Have you noticed furry visitors in your garden, digging holes and hiding small treasures? This behaviour is known as scatter-hoarding, and it’s a fascinating survival strategy used by squirrels. It can leave many homeowners in the York Region wondering why squirrels bury nuts and display this interesting habit. 

To help you understand and appreciate your backyard neighbours, our wildlife control experts answered the most common questions about squirrel nut-hiding behaviour and garden habits. Read on to learn!

Squirrel Nut Hiding Behaviour

First, it’s important to understand why squirrels bury nuts. The behaviour is all about preparation and survival. Squirrels are famous for scatter-hoarding, which means they bury food in multiple locations to retrieve during leaner months. This behaviour especially picks up in late summer and fall as they prepare for winter.

Squirrels rely on their incredible sense of smell and their keen memory to locate their hidden caches of food later. But why choose your garden? Gardens often have soft soil, free of heavy roots or compact ground, making them ideal for burying food. Additionally, backyard gardens typically provide shelter and safety from predators, giving squirrels a secure space for their efforts.

One interesting fact to note is that not all buried food will be retrieved by the squirrels. Some nuts and seeds are left behind and may grow into new plants, making squirrels accidental gardeners in your yard.

Fun Fact: At Skedaddle, we’ve observed that squirrels in urban environments, such as those near Whitchurch-Stouffville’s Stouffville Memorial Park, often adapt their behaviour to use human-modified spaces like gardens, planters, and even flower beds for storing food. Their ability to live alongside humans is both fascinating and sometimes frustrating for homeowners.

Why Squirrels Bury Nuts

The instinct to bury food isn’t just about having enough to eat; it’s a highly strategic process. Scatter-hoarding is essential for survival, especially in climates like York Region’s, where winters can be harsh and food sources become scarce.

• Preparation for Scarcity:

Squirrels bury nuts and seeds during the fall when food is abundant. These stores provide a reliable source of calories during the winter months and early spring.

• Protection From Competitors:

Burying food reduces the risk of other animals, like birds or other squirrels, stealing it. To confuse potential thieves, they often dig “fake” holes, pretending to hide food where there isn’t any.

• Selective Caching:

Interestingly, squirrels don’t bury just any nut. They prefer high-fat, high-energy options like walnuts and acorns, ensuring they’re burying the most beneficial food.

• Memory and Smell:

Despite caching their food in dozens, or even hundreds, of locations, squirrels rely on their spatial memory and strong sense of smell to find their hidden treasures. Their ability to remember these hiding spots is thought to be linked to the size of their hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory.

While these behaviours are fascinating, they can become a source of frustration for those of us who meticulously care for our gardens.

Squirrel Garden Habits

If you enjoy gardening or landscaping, you might find that squirrels’ garden habits can occasionally clash with your own goals. From digging to munching on plants and flowers, squirrels can unintentionally cause some chaos in yards. Here are the most common garden habits of squirrels and why they do them:

• Digging:

Squirrels dig to hide their food or retrieve previously stored items. They favour loose, soft soil, which makes gardens and flower beds ideal spots.

• Chewing on Plants:

Squirrels sometimes nibble on young plants or flowers for hydration or nutrients. This can happen during warmer months when water sources are limited.

• Raiding Bird Feeders:

If you have a bird feeder in your yard, you’ve probably noticed squirrels making themselves at home. While they’re smart enough to figure out feeders, they’re often more interested in the seeds and nuts within.

While these behaviours stem from survival instincts, there are steps you can take to minimize their impact without harming the local wildlife.

Simple and Humane Solutions for Managing Squirrel Activity

If squirrels have turned your garden into their personal storage unit, don’t worry. There are plenty of humane ways to coexist while reducing some of the mess their behaviour can leave behind. Here’s how you can minimize squirrel activity in your yard:

Protect Your Plants: To prevent squirrels from digging in vulnerable areas such as flower beds or planters, consider using mulch or laying down fencing or netting. These materials create a physical barrier that squirrels are less likely to disturb.

Use Smell Deterrents: Squirrels are sensitive to smells such as chilli powder, apple cider vinegar, or garlic. Sprinkling these around gardens (or using sprays) can deter them from specific areas without causing harm.

Provide an Alternative Food Source: Setting up a squirrel feeder away from your garden can keep them occupied and reduce their need to raid your space. Just make sure this doesn’t attract more individuals than you’re comfortable managing!

Secure Bird Feeders: Opt for squirrel-proof bird feeders or place them in areas that are harder for squirrels to access, such as on thin metal poles wrapped with baffles.

Clean Up Your Yard: Rake and remove fallen nuts, seeds, and fruit to reduce temptation. Without easy food sources, squirrels may visit less frequently.

With these protective steps in place, squirrels and homeowners can peacefully share the same space.

Why Choose Skedaddle for Squirrel Removal Services?

When it comes to humane and effective squirrel removal services, Skedaddle is the trusted name you can rely on. With over three decades of experience in wildlife control, we have helped countless homeowners address squirrel infestations safely and efficiently. Our service approach prioritizes the well-being of both homeowners and the animals, making us leaders in ethical wildlife management.

What sets us apart is our commitment to customer satisfaction. Our service is thorough, professional, and tailored to meet the unique needs of your property. We use non-toxic and environmentally friendly practices, ensuring minimal disruption to your home and surroundings. Whether you are dealing with a minor inconvenience or a larger infestation, Skedaddle offers reliable and efficient squirrel removal services that you can count on.

Choose Skedaddle to protect your home and enjoy peace of mind knowing your wildlife concerns are handled with expertise and care.

Call Us For Help With Squirrel Activity Around Your Home

Sometimes, managing squirrel activity requires professional assistance, especially if they’ve nested in areas such as attics or garages. At Skedaddle Wildlife Control, we specialize in humane wildlife solutions, helping homeowners in York Region and beyond. If you need help addressing squirrel activity or have concerns about their impact on your property, give us a call. Together, we’ll create a solution that keeps both your home and the local wildlife safe.