Oravate toitmine talvel

Paljud loomad talvituvad praegu, kuid teised vajavad piisavalt toitu ja peavarju, et nad külmast aastaajast läbi saaksid. Talvel on oravad aktiivsed vaid paar tundi päevas. Selle aja jooksul peavad nad leidma kogu vajaliku toidu. Oravad ei suuda sageli oma peidupaiku uuesti leida – näiteks kui nad peidavad toitu parkidesse või aedadesse, kus inimesed regulaarselt töötavad ja vahetuvad. Sellepärast võib olla hea mõte neid toita.

Should you feed squirrels and, if so, what should you give them? Squirrels mainly eat seeds, nuts and flower buds, but also fungi and chestnuts. The type of food they eat will vary depending on the season. Before winter arrives, squirrels will store food in many places around their habitat and will return to these caches during the winter months. In general, giving squirrels additional food will not harm them. As squirrels are already beginning their gestation period in January, the females in particular need a lot of food in the middle of winter. The first of their young are born in February and will start looking for food themselves in March and April.

Feeding

The best thing to feed squirrels is a mixture of hazelnuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, chopped carrot, unsweetened rusk, watermelon, chopped apple, grapes, kiwifruit and lots of fresh water.

If possible, set up feeding points at different places in your garden so that the squirrels can avoid each other, as in general you will find that you get multiple visitors. Setting up a special squirrel feeder will make sure that no birds or other animals can get at the food.