6 Best Squirrel Food Mixes For Picky Eaters That They Can’t Resist
Catering to picky squirrels? We review the 6 best food mixes they can’t resist, featuring balanced blends of nuts, seeds, and essential nutrients.
You’ve put out a feeder full of a generic "critter mix," only to watch the squirrels pick out two sunflower seeds and then flick the rest onto the ground in disgust. It’s a familiar sight for anyone trying to attract wildlife. Understanding what these surprisingly discerning creatures actually want is the key to turning your yard into a reliable foraging spot instead of a rejected buffet.
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What Picky Squirrels Actually Want to Eat
A squirrel that seems "picky" isn’t being difficult; it’s being smart. In the wild, they don’t eat the cheap filler grains like milo and red millet that bulk up many commercial mixes. They’re foraging for high-energy, high-fat foods like nuts, seeds, and even fungi.
When you see them discarding half the feeder’s contents, they’re just ignoring the low-value stuff. Their instincts tell them to prioritize calories for survival, especially when preparing for winter. A good mix mimics what they’d find naturally: whole nuts, black oil sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds are always big hits.
Think of it from their perspective. They need to cache food that will sustain them through lean times. A buried piece of cracked corn just doesn’t offer the same nutritional payoff as a peanut or an acorn. The best mixes understand this and focus on nutrient-dense ingredients.
Kaytee Critter Blend: Top All-Around Mix
Kaytee Critter Blend is the dependable workhorse of squirrel foods. It’s not the fanciest mix on the shelf, but it consistently gets the job done without breaking the bank. You’ll find a solid base of corn, sunflower seeds, and some peanuts.
This blend is a great starting point if you’re new to feeding wildlife. It’s balanced enough to attract squirrels, chipmunks, and even some larger birds like jays. The key tradeoff here is specialization; because it tries to please everyone, it’s not packed with the high-end nuts that truly selective squirrels go for first.
Think of it as a good, all-purpose feed. It ensures something is always available and keeps the traffic steady. For a hobby farmer managing multiple feeding stations, its reliability and widespread availability are major advantages.
Audubon Park Critter Crunch: Nut-Heavy Choice
If your squirrels are turning their noses up at everything else, Audubon Park Critter Crunch is often the solution. The difference is immediately obvious: this mix is noticeably heavier on the nuts, especially peanuts. Squirrels will actively dig through other foods to get to the nuts, and this blend just gives them what they want.
This is the mix you buy when you want to offer a real treat. The higher nut content means higher fat and protein, which is incredibly valuable for them during late fall and winter. It provides the dense energy they need to stay warm and active.
Of course, quality comes at a price. This is a more premium blend, so you’re paying for the better ingredients. It’s a strategic choice—perfect for a dedicated squirrel feeder where you want to guarantee success, but maybe not for broadcasting across a large area.
Wagner’s Critter Food: Great Value Bulk Buy
When you’re feeding a whole troop of squirrels and other critters, cost becomes a major factor. Wagner’s Critter Food is the go-to for a quality bulk purchase. It delivers a respectable mix of corn, sunflower seeds, and peanuts in large bags that make economic sense.
This isn’t a gourmet blend, and you shouldn’t expect it to be. It contains more corn than premium mixes, which some squirrels might leave behind. However, it provides a consistent and affordable food source that keeps animals returning.
The real-world application here is volume feeding. If your goal is to support a large and diverse population of backyard wildlife on a budget, Wagner’s provides the best balance of cost and critter acceptance. It’s a practical choice for long-term, high-volume feeding.
Wild Delight Sizzle N’ Heat: Deters Raccoons
Finding your feeder emptied overnight by a raccoon is a common and frustrating problem. Wild Delight’s Sizzle N’ Heat offers a clever solution. The mix is coated with a natural chili pepper extract that deters mammals with sensitive noses and mouths.
Here’s the brilliant part: squirrels and birds are completely unaffected by capsaicin, the compound that makes peppers hot. They’ll eat this mix without a second thought, while raccoons, opossums, and even deer will take one bite and look for an easier meal elsewhere. It’s a targeted defense system.
This food is a problem-solver. If you’ve struggled with nightly raids on your feeders, switching to this blend can save you a lot of money and frustration. The food itself is a quality mix of seeds and nuts, so you aren’t sacrificing nutrition for protection.
Wakefield Premium Mix: For Very Picky Eaters
Sometimes you encounter a squirrel that is just exceptionally particular. The Wakefield Premium Mix is designed for that exact scenario. This blend is essentially a bag of all the "good stuff" with very little, if any, filler.
You’ll find it packed with whole peanuts in the shell, black oil sunflower seeds, striped sunflower, and pumpkin seeds. It’s basically a squirrel’s dream buffet. There’s nothing for them to pick through or discard, which means less mess under the feeder and more happy critters.
This is a luxury feed, and its price reflects that. It’s not a practical choice for everyday, large-scale feeding. But for a specific feeder, or for rehabilitating wildlife, or simply for spoiling your resident squirrels, it is unmatched in its appeal.
Pennington Critter Blend: Wide Seed Variety
Pennington’s strength lies in its diversity. While other blends might focus heavily on one or two main ingredients, Pennington Critter Blend often includes a wider array of seeds. This variety can be a huge advantage.
Just like people, individual squirrels can have preferences. By offering a broader menu, you increase the chances of appealing to more of them. A mix with different types of sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and corn provides a more complex nutritional profile and keeps things interesting.
This makes it a great middle-ground option. It’s not as nut-focused as Audubon Park or as basic as a bulk corn mix. It’s a well-rounded choice that provides good nutritional variety, making it a solid and reliable staple for any backyard feeding program.
Tips for Attracting and Feeding Squirrels
The food is only half the battle. To create a successful feeding station, you need to think like a squirrel. They are prey animals, so they prioritize safety above all else.
- Location is everything. Place feeders near trees or shrubs. This gives squirrels a quick escape route if a hawk flies over, making them feel much more secure while they eat.
- Use the right feeder. A simple platform feeder or a specialized box feeder with a lid they can lift is ideal. Trying to make them use a tiny bird feeder will only lead to frustration and spilled seed.
- Provide fresh water. A birdbath or a simple dish of water nearby is a huge draw for all wildlife, especially during dry spells. Animals often need a drink after eating dry seeds and nuts.
- Be consistent. Once you start feeding, try to keep the feeder stocked. Squirrels are creatures of habit and will quickly learn to rely on your yard as a consistent food source, especially during the harsh winter months.
Ultimately, feeding squirrels is about finding the right balance between their needs and your budget. By choosing a mix that prioritizes high-energy ingredients, you’re not just giving them a treat; you’re providing genuine support to your local wildlife. The best approach is to observe what works in your yard and adjust accordingly.
