We know birds and raccoons eat oranges and even some rats do it like black rats but do squirrels eat oranges?
Some squirrels like mealworms while others don’t but what’s common between all squirrels is they all enjoy frugivores like strawberries. What’s more, squirrels may also eat apples, apricot, avocado, carrots, cherry. But that’s not all to what they eat. There’s definitely more to it. One common fruit which most people love is orange.
Whether you own orange trees or just wondering if squirrels eat oranges, here are the answers to it.
The Simple Answer…
With no suprise, squirrels eat sometimes eat oranges and orange juice but not orange peels and seeds. As of its benefits, orange comes with a good amount of vitamin C which helps boost the immune system, improves skin, vision and prevents cancer. However, too much of good can cause some problems like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea commonly.
Do Squirrels Carry An Orange To Its Nest?
Squirrels eating an orange is no surprise but when it comes to storing or carrying to its nest, some squirrels may also try to remove the flesh and carry it to their nests especially if it’s mother squirrel but sometimes male squirrels may also do it but not use oranges to bury and store except nuts.
However, typically, squirrel behaviour would be to eat as much orange flesh as possible on the site but not store or carry to their nest.
During the spring, for winter preparation, squirrels begin to bury nuts which are preserved for weeks. But not oranges that are perishable. Squirrels are little smart rodents that know this and when they find oranges, they will eat on-site like mushrooms where they find them.
Are Oranges Good For Squirrels?
We all have probably seen squirrels climb, try and eat nuts from trees. And that’s the same for oranges. They climb on the branches and catch an orange when they reach an orange tree. Squirrels are attracted to the orange fruit and remove the outer peels ensuring they reach the main part. But what benefits do oranges offer?
Oranges are full of Vitamin C, which offers extreme protection to the squirrels’ immune system. Not only that but orange help protect cells from damage, heals and makes smoother skin and prevent cancer. Most importantly, prevents vision loss and instead improves the vision system and lowers stress and blood pressure.
Another reason oranges are good for squirrels is because oranges contain fibre maintains cholesterol and risk of heart disease low while also absorbing sugar. The calcium inside orange does is keeping bones, organs and muscles strong.
However, the sweetness of oranges come from a natural sugar which is completely different and useful from chocolate and candy. Not to forget, the fibre, vitamins and antioxidants make it tastier and more useful. And citric acid and citrates prevent kidney stones according to WebMD.
Last but not least, oranges are very tasty and full of aromas. They also contain many calories (53 kcal per 100 grams), which means they can cover all the squirrels’ needs for a day. FYI: squirrels need at least 200 Kcal to retain their weight and be strong enough to run and play, so a big orange could make them receive the necessary energy.
What are the Downsides of oranges?
Like every fruit, oranges come with their own drawbacks that mostly happens when used in the large amount.
Too much of oranges can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, headache, and insomnia.
Do Squirrels Eat Orange Peels?
Like most fruits peels, squirrels do not eat orange peels and generally avoid eating orange peels. Not only it’s sour but it’s also acidic. Sometimes squirrels may snack on orange seeds but its sour taste keeps squirrels away from it. Nonetheless, orange seeds carry cyanide which are harmful and even fatal to squirrels.
Can Squirrels Eat Orange Seeds?
Generally, squirrels eat most fruits without peels and seeds however, that’s the same for squirrels. It makes no sense to squirrels eat orange seeds. Not only it’s bitter and sour but it also does not contain a great seed. It’s pretty small to feed on for squirrels and also doesn’t offer many nutrients. But instead, orange seeds contain a material which is harmful and even fatal when consumed a lot.
Can Squirrels Drink Orange Juice?
Not many squirrels know about orange juice or have to drink in the wild, but if you offer orange juice to squirrels, it may not eat it at first but when they come to know about it or become pets, they will probably do it. However, adapting to the city, urban squirrels may know about orange and other fruits juice and may drink it.
