Hunting What Squirrel Feed? What the Science Says....

[Shoto1]

@Fx shooter

Please keep off this thread to avoid unnecessary friction.

Thanks.

 

[Dr B]

i use rice had 25kg given to me toped all feeders up tree rats loved it

Not sure about that myself but fair do's - but if you note the factors outlined in the OP - its not just about the food type (though that is very important) its also mediated by other factors - but - these other factors can often be specific to certain environments.

In discussions of this type people often fall into the trap of thinking its all about the food type - but in the OP its clear, food type is influenced by mediating factors. However, when all things are equal - peanuts win as the best all rounder. Think of it like a 'pound for pound' boxer....all things being equal a certain boxer could be regarded as the 'best' - but in reality, things are not always equal.

In Biology they talk about 'drivers' and 'mediators' in animal behaviour. Nutritional content is a 'driver' but other factors are mediators. The final behaviour and food choices you see are a trade off of these factors. But if you're looking to truly optimise your approach and get more sooner and for longer, peanuts, hazelnuts, walnuts etc are the way to go. Wheat, seeds and other substances might bring them in when the context is right (but they don't in any wood I've shot in the last 35 years), but its not advice I would give to people.

There are loads round my way that cant make wheat or maize work. These lads are well experienced (some are Gamekeepers) but they can't get sustained interest on the feeder. Every wood is different of course, as mentioned in the OP.

It's basically a case of what's available, is it easy to get, are there no threats, and will it give the most energy.

 

[edtree]

Great read thanks , got to keep them off my cob nuts.!

 

[karl66]

Nothing really new but I fill my feeders with monkey nuts...which they devour but what really brings them in is teaspoons of chocolate spread!...on the feeder platform.

 

[Thetraindriver01]

Fantastic thread, lots of great info, thank you for your time and effort

 

[Beano]

Very interesting thread!

My experience generally tallies with @Dr B but I am interested in some of what @Fx shooter says about success with wheat.

Mainly because wheat is so cheap and peanuts are definitely not!

I believe @Dr B point about motivating drivers and situational mediators is fundamental to how the greys will behave in a particular situation and partly why we see such differences.

Peanuts work very well for me and wheat will mostly only interest the birds and mice. I tried mixed wheat and peanuts in the same feeder and the b*****s emptied all the wheat out onto the floor to get at the nuts….(I filmed them meticulously chucking the wheat away)

I have learned to make the feeders rain proof and this very damp winter was a stern test. Oh and it took a lot of experimenting with where to place the feeders (which is a huge subject in its own right given the need to fill and maintain them easily while also providing approach cover to a good shooting position). And they damage the feeders if they go empty for long.

With regard to success being measured by numbers reducing, on one of my permissions that isn’t the case. It’s a 10 acre plot with a “squirrel motorway” of mixed hardwoods running down the middle length. There are woods at either end and I’ve seen greys coming in and going from both ends. They can travel through without setting foot on the ground.

The purpose of shooting is to dissuade any from setting up home in any of the buildings (which was a big problem). This works because we shoot the excess numbers each year who are forced out of their birth homes to set up elsewhere. 2 feeders are in use at any time.

 

[Dr B]

Thanks @Beano - sounds like wheat didnt work for you then. Wheat has never worked on any shoot I've ever had - they are not interested. I hear the same from others up here in the lakes - our greys are very picky. We all use a peanut mix (mixed with some seeds etc) and the point is - this is optimal and they don't rot in the rain either.

There is a difference between getting a few greys on a feeder and getting most greys in the area on a feeder, and keep them coming. The latter is the optimised solution. You'll get more and make a much larger dent in their numbers. I do write also about feeder placement in my book and have done in several places on here. You are absolutely right that it matters - again, its the difference between getting 'some' interest on the feeder, to getting the feeder swamped with them. Best of luck with it. .

 

[karl66]

I like the idea of getting the feeder swamped .
I'm using peanut's & chocolate spread.... they seem to prefer the chocolate spread so I've got to find a happy medium.

 

[Brooksy]

I've usually left my feeders alone in the summer months due to a fall in activity. I think I'm going to give them another go as soon as I get back from Corfu. Hopefully, the weather will still be okay.

