How to Feed Wild Squirrels

Create squirrel feeders from clean empty soda bottles for tree squirrels. Make several ¼ holes in the bottom for drainage, together with numerous holes in the sides just slightly larger than the largest nut you plan to place in the feeder. Make another couple of holes near the top, at opposite sides, and thread a piece of cord or strong wire through them for hanging.

Fill the feeders with a mixture of nuts and seeds, such as sunflower seeds, put the lid back on, and hang with wire or cord from branches solid enough to bear the weight of squirrels and at least 10 feet from the ground.

Hang slices of apples or other fruit on cord and tie to similar branches.

Select an appropriate location for a ground squirrel feeding station. Tree squirrels will also use it. Place a couple of bowls on the ground about 10 yards from thick vegetation, including a tree. Squirrels need somewhere to bolt if they feel threatened. On the other hand, the feeding station should not be too close to the vegetation, which could also contain lurking predators such as cats.

Fill one of the bowls with nuts and seeds and the other with slices of fresh fruit and sweet vegetables such as carrots.

Provide a cuttlefish bone, which contains essential calcium, in the ground feeding station or nail to a tree.

Place a dish of water on the ground feeding station. Water is just as important to wildlife as food.

Replace the water daily. Wash all dishes and feeders with hot water and dishwashing liquid once a week to prevent bacteria build-up.