GTA

All Springer/NP/PCP Air Gun Discussion General => Hunting Gate => Topic started by: flaircraft on June 02, 2021, 08:36:21 PM

Title: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: flaircraft on June 02, 2021, 08:36:21 PM
I had a random thought enter my head the other day.  If someone is in a survival/poverty/homesteading situation, baiting squirrels would be one way of supplementing your protein intake.  But - I also realized that if you're that hard up for food, it would probably be better nutritionally to just eat the peanuts/corn/etc you use for bait, rather than to eat the squirrel that ate the food.  Especially if you had to put effort into growing that bait in the first place.

So my question is - what kind of food, if any, do squirrels eat that a human can't?
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: jmoronic on June 02, 2021, 08:39:50 PM
I'm sorry due to my lack of maturity I cannot answer the question. :P
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: LostinTexas on June 02, 2021, 08:43:04 PM
Squirrels and several other species of small critters that are edible and tasty can be readily found in just about every hardwood stand and surrounding grassy areas in the US. No need to bait them.

To answer the question, they eat just about everything we do other than meat products. They do gnaw on bark and limbs but many think that is a product of being a rodent and needing to keep the front teeth worn down. They probably eat some things we would rather not, but given the choice, see the first line.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: EdinGa on June 02, 2021, 08:48:15 PM
Raw acorns can be toxic to humans, and all you would have to do is find a big oak tree and wait for the squirrels.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: ranchibi on June 02, 2021, 09:54:13 PM
Like Eddie said from nature...raw acorns and I believe they also eat pine cones or the nuts/seeds from them.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Airgunnr88 on June 02, 2021, 10:06:21 PM
If we're talking about surviving poverty rather than surviving the apocalypse, then buying a sack of whole corn to bait in some squirrels for meat sounds reasonable.  In a widespread collapse/apocalypse situation, eating the corn might be the more efficient use of calories.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: EdinGa on June 02, 2021, 10:11:28 PM
If we're talking about surviving poverty rather than surviving the apocalypse, then buying a sack of whole corn to bait in some squirrels for meat sounds reasonable.  In a widespread collapse/apocalypse situation, eating the corn might be the more efficient use of calories.

If I was buying corn it would be to bait deer. They go through a 50lb bag in a couple of days around here.

https://youtu.be/agIWzxEpNdg
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: lizzie on June 02, 2021, 10:13:02 PM
I would personally much rather eat the squirrels than their food sources, because of the protein.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Back_Roads on June 02, 2021, 10:23:29 PM
 Heck even when fishing you are sometimes better off eating the bait, if it is plentiful LOL
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: wolverine on June 02, 2021, 10:40:18 PM
If i was penniless, hungry and only had an air rifle to kill squirrels to eat, i would steal corn off the stalk from a field.  It's not edible for humans, but squirrels, raccoons, and opossums will eat it.  You could also gather acorns, walnuts, and pecans to bait them in.  If there aren't hardwoods in the area, pine cones will suffice.  Today i sat on the porch with my binoculars watching a squirrel chew the bark off a fir tree to get to the insects underneath.  I guess it was hungry and couldn't find any "normal" squirrel food.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: LostinTexas on June 02, 2021, 11:27:05 PM
If i was penniless, hungry and only had an air rifle to kill squirrels to eat, i would steal corn off the stalk from a field.  It's not edible for humans, but squirrels, raccoons, and opossums will eat it.  You could also gather acorns, walnuts, and pecans to bait them in.  If there aren't hardwoods in the area, pine cones will suffice.  Today i sat on the porch with my binoculars watching a squirrel chew the bark off a fir tree to get to the insects underneath.  I guess it was hungry and couldn't find any "normal" squirrel food.
Where do you think the corn in the grocery store comes from?
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: EdinGa on June 02, 2021, 11:37:14 PM
Depends on whether he's talking field corn or sweet corn. I can eat my weight in sweet corn. I'm not feeding it to squirrels.  ;D
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Firewalker on June 02, 2021, 11:38:53 PM
I'm sorry due to my lack of maturity I cannot answer the question. :P

 :D ;D
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: wolverine on June 03, 2021, 12:49:06 AM
If i was penniless, hungry and only had an air rifle to kill squirrels to eat, i would steal corn off the stalk from a field.  It's not edible for humans, but squirrels, raccoons, and opossums will eat it.  You could also gather acorns, walnuts, and pecans to bait them in.  If there aren't hardwoods in the area, pine cones will suffice.  Today i sat on the porch with my binoculars watching a squirrel chew the bark off a fir tree to get to the insects underneath.  I guess it was hungry and couldn't find any "normal" squirrel food.
Where do you think the corn in the grocery store comes from?




Yeah, i should have specified, I'm used to living next to fields of corn grown for the oil or ethanol.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Blowpipe Sam on June 03, 2021, 12:53:03 PM
Squirrels eat a variety of fungus and mushrooms.  Some are edible by humans but some are not.  Just because an animal can safely digest a mushroom doesn’t mean you should try it.  That is one of the first rules of mushroom hunting.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: jmoronic on June 03, 2021, 06:53:28 PM
Squirrels eat a variety of fungus and mushrooms.  Some are edible by humans but some are not.  Just because an animal can safely digest a mushroom doesn’t mean you should try it.  That is one of the first rules of mushroom hunting.

