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Why are sunflower seeds bad for squirrels?
It’s not that sunflower seeds and peanuts are incredibly harmful to squirrels; it’s just that they have very low nutritional value. Raw peanuts can be especially dangerous because they can harbor toxic mold. It’s important for squirrels to consume a balanced mixture of nuts, seeds, corn, fruit, leaves, fungi and bark.
What animals eat black oil sunflower seeds?
Black-Oil sunflower seed attracts Northern Cardinals, Tufted titmice, Mourning doves, Gray catbirds, Evening grosbeaks, Boat-tailed and Common grackles, Bushtits, House finches, Pine siskins, Black-billed magpies and all species of chickadees, nuthatches, and jays – just to name a few.
What seeds do squirrels not eat?
Nyjer seed, millet, safflower, canary seed and canola seed all are ingredients that squirrels avoid. Unfortunately a hungry squirrel will eat anything that will provide it nourishment.
Are black oil sunflower seeds bad for squirrels?
One thing we learned about our black oil sunflower seed offering is that squirrels love them too. They’re fine for squirrels to consume, but if you don’t want your furry friends scarfing down the food you’d rather the birds get the best of, you can purchase a feeder that keeps squirrels out.
Are black sunflower seeds the same as black oil sunflower seeds?
Black oil sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are cultivars that contain more oil in their black seeds than the familiar gray and gray- or black-striped seeds. Humans can eat black oil sunflower seeds, but they tend to go rancid more quickly than the culinary cultivars.
What kind of sunflower seeds do squirrels like?
Likewise, do squirrels like black sunflower seeds? Squirrels love black oil sunflower seeds, so if you don’t want them in your yard, avoid blends with sunflower seeds. Squirrels also love nuts in the shell, which are important to them in two ways. Foods you shouldn’t put out for squirrels are corn and peanuts.
What kind of food does a squirrel eat?
Most people think that squirrels only eat nuts and seeds, but that’s not the case. These additional foods include peanuts, peanut butter, pecans, pistachios, grapes, corn, squash, zucchini, pumpkin, strawberries, carrots, apples, sunflower seeds and even snack items, such as Oreo® cookies. What animals eat black oil sunflower seeds?
Why do birds eat black oil sunflower seeds?
For one, the seeds are very nutritionally dense, which I will discuss more later on. However one of the big reasons is the shell or “hull”. Black oil sunflower seeds have very thin shells, and this makes them easy for almost any seed-eating bird to crack open.
What can I put in birdseed to keep squirrels from eating it?
Nyjer seed, millet, safflower, canary seed and canola seed all are ingredients that squirrels avoid. Unfortunately a hungry squirrel will eat anything that will provide it nourishment. Mix hot pepper (capsicum) into birdseed.