Do Squirrels Eat Herbs? Can They Only Eat Certain Ones?

Squirrels love to munch on herbs. In fact, some herbs are their favorite foods. But not just any herb will do - only the ones that are safe should be given to them. If a squirrel eats an unsafe herb or even a dangerous one, he'll soon find himself with some serious stomach problems or worse.

Herbs squirrels like to eat

The most delicious types of herbs that squirrels enjoy eating. This is not an exhaustive list, but it will give you a good idea about which herbs squirrels like to eat.

Parsley

Most people don't think of parsley when they think of eating healthy foods because its flavor is usually too strong for humans' tastes. However, this leafy green has lots of healthy nutrients in it that help keep squirrels' kidneys functioning well. It's also packed with antioxidants and vitamin K, which is good for their bones and blood.

Basil

When you think of an Italian dish, basil is probably one of the first things that come to mind, but this nutrient-rich herb also has a ton of benefits for squirrels. Not only does it help prevent heart diseases, but its high levels of vitamins A, C, E are great at helping squirrels maintain soft fur. Vitamin A in particular will do wonders to brighten up their dull winter coats when they're coming out of nesting during the springtime.

Dill

This leafy green herb can give your dinner some much needed zest. But have you ever wondered what it could do for your squirrel? Dill is an excellent source of protein, calcium, and vitamin C. It's also high in fiber which helps prevent constipation, making it a great herb to feed squirrels who are coming out of nesting or who are pregnant.

Thyme

This herb is not very popular with humans because its taste is either too spicy or too pungent for them. However, squirrels go crazy over its strong flavor. They love this antioxidant-rich herb so much that they'll even ignore other herbs right beside it.

Oregano  

Oregano gets its unique flavor from a plant known as carvacrol, which also has healing properties. This herb is full of protein and essential nutrients that are necessary for squirrels' immune systems to work well. It's especially good for fighting respiratory illnesses since the strong scent removes the mucus from their noses so they can breathe better.

Rosemary

When some people think of rosemary, they imagine a sprig of dried herb sitting inside their roast turkey or on top of some focaccia bread. But did you know that rosemary is also pretty tasty for squirrels? If your squirrel hasn't had much experience tasting rosemary, don't give him too much at once. The essential oils in this herb are strong and can make your squirrel very sick if he eats too much of it.

Lavender

Lavender is beautiful, but it's also delicious to squirrels. If you're looking for a way to train your baby squirrel to come visit you more often or to let him know that it's dinnertime, then lavender is the perfect treat for him. This herb contains lots of calcium which helps keep their bones healthy as well as other nutrients like magnesium and vitamin C which help maintain soft fur.

Sage

Sage is another herb that tends to be used in cooking because of its strong, bitter taste. However, this herb also has benefits for the urinary tract and other parts of a squirrel's body.

Catnip

Even though catnip isn't technically an herb, it is safe for squirrels to eat. It's even one of their favorites. Catnip can be given to your squirrel fresh or dried because the leaves are still packed with lots of nutrients after being harvested.

Herbs not to give your squirrel to eat

Rue

This pungent herb is so toxic in such small amounts that even squirrels avoid it.

How do squirrels eat herbs?

Squirrels eat herbs only when the leaves are tender and relatively new shoots on a plant or berry that is just beginning to ripen. When the leafy parts of a plant are tough, they're difficult for these animals to break down with their teeth. The leaves may not be easily accessible to them or simply too hard for their teeth to chew through.

Where do squirrels eat herbs?

Herbs are among the many different types of vegetation that are eaten by both tree squirrel species and ground squirrel species in North America.

Squirrels eat a large variety of plants and plant parts, including nuts and seeds, fruits, mushrooms, and other fungi, green vegetation such as leaves and grasses, flowers, roots, and bark. However, they also show a preference for certain herbs over others. Many herbs share similar nutritional profiles with various types of fruit trees that squirrels tend to favor as sources for carbohydrates in their diet. In particular:

What are some ways to prevent squirrels from eating the herbs you're trying to grow in your garden?

If you place cages around your plants this may make it more difficult for them to access the produce before it becomes ripe enough for humans to consume. If your garden is large enough, consider planting sufficient herbs so that there will be plenty left over after squirrels eat their fill.

Do squirrels eat herbs summary

Some common types of edible herbs for squirrels are basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, lavender, sage, catnip, and many others. Squirrels like eating these kinds of herbs because they taste good and they're nutritious. Basil helps keep fur soft and shiny while oregano helps with digestion. Lavender can be used as a training treat or for making sure baby squirrels stay healthy after they've been born. Other herbs like sage can be used as an after-dinner treat. Rue is so toxic that even squirrels avoid it, and catnip is a very powerful pleasure-inducer.