate enough, it may take a bite out of one anyway.
Therefore, it is important for you to be aware of what kind of treats are safe for squirrel consumption before feeding them anything.
FAQ
What Are the Signs of Squirrels Eating Tomatoes?
As a gardener, when you walk out to check on your vegetables, you may find bite marks of squirrels on the tomatoes.
Why Does A Squirrel Take The Tomato Outside The Garden To Eat?
Squirrels usually pull the tomato off the vine to take with them to eat outside the garden where they feel safe.
What Are The Best Tomatoes For Squirrels?
Squirrels love tomatoes, especially grape tomatoes and cherry tomatoes. They are smaller tomato species that squirrels love to take with them.
Do Grey Squirrels Eat Tomatoes?
Yes, grey squirrels are fondness for tomatoes. In fact, grey squirrels will eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as insects and other small prey.
Do Red Squirrels Eat Tomatoes?
Red squirrels love to eat tomatoes. Tomatoes are packed with vitamin C and other nutrients that keep squirrels healthy. They are juicy, which keeps red squirrels hydrated.
Do Ground Squirrels Eat Tomatoes?
Ground squirrels also love to eat tomatoes. However, tomatoes on the vine are not easily accessible by ground squirrels. These juicy tomatoes, as another source of water, keep thirsty squirrels hydrated.
Do Flying Squirrels Eat Tomatoes?
Flying squirrels are known to eat tomatoes. Its diet consists of a variety of items, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and insects. Tomatoes specifically offer flying squirrels a good source of nutrients like fiber, vitamin C, and potassium.
