As an Oakville homeowner, you probably see squirrels in your yard quite often. You might even enjoy their antics as they climb trees, chase each other and gather food. One common food source these rodents enjoy is acorns, but you may wonder, why do squirrels eat acorns? Is it their favourite food or something they eat simply to survive?

Squirrels may chew their way into your attic to hide their acorn stash. Here at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, our wildlife removal technicians can help you evict squirrels from your property and explain squirrel behaviour, such as a few reasons why squirrels choose to gather and eat acorns.

1. A Winter Food Source 

Unlike some mammals, squirrels do not hibernate and remain active all winter long. To survive cold temperatures and heavy snowfall, squirrels gather acorns during the warmer months and stash them away in different locations.

If you have oak trees in your yard that drop acorns in the fall, you will probably notice an uptick in squirrel activity at this time. Some squirrels gather so many acorns that they sometimes forget where they hid them and you may discover these little piles around your yard.

2. As a Diet Staple 

Acorns make up a considerable percentage of a squirrel’s diet. They enjoy both red and white acorns and gnaw off the cap to eat the insides. Squirrels usually devour white acorns immediately when they can find them and store red acorns, as they last longer when squirrels bury them. Acorn kernels can sustain a squirrel throughout the winter when other food becomes scarce.

3. Acorn Abundance 

When fall arrives in Oakville and you watch squirrels forage, you might wonder, “Why do squirrels eat acorns during autumn? Are they scarce?” In truth, acorn supplies are abundant in the fall, which means there is plenty to go around. Unfortunately, this usually leads to increased squirrel activity around your home. Our Skedaddle wildlife removal technicians can advise you about how to get rid of squirrels and what attracts them besides acorns.

What Features Around Your Home Attract Squirrels? 

Squirrels are natural foragers, which means they dig, gnaw and scratch into food sources, but they may also help themselves to available food around your property as well. Birdbaths, bird feeders, and pet food dishes full of dry kibble all attract these rodents.

If you need squirrel removal in Oakville, calling in Skedaddle’s experienced crew can help you accomplish this and keep you and your family out of possible danger. Squirrels deliver a painful bite if you corner or handle them, and when they invade your attic or basement, having them removed by our team of wildlife removal technicians can help you avoid such wounds.

Skedaddle’s Squirrel Removal Process

Our experienced wildlife technicians can answer any questions you might have, such as, “Where do squirrels hide their food?” Squirrels may try to gain entrance to your attic to hide food or nest there for the winter. Once our technicians arrive and discover a squirrel nest in your home, they will remove all the live animals in a humane manner and then install one-way doors so any foraging squirrels cannot return. We then clean and seal any gaps nearby, such as putting heavy netting over any chimney and soffit gaps.

You can protect your home from squirrels by scheduling regular Skedaddle inspections and keeping your yard and trees trimmed to discourage squirrel activity. Do not leave leftover pet kibble out and reduce water sources that squirrels might use regularly.

Removing wild squirrels from your Oakville home is not a job for the inexperienced. Contact us online today for more information about squirrels and how our processes for eviction may prevent future infestations.