If you love animals, you probably enjoy watching them visit your yard. Witnessing wildlife on one’s own property is thrilling to many people. So, is it wrong to feed them? Feeding squirrels is not bad per se, but many wildlife experts warn that you should not. Feeding the squirrels in your yard risks unbalancing the natural order of things and hurting you in the long run. If you have any squirrel concerns, feel free to reach out to Pest Control Guelph.
There are many reasons why feeding squirrels should be avoided. First of all, several foods like peanuts, cereals, and breads have no nutritional value to squirrels. Squirrels also have a tendency to overeat, so leaving food out for them could backfire. The squirrels may also become dependent on the food you leave out for them and reach an unnaturally large population. Moreover, feeding these animals risks making them lose their natural fear of humans, which can encourage them to get too close and become aggressive when not fed. Having no fear of humans could put a strain on the relationships you have with your neighbours as the squirrels get comfortable digging up their flowerbeds and invading their attics.
Having too many squirrels in the neighbourhood increases the risk of squirrel invasions. Squirrels are attracted to the warmth and shelter that attics provide and will try to get inside them when the temperature outside drops. While they may be cute outside, squirrels will unfortunately wreak havoc on your attic if they get inside. They will damage your roof and chew their way through the ventilation of your house, exposing your attic to the elements and attracting other pests inside, like raccoons. Squirrels like to build nests in the insulation, crushing and pushing the insulation around in a way that will drive up your energy costs. These nests are also dirty and risk damaging the ceilings in the rooms below with urine that has accumulated over time.
While it is not advised that you feed the squirrels on your property, you can still make your yard attractive to them in ways that won’t upset nature’s delicate balance. Try planting native plants and shrubs such as wild cherry and hawthorn. Trees like maple, oak, hickory, beech, and pine are squirrel favourites, too. These plants will provide the squirrels in your area with foods that are good for them and natural places for them to nest.
There is no harm in admiring the squirrels on your property, but you should be careful not to make them too comfortable. You don’t want to make the animals sick with the wrong food, and you definitely want to avoid a squirrel infestation in the attic. Consider hiring a professional to squirrel-proof your property. This is the best way to protect your home from a squirrel invasion and will give you the peace of mind you need to watch the squirrels without concern. Call Pest Control Guelph today for quality pest-proofing: 519-900-1180.
