Beautiful, fluffy animals, deftly jumping from branch to branch, are familiar to everyone. They are quite unpretentious in food, but many products pose a serious danger to them. In the wild, the animal eats not only plant, but also animal food.
However, today proteins live not only in the forest, but also city parks, zoos. In addition, many people start them right at home. In this case, you should especially responsibly approach the compilation of the diet of a rodent.
Nutrition in the wild
The nutrition of the animal in the wild depends on the climatic conditions of the terrain and the time of the year. That is why proteins always make reserves for the winter. They begin to collect food for these purposes in the summer. Basically, reserves consist of dried mushrooms, acorns, cones, and nuts. They hide them in a cache, which they often forget about.
However, the squirrel can stumble upon other people’s reserves, which saves it from hunger in the winter season. If this does not happen, then the animal uses frogs as food. When everything becomes very bad with food, the squirrel goes to the acorns. In winter, it uses up to 35 grams. food per day.
In early spring, rodents begin to search for fresh sources of plant foods:
In summer, the diet of a rodent expands significantly. Mushrooms, vegetables and fruits are added to it. In search of the latter, proteins visit gardens located near the forest. The rodents prefer foxes from mushrooms, some types of mushrooms, troofel. It is interesting to note that for their reserves they dry mushrooms on trees bitch.
In the warm season, the animal uses approximately 45 grams. food per day. The amount of food of pregnant individuals increases to 85 grams.
How can you feed in the park?
Squirrel quite often can be found in the park. Rodents are quickly adapted to living conditions in the city. Many of them willingly make contact with people, taking food from them. However, everything should not be offered in a row, since the food prohibited for them will cause serious harm to health. In the park or square of the rodent you can treat:
It should be borne in mind that the protein cannot be overfeeded. A portion of treats should be small. In winter, the rodent living in the park is particularly necessary for top dressing. To facilitate the search for food, you can equip a special feeder, periodically replenishing it with treats from the above list.
It is interesting to note that the protein can settle in secluded places. For example, in the attic of the house.
Simple feeders from improvised materials
Making a protein feeder is quite easy. Often for this purpose, serving household appliances are used. For example, coffee machines. You can use simple cardboard boxes. However, the best option for a rodent feeder is a house from a whole piece of wood. Its diameter should be more than 40 cm., Otherwise, the squirrel cannot get food out of it.
The source material is sawn in the right places, hollowed, treated with sandpaper. The thickness of the walls is left 3-4 cm, a roof of bars is installed above the hole. Below the holes make a ledge that serves as a porch for an animal.
That the proteins eat in captivity
The verse lives not only in the wild, but also in zoos, reserves, and even at home. Since it is omnivorous, it does not arise with its content. It is interesting to note that the Moscow City Zoo has its own “book of diets”, which also describes the protein menu. It includes:
The same menu can be made for protein contained at home. The most important thing is not to overfeed. Excessive amount of food will lead to obesity, which will entail health problems. In the warm season, feeding homemade squirrel is better for fresh products and young shoots.
Forbidden products
Despite the fact that the protein is an omnivorous animal, she has a rather sensitive digestive system. Even salt and sugar are able to harm it. It is forbidden to feed the rodent with products that contain flavors and dyes. Particularly danger is posed by nuclear cores from fruit bones. They can provoke poisoning. In addition, the protein is prohibited from feeding the following products:
All products from the above list can be eager to eat proteins, but pose a mortal danger to them.
Important! Despite its beautiful appearance, protein is a carrier of various bacterial and infectious diseases. If you feed the animal from your hands, then you should take care of your safety. After the meal is ended, wash your hands thoroughly.
Funny animals attract the attention of not only children, but also adults. In the wild, the squirrel will always find what to eat. The animal living in the park in winter needs people’s help, since in urban conditions it is quite difficult to get the necessary food. If you plan to have a squirrel at home, then you should carefully study the list of prohibited products, and carefully monitor that they do not get into the diet of proteins.