 

[Dr B]

I've usually left my feeders alone in the summer months due to a fall in activity. I think I'm going to give them another go as soon as I get back from Corfu. Hopefully, the weather will still be okay.

Still loads around my friend and you wont really see a drop off until August. Things will then go quiet until around October - though you can still get the odd one or two.

 

[Brooksy]

Still loads around my friend and you wont really see a drop off until August. Things will then go quiet until around October - though you can still get the odd one or two.

I did get two, high in the branches of an oak tree last August. After that, he fills the pheasant pens and won't let me near. They were difficult shots too, angles of around 60 degrees using a Pard!

 

[Hackled Hopper]

I’ve been using a mix of wheat and maize in feeders in the same locations in the woods for a few years and results have been pretty good, resulting in a noticeable reduction in the population of greys. The last 6 or so visits have been quiet with just 1 or 2 on each occasion, sometimes nothing seen or heard, so very pleased with the results.

To keep the control in check, I’ve swapped 2 feeders to peanuts only with a flip up cover on feed trough to stop most birds nicking the expensive nuts.

I’ll leave it for a few days before returning, it’ll be interesting to see if the nuts pull in more greys compared to the previous mix. I will also get the trail cam back in.

If it’s still mostly quiet, it’ll be time to move the feeders.

 

[RobBob]

Great read, lots of info, thanks.

 

[Dr B]

I’ve been using a mix of wheat and maize in feeders in the same locations in the woods for a few years and results have been pretty good, resulting in a noticeable reduction in the population of greys. The last 6 or so visits have been quiet with just 1 or 2 on each occasion, sometimes nothing seen or heard, so very pleased with the results.

To keep the control in check, I’ve swapped 2 feeders to peanuts only with a flip up cover on feed trough to stop most birds nicking the expensive nuts.

I’ll leave it for a few days before returning, it’ll be interesting to see if the nuts pull in more greys compared to the previous mix. I will also get the trail cam back in.

If it’s still mostly quiet, it’ll be time to move the feeders.

Best of luck my friend. The research on this has already been done and is paraphrased in the OP. (higher caloric intake the better) However, as also discussed, every wood is different! Enjoy! Best of luck with it.

 

[Blackio]

You will often see people having very heated debates on what type of ‘feed’ to put in their squirrel feeders. I’ll be honest, it often makes me smile. To truly understand the way forward here we need to consult the science and not some FaceTube numpty – who may well be enjoying some success, but alas is far from optimised in their approach. You can see this when they boast about how many they cull on every session, year after year, which begs the serious question as to why the numbers are not coming down! Now, I’m not arguing against success, and every grey counts, but most of us have lives outside of shooting. We have families, work commitments, and the general noise of life. Therefore, to my mind our time spent on the greys needs to be optimised as much as possible and we all have limitations on us in terms of time and finances. So it’s a balancing act. That being said I thought I’d put this together for members as we often get newbies asking about what to use in a feeder. OK, now the science bit for those interested……

Scientific research has demonstrated that Grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) generally follow the Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT), which predicts that they will maximise energy intake while minimising the effort taken to obtain the food and the risk involved in getting it. Although there is still debate in the field on various details, the foraging behaviours of the grey squirrel align very well with the key principles of the theory. It goes something like this (taken from various sources):

How Grey Squirrels Exhibit Optimal Foraging:

1. Energy Maximization vs. Effort
   • Grey squirrels prioritise high-energy foods like acorns, nuts, and seeds, which provide long-term caloric benefits.They often cache food for later use, reducing future foraging effort and risk.
2. Patch Selection
   • Squirrels assess food patches based on abundance, quality, and predation risk.
   • They prefer dense food sources but will move to another area if depletion makes foraging inefficient.
3. Risk vs. Reward (Predation Trade-off)
   • Squirrels adjust feeding behaviour depending on predator presence. In high-risk areas, they grab food and retreat to cover rather than eating in the open.
   • In low-risk areas, they may stay and consume food on-site, maximising intake efficiency.
4. Handling Time and Energy Return
   • They select foods based on ease of processing, favouring acorns and nuts that can be quickly stored or consumed. They may discard less nutritious items if higher-value food is available, consistent with profitability models in OFT.
5. Seasonal Adjustments
   • In autumn, squirrels increase caching behaviours to prepare for winter scarcity. In spring and summer, when food is more available, they may forage more selectively.

