What Do Squirrels Eat in Wisconsin? A Homeowner’s Guide

If you have a busy bird feeder, a garden full of nibbled tomatoes, or mystery chewing on the soffit, you might be wondering what squirrels actually eat. Understanding their menu helps you protect your yard and your home. Here is what to know, plus simple steps for prevention and humane squirrel removal in Wisconsin.

Learn the foods squirrels love, then use that knowledge to steer them away from your roof, attic, and garden.

What Is a Squirrel?

In Wisconsin, we commonly see gray squirrels, red squirrels, and fox squirrels. All are quick climbers with strong teeth that never stop growing. That constant growth is why they chew. Squirrels forage by season, cache food for winter, and remember where they hid it. They are smart, curious, and very good at finding weak spots on a home.

Why This Information Matters

Food drives behavior. If you know what squirrels eat, you can predict where they will spend time, what they will chew, and how to keep them from nesting in your attic. Fall brings heavy nut gathering. Winter pushes them to bird feeders and attics for warmth. Spring buds and garden seedlings become targets in late April and May. Small changes in what you offer outdoors will reduce damage and cut the chance of a home entry.

DIY Tips for Homeowners

• Know the menu. Squirrels eat acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts, seeds, tree buds, mushrooms, berries, corn, garden vegetables, and fruits.
  
  
• Tidy the buffet. Rake up fallen nuts near the house. Use seed catchers under feeders and sweep shells often.
  
  
• Make feeders tougher. Add baffles above and below. Place feeders at least 10 feet from launch points like fences and branches. Consider hot pepper treated seed. Birds do not mind it, squirrels often do.
  
  
• Protect the garden. Use hardware cloth around raised beds and over new seedlings. Pick ripe produce promptly.
  
  
• Cut the bridges. Trim branches so the nearest limb is 8 to 10 feet from the roof. This reduces roof traffic and scouting along gutters.
  
  
• Seal entry points. Install chimney caps, screen attic and gable vents with 1 by 1 inch or smaller hardware cloth, and repair gaps along soffits and fascia. Do sealing after you are sure no animals are inside.
  
  
• Fix attractants. Secure trash lids, move pet food indoors, and keep compost covered.
  
  
• If one gets inside. Do not trap it in. Open a single exit path to the outdoors, quiet the room, and wait. Then schedule repairs so the path does not become a repeat entrance.
  
  

When to Call a Professional

Call a squirrel removal professional in Wisconsin if you hear morning or evening scratching in the attic, see shredded insulation or droppings, or notice chewed wires or gnawed wood. Professionals can confirm species, set humane one way doors, remove any young safely, and seal entry points in the right order so animals are not trapped. They also advise on pruning, feeder placement, and long term exclusion that fits Wisconsin homes and seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions About Squirrels

What do squirrels eat in winter in Wisconsin?

First and foremost, nuts and seeds that have been stored away, followed by bird seed and, when the weather is nice, tree buds. What people put away in the fall determines their fate.

Do squirrels eat meat or eggs?

They are primarily plant eaters, but some will opportunistically eat insects, eggs, or nestlings. It is not their main diet.

Why do squirrels chew wires and wood?

Their teeth grow continuously. Chewing keeps teeth worn down. They also chew to open entry points and shape nests.

Do repellents work?

Pepper based products can help for short periods, especially on small surfaces. They wash off in rain and need reapplication. Exclusion and habitat changes work better.

Final Note

Squirrels go where the food is. Clean up the buffet, cut roof access, and seal likely entry points. If you suspect an attic guest or keep finding new damage, a squirrel removal plan in Wisconsin will protect your home and keep wildlife outside where it belongs.