The stereotype is everywhere. In movies, squirrels run around looking for nuts. There are cartoons that show squirrels eating nuts. Almost every cute viral picture of squirrels shows the animal’s cheeks filled with nuts.

It’s easy to assume that this is the main food they eat. But squirrels eat a much more varied diet. These animals eat bananas too, but how about the peels? Do squirrels eat banana peels? This article looks into it

If push comes to shove a squirrel may eat a banana peel but squirrels really shouldn’t eat banana peels. Banana peels contain cellulose. Squirrels and a number of other animals cannot digest cellulose. Also, the banana peels are probably coated with a layer of pesticide. Pesticides can cause negative behavioral changes and death in squirrels.

Can squirrels eat banana peels?

Squirrels are omnivores, they eat a combination of animals and plants. This varied diet gives them a good combination of nutrients and minerals. Bananas may be good for squirrels but banana peels aren’t so great for these animals.

The nutrients found in banana peels will definitely boost the squirrel’s health and overall well-being but banana peels also contain a compound that the animal cannot digest: cellulose. Cellulose is usually found in the rigid cell walls of plants.

Both humans and squirrels cannot break down cellulose, in fact, many animals aren’t able to digest cellulose on their own.

The only animals that can break down cellulose are sheep, horses, and goats. These animals have bacteria in their intestinal tract that possess enzymes that can digest the cellulose

Nutrients in banana peels:

Generally, humans don’t eat banana peels. We toss them in the trash or use them in our compost heaps. But banana peels offer a number of nutrients that some people have been enjoying for centuries.

Banana peels are full of fiber and have a number of vitamins and minerals such a vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, potassium, and magnesium to name a few.

These nutrients will help boost a squirrel’s immune system, improve the development of their cells, regulate glucose levels in a squirrel’s body and help with the production of energy in the squirrel’s body.

Cellulose makes up about 12% of banana peels. Squirrels can digest 88% of the peel, and benefit from the nutrients in the 88%, but these animals will not be able to digest the rest of the peel made up of cellulose

Dangers of squirrels eating banana peels:

Banana peels can be dangerous to squirrels because they likely have a coating of pesticides on the skin.

This is the case unless you buy organic bananas but generally non-organic bananas are coated with pesticides. Pesticides can affect squirrels in a variety of negative ways.

The first danger of pesticides is that they can disrupt the animal’s hormones. This results in the animal developing behavioral changes and the animal having a lower ability to reproduce.

If you notice a squirrel falling over, walking irregularly eg: walking in circles, or behaving abnormally in general after it eats a banana peel then it may have been poisoned by the pesticides. Another negative effect of pesticide ingestion by squirrels is death.

The banana peel may be natural but it isn’t a part of the squirrel’s natural diet. As humans, we eat the inside of the banana, not the banana peel. The chances of the squirrel eating the peel are pretty low.

Is banana good for squirrels?

The inside of the banana is a great food source for your squirrels, but they are more of a treat than the main food source. Bananas are delicious, but even though bananas have a high supply of vitamins and minerals they are still very sweet for the squirrel.

It is recommended that you only give the squirrel 2 slices of banana a day. If you give them too many bananas the bananas can give the squirrel health problems.

Can squirrel eat fruits?

Yes, squirrels eat fruits, squirrels love fruits, many animals love fruits.

Eating fruits is a great way to get some sweetness and variety into the animal’s diet. That being said, you should always feed squirrels fruits in moderation. They love these sweet treats but fruits can be too much sugar for them.

Too many fruits can also give them diarrhea. The squirrel will do well with a little bit of fruit a day. This will deliver some much-needed sugars, carbohydrates, and energy.

Good fruits to give squirrels include berries, pieces of apples, and melons. Birds love cranberries as well, read more here.

What should squirrels be eating?

Squirrels are not picky and have a varied diet. They generally have an appetite for their native fruits, nuts, vegetables, fungi, flowers, and insets.

Vegetables: Vegetables are a good way to get a lot of nutrients packed into one meal. Squirrels enjoy vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, and arugula. They also love to eat peas, corn, eggplant, cabbage, cauliflower, and leeks to name a few.

Nuts: There is a stereotype that squirrels love nuts and it’s correct. Squirrels go crazy over the stuff. Squirrels eating nuts is helpful because the squirrels distribute the nuts in various places promoting biodiversity.

These animals love pine nuts, cashews, pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds, acorns, and macadamia nuts to name a few. Parrots love pine nuts too, read more here.

Insets: Squirrels are omnivores, they eat both plants and animals. Insects are the animals that squirrels eat. If squirrels can’t get their hands on some vegetables then the squirrel will enjoy some insects.

They will eat insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, butterflies, caterpillars, larvae, and winged bugs. These insects offer the squirrel a good supply of protein.

Fungi: Humans aren’t the only animals that love this stuff. Squirrels love fungi as well. In the wild, they forage for mushrooms. There is a lot of biodiversities out in the wild so squirrels generally have a petty good selection of mushrooms to choose from.

What should you not feed squirrels?

Junk food: Humans shouldn’t really be eating this food, well at least not in the quantities that we do, and neither should squirrels. The high salt content, fat content, and sugar content in junk foods are not good for squirrels. They simply fill the squirrel up and offer minimal nutritional value. They also cause squirrels to become hyperactive.

Formulas: This includes puppy, kitten, or human baby formula. Formulas, in general, are very bad for squirrels. In fact, they are so bad they can be fatal to your squirrel friends. Formulas generally contain too many preservatives for the squirrel.

Conclusion:

If push comes to shove, squirrels may eat banana peels but they really shouldn’t. Banana peels may contain vitamins and minerals and have a good supply of fiber, but squirrels usually won’t eat banana peels unless they have to. The peels aren’t a part of their natural diet in the wild.

Banana peels contain cellulose. Squirrels and other vertebrates, including humans, can’t digest cellulose. In addition, unless you buy organic, the peel will be coated with a layer of pesticides. Pesticides can alter the squirrel’s behavior and negatively affect the reproductive ability of the animal.

You can give squirrels other fruits in moderation if you want to give them something sweet. For a well-rounded diet, you should give them fruits, veggies, insects, fungi, and nuts.