If you’ve love feeding the wildlife, then you’re in the right place. Today, I’ve put together 5 of the best homemade squirrel food recipes you can prepare for your backyard friends. We all know these critters love to eat and preparing your own food squirrel food mix.
How to Make Homemade Squirrel Food
Hundreds of nature lovers like you and I have come up with their own squirrel food recipes that they use to feed their backyard friends. Squirrels are omnivores, which means that they eat both plants and animals. However, they prefer to eat fruit, berries, seeds, and nuts.
All the recipes that I’ve found online will help you learn how to make squirrel your own squirrel food to help you save money. We all know that feeding the squirrels can be costly, especially, since they love eating.
If you’d rather buy the food, check out some of the best wild squirrel food, this is what we feed our backyard squirrels and they love it. We also love feeding them the Virginia Inshell Peanuts, as a treat.
Homemade Squirrel Food for Baby Squirrels
If you’ve found a baby squirrel, it’s extremely important to know that they need Pedialyte and puppy milk to ensure proper growth and health. This Esbilac Powder is perfect for newborns.
It’s important to find out the age of the squirrel because they can’t survive on their own until they are at least 10 weeks of age.
Avoid feeding them any solid foods like carrots, bananas, or other types of solid food that can cause them harm. Especially, if they do not have teeth and are NOT ready to eat solids yet.
Squirrel Food Recipes You Can Try Today
I’ve rounded up a huge list of some squirrel food recipes you can use to prepare your own squirrel feed. These recipes are great, especially, if you’ve ever wondered “what to feed squirrels in the backyard.”
If you’ve been thinking about making squirrel food, I suggest using some of these below that I’ve found on different websites online. You can also find the website where I found the recipe inside the recipe.
#1 Homemade Squirrel Food Cakes
These homemade squirrel cakes are provided by the National Wildlife Federation that pertains to National Squirrel Appreciation Day. They realized that grey squirrels loved eating these cakes, but are perfect for any of your bushy-tailed friends.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1/2 pound of suet
- 1 cup peanut butter (unsalted)
- 3 cups birdseed (you can any type you want)
- 1 cup oatmeal
You’ll also need a wooden spoon (it won’t melt in the heat), muffin tins, and old knife or a durable plastic knife.
Cooking Instructions
- Melt the suet in a pot on the stove until it is mushy and almost liquidy. Don’t be too concerned if there are lumps in the solution.
- Once it’s melted stir in the oatmeal and peanut butter leaving the pan over the medium heat until the peanut butter becomes runny.
- Add in the peanut butter slowly until the mixture becomes thick and difficult to stir. Keep the mixture over the heat, until all the birdseed has been added. If the birdseed becomes cool, it will be challenging to get it out of the pan.
- Once all the birdseed has been added, spoon the mixture into the muffin tins.
- Allow the mixture to sit for 24 hours.
- Remove the muffins from the muffin tins using your old knife or a plastic knife.
- Place the cakes near your squirrel feeders and watch them go nutty over them.
#2 Squirrel Block Recipe
These rodents love eating these blocks and the best part is that they can be a great way to provide your backyard friends with the nutrition they need. I found this recipe on The Squirrel Board for nature lovers. The recipe below will prepare a 4 week supply for a full grown one pound squirrel.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 package Henry’s Vita-Mins*
- 1/3 cup wheat flour (optional)
- 1 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
- 80 g Whey Protein Isolate the adult formula
- 130 grams finely ground nuts (almonds, pecans, peanuts any of their favorites)
- 1/2 cup of water (add more if the formula is dry)
- 1 tsp vanilla or almond extract (optional)
- 1 whole egg
You can find any of these ingredients at your local Walmart or on Amazon. I recommend some of these best nuts for squirrels.
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 205 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine all the dry ingredients and then slowly add in the wet ingredients stirring to ensure that the dough sticks together. Knead the dough and form it into a ball. Then place it on a lightly greased surface to roll it out or flatten into squares.
- Bake for 1 1/2 hours, then cut into about 60 pieces while it is still warm.
