Over the last couple of months, we have noticed a number of people reaching out to ask what is eating their zucchini blossoms in their gardens.
This coupled with the fact that we see a couple of people reaching out to ask about if squirrels eat zucchini or not in general each month made us decided to publish this article.
While some people may think that squirrels do not eat zucchini, the truth is that they do. Squirrels enjoy eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, and zucchini is one of their favorites.
This means that if you have a garden with zucchini plants, there is a good chance that the squirrels in your area will try to eat them.
If you are just wanting to feed the local squirrels in your area something for a treat then slices of zucchini would be a good option.
Other vegetables that squirrels like to eat as a treat food include carrots, sweet potatoes, peas, and corn. If you do not have any of these vegetables on hand, then you can also try feeding the squirrels other fruits such as apples, grapes, bananas, and strawberries.
Is Zucchini Safe For Squirrels To Eat?
Zucchini is safe for squirrels to eat and is actually a healthy treat option for them. Zucchini is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium, and manganese. It also contains fiber, which can help keep a squirrel’s digestive system running smoothly.
The only time that you might not want to feed a squirrel zucchini is if the zucchini is starting to rot. This is because rot can cause squirrels to become sick.
If you are not sure whether or not your zucchini is safe for the squirrels to eat, it is best to err on the side of caution and not feed it to them.
A squirrel really should be eating a balanced diet of treat foods, fresh fruits, and vegetables, and nuts to stay healthy. By only feeding a squirrel zucchini as a treat food without any veriety, you could be putting their health at risk.
If you have concerns about the health of the squirrels in your area, we recommend reaching out to a local wildlife rehabilitation center or veterinarian for more information.
Do Squirrels Prefer To Eat The Zucchini Plant Or The Actual Zucchini?
While some people think that squirrels only eat the zucchini plant and not the actual zucchini, this is not true.
Squirrels will actually eat both the zucchini plant and the actual zucchini. Zucchini blossoms, leaves, and stems are all fair game for squirrels with all being eaten without prejudice.
Most squirells do seem to prefer eating the actual zucchini blossoms though, with many people reporting that their zucchini plants have been nibbled on but the actual zucchini has been left untouched.
If you do find that your zucchini plants are being eaten more than the actual zucchini, then there is a good chance that the squirrels in your area are just trying to get to the flowers.
There are a number of other wild animals that will eat zucchini though including deer, rabbits, raccoons, and opossums.
If you find that your zucchini plants are being eaten and you do not think that it is squirrels, then it is a good idea to take a look at what other animals are in the area.
Can You Protect Your Zucchini Blossoms In Your Garden From Squirrels?
If you are worried about the squirrels in your area eating your zucchini blossoms, then there are a number of things that you can do to try and protect them.
One option is to build a fence around your zucchini with netting all around it. This will help to keep the squirrels out and give your zucchini plants a better chance of surviving.
The problem is that a determined squirrel can usually chew through the netting and get to the zucchini blossoms.
If you do decide to go this route, then it is important to make sure that the netting is in good condition and that there are no holes or gaps for the squirrels to squeeze through.
Another option is to use a squirrel spray repellent on your zucchini plants. There are a number of different types of repellents that you can use, but we recommend using a natural repellent such as hot pepper spray.
You will need to reapply the repellent every few days or after it rains to make sure that it is still effective.
A final option is to try and trap the squirrels in your garden. This can be difficult to do and you will need to make sure that you check the trap every day to make sure that no animals are getting hurt.
If you do decide to go this route, then we recommend reaching out to a local wildlife rehabilitation center for more information on how to properly set the trap.
How Frequently Do Squirrels Like To Eat Zucchini?
From our research, it seems that squirrels will eat zucchini as often as they can find it. This means that if you have a lot of zucchini in your garden, then there is a good chance that the squirrels will be eating it on a daily basis. This is not good for the local squirrels though as they need a balanced diet.
Being opportunistic, they will also take any chance they can to eat zucchini from your neighbour’s gardens too!
If you do find that the squirrels in your area are eating too much zucchini, then we recommend reaching out to a local wildlife rehabilitation center for more information on how to best help the situation.
You can spread out other types of squirrel safe food in your garden as well to help them balance out their diet including:
- Fruits such as apples, bananas, and grapes
- Vegetables such as carrots, celery, and peas
- Nuts such as almonds, peanuts, and walnuts
Do Squirrels Eat Zucchini Seeds?
Squirrels do not seem to be interested in eating zucchini seeds and will usually only eat the flesh of the zucchini and its plant. This is good news for those of you who are looking to save the seeds from your zucchini to plant next year as they are often left behind after a squirrel raid.