Grey squirrels exhibit strong optimal foraging behaviour by balancing food quality, effort, and predation risk. Their caching strategies further refine their foraging efficiency, allowing them to secure future resources while minimising immediate risks and energy expenditure.

Now, debate rages in shooting circles re maize and wheat. But the answer is, and always has been, in the scope of the OFT as outlined above. Grey squirrels can eat maize and wheat, but their preference for these foods depends on availability and competition with other food sources. Squirrels strongly prefer energy-dense foods like nuts and seeds, with peanuts, acorns, and sunflower seeds being top choices. Peanuts are high in fat and protein, making them more attractive than maize or wheat, which are starch-heavy but lower in fat. The reality is, squirrels will eat maize and wheat if other high-fat foods are unavailable. Studies have shown that maize, in particular, is ignored unless other food is scarce. Some studies suggest that squirrels may discard maize kernels after testing them if better food options are nearby – so they will investigate such foods, but then move on and not return. In harsh winters, when natural food is scarce, squirrels are less picky and will eat whatever is available (or in woodlands that do not produce viable alternatives).

Ultimately, grey squirrels prioritise nuts and seeds based on caloric density, fat content, and protein levels. Here’s a general ranking of nuts and seeds in terms of caloric intake and preference, from highest energy yield (most preferred) to lowest (taken from various sources):

1. High-Calorie, High-Fat, High-Preference Nuts:

These provide the most energy per gram and are highly favoured due to their caloric fat and protein content.

Walnuts (~654 kcal/100g, ~65% fat) – Extremely high in fat and energy, often cached if shelled.
Pine Nuts – (673 kcal/100g ~ 68% fat) Extremely high in fat content / very energy dense.
Hazelnuts (~628 kcal/100g, ~61% fat) – High preference due to oil-rich content.
Pecans (~691 kcal/100g, ~72% fat) – Highest fat content; very energy-dense.
Almonds (~579 kcal/100g, ~50% fat) – Nutritious but harder to process than some other nuts.
Peanuts (~567 kcal/100g, ~49% fat) – Readily eaten due to availability and high protein.

2. Moderately High-Calorie Nuts & Seeds:

Still preferred, but not as energy-dense as the first group.

Sunflower Seeds (~584 kcal/100g, ~51% fat) – Highly attractive; commonly eaten.
Pumpkin Seeds (~446 kcal/100g, ~19% fat) – Less fat but still eaten regularly.
Acorns (~387 kcal/100g, ~24% fat, variable tannins) – Squirrels prefer white acorns (lower tannins) over red acorns (bitter).

3. Lower-Calorie, Less Preferred Seeds & Grains:

More starchy and lower in fat; consumed mainly when better food is scarce.

Maize/Corn (~365 kcal/100g, ~4.7% fat) – Eaten occasionally but less preferred due to low fat. Can be completely ignored.
Wheat (~340 kcal/100g, ~2% fat) – Consumed only when other foods are unavailable – otherwise can be completely ignored.

Key Takeaways:

High-fat nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts) are the most preferred and often cached if shelled.
Peanuts and sunflower seeds are highly favoured and commonly eaten.
Acorns are eaten selectively, white acorns preferred over bitter red acorns. Red acorns can be cached as the bitter tannins mellow over time.
Grains like maize and wheat are last-resort foods and usually ignored if better options exist.


Caveat: Grey squirrels are also stimulated by rummaging (through a feed ‘mix’) and nibbling through outer shells of nuts. This can accelerate their vigour at ensuring your feeder is an important spot to visit. Adding some cracked shelled nuts the night before or on the day of shooting can bring them in and keep them on the feeder for longer. Cracking the shell means the squirrel will assess the nut and will know it will not survive being buried – so it should not run off with it – but sit and eat it, giving you all the time you need.