- Allow the rodent blocks to cool for 2 hours, then place inside a zip-lock bags and store them in the fridge or freezer. This will help keep them from spoiling for several weeks.
- You can warm them in the microwave for 5-10 seconds before feeding wild squirrels in your backyard. Some squirrels will not eat them cold or frozen.
Use these as homemade squirrel treats or regular squirrel feed when their natural food source is not as abundant.
#3 Nutball Recipe For Squirrels
Watching these critters eat in your backyard can be entertaining, especially, if you fill their feeders with foods they love. We all know that squirrels love nuts, but they eat so much more. This recipe was originally found on Loving Backyard Squirrels.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (unsalted is preferred)
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (any of their favorites will do)
- 1/3 cup plain oats (unsweetened)
- 2 tsp flour
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (you substitute 1/2 of chopped nuts instead)
- 2 tablespoons water (you may need to add more to get the proper consistency)
Feel free to substitute any of the ingredients above, just make sure that you choose foods that will provide them with the nutrition they need. Another thing to consider making for these animals, is peanut butter balls.
These animals love peanut butter and making them is not hard. Check out this article on how to make peanut butter balls for squirrels.
Cooking Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Fahrenheit
Mix all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and roll the dough into 1 inch sized balls.
Place on a baking pan with foil and cook in the oven for 3 hours.
Allow to cool for 24 hours or overnight. Place the balls around your squirrel feeder or on the ground to attract squirrels your yard. Don’t be surprised if other wildlife like birds like eating them, these can be used to feed all your backyard critters.
#4 Squirrel Cookie Recipe
I don’t have to tell you how much these critters love eating peanut butter. They’ll love these squirrel-sized peanut butter cookies, that I found on the Birds and Bloom Website.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/3 cup butter (unsalted)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (pack it tightly)
- 1 cup peanut butter (crunchy or smooth as long as it’s unsalted)
This is an easy recipe to follow and only takes about 10-12 minutes to prepare.
Cooking Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375℉. Grease 2 cookie sheets or line with aluminum foil.
- Combine all the dry ingredients and add wet ingredients. Mix together until it is mixed properly.
- Shape the dough into 1-inch balls and place on cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
- Press flat with the palm of your hand or a fork.
- Bake one sheet at a time for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove from cookie sheet and let cool on a cooling rack.
Place the cookies around the squirrel feeder or anywhere your backyard critters love hanging out. Watch them go crazy eating them and trying to carry them back to their drey.
#5 Homemade Squirrel Biscuits
William Sells shares his homemade veggie recipe with nature lovers. This video will walk you through on what vegetables to add and why it’s important to avoid adding so many orange veggies to the feed.
He walks you through the entire process of making your own squirrel food. I have no doubt that your bushy-tailed friends will love eating it.
Homemade Squirrel Treats
I’ve done my best to round up some of the best treats for squirrels that you can use today. All the recipes above are healthy and good for your backyard critters.
The cool thing is that you can great as creative as you want when making your own squirrel food. Some people put their food on skewers on the ground, in feeders, around the trees or anywhere the squirrels will see it.
If you’re trying to attract them to your yard, give it some time. It won’t take long especially, once they realize that you’re feeding them.
Things to Consider When Making Your Own DIY Squirrel Food
Before preparing any of the squirrel food homemade recipes I’ve provided, it’s important to know what not to feed squirrels. I know that these little critters love eating anything, but it doesn’t mean that it’s good for them.
It’s important to understand what you should feed squirrels and what you shouldn’t. Don’t worry, I’ve done my best to help you out by providing you articles about your backyard squirrels nutritional needs.
If you don’t feel comfortable making your own squirrel feed, then I recommend just buying it. You can buy it on Amazon, Walmart, Lowes or any pet store in your area. You can check out some of the best deals on all the products that you’ll need to feed the squirrels here.
Related Articles On What Not to Feed Squirrels
- 11 Tips for Releasing A Squirrel
- Can Squirrels Eat Chocolate?
- What Can You Feed Squirrels And Chipmunks?
- What Are Squirrel Blocks?
- 10 Squirrel Treats For Pets and Wild Squirrels
- How To Choose The Right Squirrel Food Mix?
