Cheese is a popular snack for humans, but what about our furry friends the squirrels? If you’ve ever wondered ‘can squirrels eat cheese?’, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Squirrels can eat some types of cheese in small amounts, but too much can be unhealthy and cause digestive issues.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover whether cheese is good or bad for squirrels, what types of cheese are safest, portions to feed, risks and side effects, and some healthier treat alternatives for our neighborhood rodents.
Can Squirrels Have Cheese? The Short Answer
The short answer is yes, squirrels can eat small amounts of cheese in moderation. However, cheese should only be an occasional treat for squirrels and not a regular part of their diet.
Cheese can be high in fat, calories, and sodium – things that squirrels don’t need a lot of. Too much cheese could lead to obesity and other health issues in squirrels over time. Small pieces of low-fat, low-sodium cheese like cottage cheese or mozzarella make the best treats.
Cheese Can Upset a Squirrel’s Stomach
Since squirrels are primarily herbivores, eating mainly nuts, seeds, fruits, and veggies, their digestive systems aren’t designed to handle rich foods like cheese very well. Too much cheese at one time could give a squirrel diarrhea or vomiting.
Cheese also contains lactose, a milk sugar that many adult squirrels lack the enzymes to properly digest. This could cause temporary stomach upset or discomfort after eating cheese.
The Best Cheeses for Squirrels
If you want to share a bit of cheese with your friendly neighborhood squirrels, opt for small amounts of:
- Low-fat cottage cheese
- Part-skim mozzarella sticks or shredded mozzarella
- Small cubes of Swiss cheese
These lower-fat cheese options are easier for squirrels to digest. Make sure the cheese is all-natural without added preservatives, spices, or flavorings.
For the healthiest treats, try offering squirrels unsalted nuts, chopped fruits and vegetables, or whole grain crackers instead of high-fat cheese.
Best Types of Cheese for Squirrels
Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is a soft, mild cheese that squirrels tend to love. It has a creamy texture that is easy for squirrels to eat and digest. The small curds in cottage cheese provide protein and calcium, which are important nutrients for squirrels (Squirrels and More).
When feeding cottage cheese to squirrels, it’s best to choose brands without added salt, sugar or preservatives. Low-fat or nonfat varieties are lighter and may be easier for the squirrel to digest. Try offering a spoonful or two at a time and see if your furry friends enjoy it!
Mozzarella Cheese
Mozzarella is another soft, mild cheese that squirrels tend to like. Fresh mozzarella has a smooth, creamy texture and mild flavor that squirrels find appealing (Squirrel Enthusiast).
Part-skim, low moisture mozzarella is also a good option – it forms small crumbles and morsels perfect for squirrels to nibble on. The protein and calcium in mozzarella support healthy growth and development.
Try sprinkling a few mozzarella crumbles in areas frequented by squirrels and observe their reaction.
Goat Cheese
Goat cheese, sometimes called chèvre, is a good cheese choice for squirrels. Its crumbly texture and tangy, mild flavor seem to be quite enticing to bushy tails!
Goat cheese is rich in protein, calcium, and healthy fats – all beneficial nutrients for active squirrels. It also contains probiotics which support digestive health. When feeding goat cheese, choose plain, unsweetened varieties to avoid added sugar.
Offer it in tiny portions to start and monitor whether your squirrels like it.
Portion Control Is Important
When it comes to feeding squirrels, it’s crucial to practice portion control. While squirrels may seem eager to gobble up as much food as you’ll give them, overfeeding can lead to serious health issues.
Here are some tips for keeping squirrel treats in moderation:
Stick to small pieces
Cheese can be high in fat, so it’s best to stick to small cube-sized portions (about 1⁄2 inch square). This allows the squirrel to enjoy a taste without overdoing it on the high-calorie cheese.
Offer tiny amounts
Start by offering just a few small pieces at a time. For example, give each squirrel 3-4 tiny cheese cubes per feeding. Pay attention to if the squirrel seems satisfied or still acts hungry when finished.
Limit feeding frequency
It’s best to limit cheese feeding to no more than 1-2 times per week. This gives the squirrel’s digestive system a break from the rich food. Also, avoid giving cheese to baby squirrels, as their growing bodies have different nutritional needs.
Watch for signs of overfeeding
If a squirrel starts looking obese or lethargic after eating cheese, it likely means you’re feeding too much. Cut back on portions and frequency until the squirrel returns to a healthy weight and energy level.