I hope this helps. If you are on a budget, and it works in your shooting setting, maize and wheat etc will bring them in if nothing else is around (this is an integral part of the OFT). But it’s not optimised. Generally speaking, they will come in stronger, in greater numbers, from further afield and more enthusiastically for nuts and seeds with greater caloric value – it’s worth the energy investment and the risk from their point of view. Ultimately, although lots of feeds may ‘work’ (to some degree), you’ll get more greys sooner with greater caloric feeds. Best of luck with your efforts.


Edited for typos.

Nice post. Great bit of info

 

[Womble-With-a-Rifle]

You will often see people having very heated debates on what type of ‘feed’ to put in their squirrel feeders. I’ll be honest, it often makes me smile. To truly understand the way forward here we need to consult the science and not some FaceTube numpty – who may well be enjoying some success, but alas is far from optimised in their approach. You can see this when they boast about how many they cull on every session, year after year, which begs the serious question as to why the numbers are not coming down! Now, I’m not arguing against success, and every grey counts, but most of us have lives outside of shooting. We have families, work commitments, and the general noise of life. Therefore, to my mind our time spent on the greys needs to be optimised as much as possible and we all have limitations on us in terms of time and finances. So it’s a balancing act. That being said I thought I’d put this together for members as we often get newbies asking about what to use in a feeder. OK, now the science bit for those interested……

Scientific research has demonstrated that Grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) generally follow the Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT), which predicts that they will maximise energy intake while minimising the effort taken to obtain the food and the risk involved in getting it. Although there is still debate in the field on various details, the foraging behaviours of the grey squirrel align very well with the key principles of the theory. It goes something like this (taken from various sources):

How Grey Squirrels Exhibit Optimal Foraging:

1. Energy Maximization vs. Effort
   • Grey squirrels prioritise high-energy foods like acorns, nuts, and seeds, which provide long-term caloric benefits.They often cache food for later use, reducing future foraging effort and risk.
2. Patch Selection
   • Squirrels assess food patches based on abundance, quality, and predation risk.
   • They prefer dense food sources but will move to another area if depletion makes foraging inefficient.
3. Risk vs. Reward (Predation Trade-off)
   • Squirrels adjust feeding behaviour depending on predator presence. In high-risk areas, they grab food and retreat to cover rather than eating in the open.
   • In low-risk areas, they may stay and consume food on-site, maximising intake efficiency.
4. Handling Time and Energy Return
   • They select foods based on ease of processing, favouring acorns and nuts that can be quickly stored or consumed. They may discard less nutritious items if higher-value food is available, consistent with profitability models in OFT.
5. Seasonal Adjustments
   • In autumn, squirrels increase caching behaviours to prepare for winter scarcity. In spring and summer, when food is more available, they may forage more selectively.

Grey squirrels exhibit strong optimal foraging behaviour by balancing food quality, effort, and predation risk. Their caching strategies further refine their foraging efficiency, allowing them to secure future resources while minimising immediate risks and energy expenditure.

Now, debate rages in shooting circles re maize and wheat. But the answer is, and always has been, in the scope of the OFT as outlined above. Grey squirrels can eat maize and wheat, but their preference for these foods depends on availability and competition with other food sources. Squirrels strongly prefer energy-dense foods like nuts and seeds, with peanuts, acorns, and sunflower seeds being top choices. Peanuts are high in fat and protein, making them more attractive than maize or wheat, which are starch-heavy but lower in fat. The reality is, squirrels will eat maize and wheat if other high-fat foods are unavailable. Studies have shown that maize, in particular, is ignored unless other food is scarce. Some studies suggest that squirrels may discard maize kernels after testing them if better food options are nearby – so they will investigate such foods, but then move on and not return. In harsh winters, when natural food is scarce, squirrels are less picky and will eat whatever is available (or in woodlands that do not produce viable alternatives).

Ultimately, grey squirrels prioritise nuts and seeds based on caloric density, fat content, and protein levels. Here’s a general ranking of nuts and seeds in terms of caloric intake and preference, from highest energy yield (most preferred) to lowest (taken from various sources):

1. High-Calorie, High-Fat, High-Preference Nuts:

These provide the most energy per gram and are highly favoured due to their caloric fat and protein content.