Do Baby Squirrels Eat Orange?
From newborn to 12 weeks, baby squirrels drink their mothers milk but also can be goat’s or dog’s milk but not cow. However, after 12 weeks, when baby squirrels leave the nest, they can eat most food that adult squirrels do including fruits and oranges.
How To Keep Squirrels Away From Your Orange Trees?
Different people offer different solutions. There are many ways to get around this.
One way is to spread some cayenne pepper close to the roots which will deter squirrels away. It’s also good to plant some aromatic plants close to the roots and the canopies of your orange trees.
Another way to keep them from eating your oranges from the tree would be to flag the tree and scare them. These flags with multiple colours may make them avoid the trees and look for something else to eat.
The best way to keep squirrels away from the orange trees would be netting or chicken wires. The netting should be installed quite high as squirrels can jump and before the fruit is ripe. Fortunately, squirrels are not good burrowers so the edge of the wire doesn’t need to be installed deep in the ground. And not only squirrels, but it will also keep raccoons away.
With that though, squirrels will try and find a way through the netting. But if you have installed netting properly and without any breach, it will probably prevent for quite some time.
Finally, offering them alternative food to distract them from attacking your orange trees is also a viable solution. That food could be other fruits, vegetables, or even nuts or pine cones that they like eating.
Are There Any Other Fruit Like Orange That Squirrels Like?
Considering the fact that squirrels are omnivores, they eat almost any fruit we eat and even more than us.
Squirrels like to eat other fleshy fruits. Some of them are:
- Apples
- Pears
- Plums
- Peaches
- Kiwis
- Avocados
- Citrus
- Nectarines
- Figs
- Bananas
These fruits are all rich in fibre, sugars and vitamins. Above all, they are sweeter than orange and less acidic. Squirrels like to eat their flesh and remove the peels.
It’s also good to mention that squirrels like to eat any kind of berries (like strawberries, elderberries, blueberries, etc.). They are fond of eating melons, mangoes, pineapples, and raisins. All these have more fructose sugar and are an excellent food for squirrels whenever they find.
Do Birds & Squirrels Get Along When Eating Orange?
Birds and squirrels get along well in front of a ready-to-eat orange. Birds can help squirrels tear and peel the oranges to reach the juicy flesh. They both like to eat the orange flesh to get the useful sugars and fibers.
It’s natural for them to get along well if they have a common cause to eat the orange. However, when the orange eating stops, they can fight each other again.
What Fruits Squirrels Do Not Like to Eat?
Not all the fruits are edible and squirrels eat. Although squirrels eat all kinds of fruits, from apples to melon to apricots, squirrels do not miss any fruit. But that doesn’t mean squirrels eat all the fruit. There are a limited bunch of fruit which squirrels don’t. Here are they.
- Grapefruits
- Lemons
- Limes
- Durian
These are some bitter fruits which squirrels do not snack on. But if they didn’t find any food, they may eat it.
Which Other Animals Eat Oranges?
Almost any animal which eats orange
Here is the top list of animals that like to have oranges:
- Squirrel Monkeys
- Raccoons
- Wild Cats
- Tamarins
- Woodpeckers
- Oriole birds
- Rats
It’s also possible that garden birds could leave aside their bird feeder and have some appetite for oranges. Some other animals could include rabbits and pigeons. Pigeons like oranges and find it very cheerful to bite them when they don’t have another source of food.
Other birds that may try to eat oranges are crows and hummingbirds. They are very often seen in your backyard and could be the ones to need extra energy eating your oranges.
You can also count chickens, ducks, pigs, and horses if you own a farm. These animals could also eat oranges and their peels. They are the only animals that like to eat orange peels, and that’s why they belong to the premium destructors of your orange trees. On the other hand, if you breed cattle for their milk and meat, they are not likely to eat oranges since they prefer to have other herbaceous food that is not acidic like an orange.
As you may see, many other animals like oranges and you should take your measures to protect these fruits!