By starting with small cheese pieces and limiting the treats to a couple times a week, you can safely allow squirrels an occasional cheesy snack without risking their health. Just be sure to keep a close eye and adjust as needed if any squirrels start to pack on the pounds!
Risks and Side Effects of Feeding Squirrels Cheese
Weight Gain
Cheese is very high in fat and calories compared to a squirrel’s natural diet. An overabundance of cheese can lead to obesity and other weight-related health issues in squirrels such as diabetes, heart disease, and reduced mobility.
According to wildlife experts, an adult squirrel needs only 25-30 calories per day from fat, but just one ounce of cheddar cheese contains around 115 calories and 9 grams of fat. That’s nearly 5 times more fat calories than a squirrel requires.
Digestive Issues
Squirrels lack the ability to properly digest the lactose found in dairy products. Consuming cheese often causes stomach pains, bloating, gas, diarrhea, and other digestive upset in lactose intolerant animals.
Their small intestinal tracts struggle to break down cheese’s complex proteins and milk sugars. Over time, this can lead to inflammation, nutrient malabsorption, dehydration, and weight loss from diarrhea.
Additionally, the high salt content found in many cheeses may lead to vomiting or excessive thirst as squirrels attempt to dilute the excess sodium levels. In the wild, squirrels have very limited access to salty foods like chips, pretzels, and cheese puffs.
Their bodies and taste preferences are not adapted to handle high salt concentrations.
Sodium and Lactose Intolerance
The natural squirrel diet of nuts, seeds, fruits, fungi, and insects is very low in sodium. However, cheese can contain upwards of 600 mg of sodium per ounce. This amount overwhelms a squirrel’s kidneys which are not equipped to process high salt levels safely.
Sodium toxicity may result, causing nausea, weakness, tremors, seizures and possibly heart failure with continued high sodium cheese feeding.
Additionally, nearly all squirrels lack the intestinal lactase enzyme needed to properly break down lactose sugars found in milk-based cheese products. When undigested lactose reaches the colon, it ferments and causes uncomfortable gas production and diarrhea.
Symptoms of lactose intolerance, similar to humans, include cramping, bloating, loose stools, gas, and stomach rumblings after cheese consumption.
While an occasional small piece of cheese likely won’t harm healthy adult squirrels, regularly feeding cheese promotes weight gain and may lead to digestive troubles or sodium toxicity issues. Refer to a wildlife rehabilitator if you notice a squirrel suffering adverse reactions from cheese or human food ingestion.
Healthier Alternatives to Cheese for Squirrels
Nuts
Nuts like acorns, pecans, almonds, and walnuts are great healthy snacks for squirrels. They are a natural part of a squirrel’s diet and provide essential nutrients like proteins, healthy fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
According to wildlife experts, over 75% of a squirrel’s diet should consist of various nuts and seeds.
Nuts have antioxidants like vitamin E that boost squirrels’ immune systems. The high levels of good fats keep their coat lush and thick during cold months. Unlike cheese that has high saturated fat content, most nuts contain the healthier unsaturated fats.
Seeds
In the wild, squirrels enjoy nutrient-dense seeds like sunflower, pumpkin, sesame, flax, chia and more. These provide minerals like zinc, manganese, copper and magnesium vital for growth and bodily functions.
Seeds give lasting energy thanks to complex carbs and fiber that break down slowly. This ensures squirrels remain active all day long to forage and store food. Cheese may fill their tiny bellies but cannot sustain their energy.
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
Though squirrels mostly eat tree nuts and seeds, fresh produce like berries, apples, leafy greens deliver some amazing health perks. They provide dietary fiber for good digestion and phytonutrient antioxidants lacking in nuts and cheese.
Fruits offer natural sugars in a safe amount for squirrels. Leafy greens like kale, broccoli, cabbage are loaded with vitamins (C, E, K), iron, potassium. These protect cells from damage and keep essential systems functioning at their best.
As per studies, a balanced omnivorous diet with 10-15% appropriate fruits and veggies benefits squirrels immensely. So instead of just filling their bellies with cheese treats, also offer healthier fresh foods.
Conclusion
In conclusion, squirrels can occasionally eat small amounts of low-lactose, low-sodium cheeses like cottage, mozzarella and goat cheese. But cheese should be an occasional treat, not a dietary staple, due to risks of weight gain, digestive issues, sodium and lactose.
Healthier options like nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies make up the ideal squirrel diet.