Walnuts (~654 kcal/100g, ~65% fat) – Extremely high in fat and energy, often cached if shelled.
Pine Nuts – (673 kcal/100g ~ 68% fat) Extremely high in fat content / very energy dense.
Hazelnuts (~628 kcal/100g, ~61% fat) – High preference due to oil-rich content.
Pecans (~691 kcal/100g, ~72% fat) – Highest fat content; very energy-dense.
Almonds (~579 kcal/100g, ~50% fat) – Nutritious but harder to process than some other nuts.
Peanuts (~567 kcal/100g, ~49% fat) – Readily eaten due to availability and high protein.

2. Moderately High-Calorie Nuts & Seeds:

Still preferred, but not as energy-dense as the first group.

Sunflower Seeds (~584 kcal/100g, ~51% fat) – Highly attractive; commonly eaten.
Pumpkin Seeds (~446 kcal/100g, ~19% fat) – Less fat but still eaten regularly.
Acorns (~387 kcal/100g, ~24% fat, variable tannins) – Squirrels prefer white acorns (lower tannins) over red acorns (bitter).

3. Lower-Calorie, Less Preferred Seeds & Grains:

More starchy and lower in fat; consumed mainly when better food is scarce.

Maize/Corn (~365 kcal/100g, ~4.7% fat) – Eaten occasionally but less preferred due to low fat. Can be completely ignored.
Wheat (~340 kcal/100g, ~2% fat) – Consumed only when other foods are unavailable – otherwise can be completely ignored.

Key Takeaways:

High-fat nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts) are the most preferred and often cached if shelled.
Peanuts and sunflower seeds are highly favoured and commonly eaten.
Acorns are eaten selectively, white acorns preferred over bitter red acorns. Red acorns can be cached as the bitter tannins mellow over time.
Grains like maize and wheat are last-resort foods and usually ignored if better options exist.


Caveat: Grey squirrels are also stimulated by rummaging (through a feed ‘mix’) and nibbling through outer shells of nuts. This can accelerate their vigour at ensuring your feeder is an important spot to visit. Adding some cracked shelled nuts the night before or on the day of shooting can bring them in and keep them on the feeder for longer. Cracking the shell means the squirrel will assess the nut and will know it will not survive being buried – so it should not run off with it – but sit and eat it, giving you all the time you need.

I hope this helps. If you are on a budget, and it works in your shooting setting, maize and wheat etc will bring them in if nothing else is around (this is an integral part of the OFT). But it’s not optimised. Generally speaking, they will come in stronger, in greater numbers, from further afield and more enthusiastically for nuts and seeds with greater caloric value – it’s worth the energy investment and the risk from their point of view. Ultimately, although lots of feeds may ‘work’ (to some degree), you’ll get more greys sooner with greater caloric feeds. Best of luck with your efforts.


Edited for typos.

Excellent article and info Thankyou

 

[Womble-With-a-Rifle]

very informative… appreciate the time you’ve spent on this.

Having shot a woodland for a couple of years that was previously untouched I’m now in the process of trying to thin out the thinnest of a population… I’m learning that even a 20 yard shift in feeder location can change habits…

They’re far more complex animals than I had given them credit for.

Keep sharing your knowledge!

As an add on to this up in Northumberland we have discovered that any fav tree or fence highway different generations us the same trees etc as their forebears
For years now my next door neighbours fence running thru the woods is a hunting trapping shooting hotspot
Don’t ask me how the wee buggers do it —but they do

 

[Rhys Ent]

Bought 12.5kg of peanuts last week from B&M for £23. Not the cheapest, but not the most expensive. They also sell 12.5kg of sunflower hearts for £19.95. I used mixed maize last year, but as the thread clearly shows, those squizzers want fat-rich grub. As much as I love hunting them, I'd prefer to see them eradicated from these green Isles to allow the red to return. Great post by the way.

 

[Mandalorian]

Bought 12.5kg of peanuts last week from B&M for £23. Not the cheapest, but not the most expensive. They also sell 12.5kg of sunflower hearts for £19.95. I used mixed maize last year, but as the thread clearly shows, those squizzers want fat-rich grub. As much as I love hunting them, I'd prefer to see them eradicated from these green Isles to allow the red to return. Great post by the way.

You can get them cheaper using the forum code

 

[karl66]

For every feeder I fill up I put a handful of giant sunflower seeds mixed in...I like to spoil my guests.