Every time I hunt mushrooms they are in little pieces after the first shot?
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Madd Hatter on June 03, 2021, 10:42:24 PM
Squirrels eat a variety of fungus and mushrooms.  Some are edible by humans but some are not.  Just because an animal can safely digest a mushroom doesn’t mean you should try it.  That is one of the first rules of mushroom hunting.

Every time I hunt mushrooms they are in little pieces after the first shot?
10000 camidians out of work and we end up with Johnny!!
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: jmoronic on June 03, 2021, 10:46:00 PM
Here's Johnny 8)
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: jmoronic on June 03, 2021, 10:48:35 PM
If any of my posts start with "I had a random thought enter my head the other day"

RUN...
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Firewalker on June 04, 2021, 09:53:48 AM
If any of my posts start with "I had a random thought enter my head the other day"

RUN...

My wife no longer asks what I'm thinking, last time she did I said, "Dolphin oil would be the all-Porpoise lubricant.".
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: lizzie on June 04, 2021, 10:46:13 AM
If any of my posts start with "I had a random thought enter my head the other day"

RUN...
If any of my posts start with "I had a random thought enter my head the other day"

RUN...

My wife no longer asks what I'm thinking, last time she did I said, "Dolphin oil would be the all-Porpoise lubricant.".

HAHA LOL 😆
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: EdinGa on June 04, 2021, 10:53:46 AM
Years ago my wife and I were driving home from a trip to my parents. She said that I had a look on my face that made her think I was contemplating the mysteries of universe. After awhile she couldn't stand it anymore so she asked me what was on my mind. I looked at her and replied, I wonder why they don't advertise on the side of semi trailers?
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Xraycer on June 04, 2021, 11:30:57 AM
....they eat just about everything we do other than meat products.....
I saw an animal documentary, years ago, about animal cannibalism. One part was on a particular gray tree nutter that developed a taste for other squirrels' newborns.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: EdinGa on June 04, 2021, 11:41:01 AM
....they eat just about everything we do other than meat products.....
I saw an animal documentary, years ago, about animal cannibalism. One part was on a particular gray tree nutter that developed a taste for other squirrels' newborns.

Gray squirrels will eat baby birds and eggs in the nest too.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: lizzie on June 04, 2021, 12:30:24 PM
Years ago my wife and I were driving home from a trip to my parents. She said that I had a look on my face that made her think I was contemplating the mysteries of universe. After awhile she couldn't stand it anymore so she asked me what was on my mind. I looked at her and replied, I wonder why they don't advertise on the side of semi trailers?

Kid story alert....Kid story alert... :D

When my eldest son was around 6 yoa, he and I were in my truck one day, and I was taking him somewhere for a school function. (the hubs and other son stayed home).
James looked over at me and said "Mom? What is a virgin?"
I was a bit shocked that a 6 year-old would ask that and was thinking to myself that I wasn't quite sure how I was going to handle telling the facts of life to a 6 year-old, because afterall, that's something that you do when they are getting near puberty, right?

Well....I tried to put it in very simple terms that a 6 year-old would find reasonable, and I simply told him "It's someone who has never had sex.". He nodded his head and then had "the look" on his face like he was contemplating the mysteries of the universe, so I asked, "Is there anything else you were wanting to know?

He said yes, and he thought for a moment or so, then said, "Do Kiwi birds really live in Australia?"

HAHA! Here I was, thinking I needed to teach sex ed to a six yearl-old, and all he wanted to know was the definition of a word he'd heard, but didn't understand.
:D
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Xraycer on June 04, 2021, 01:15:03 PM
Years ago my wife and I were driving home from a trip to my parents. She said that I had a look on my face that made her think I was contemplating the mysteries of universe. After awhile she couldn't stand it anymore so she asked me what was on my mind. I looked at her and replied, I wonder why they don't advertise on the side of semi trailers?

Kid story alert....Kid story alert... :D

When my eldest son was around 6 yoa, he and I were in my truck one day, and I was taking him somewhere for a school function. (the hubs and other son stayed home).
James looked over at me and said "Mom? What is a virgin?"
I was a bit shocked that a 6 year-old would ask that and was thinking to myself that I wasn't quite sure how I was going to handle telling the facts of life to a 6 year-old, because afterall, that's something that you do when they are getting near puberty, right?

Well....I tried to put it in very simple terms that a 6 year-old would find reasonable, and I simply told him "It's someone who has never had sex.". He nodded his head and then had "the look" on his face like he was contemplating the mysteries of the universe, so I asked, "Is there anything else you were wanting to know?

He said yes, and he thought for a moment or so, then said, "Do Kiwi birds really live in Australia?"

HAHA! Here I was, thinking I needed to teach sex ed to a six yearl-old, and all he wanted to know was the definition of a word he'd heard, but didn't understand.
:D
I would have said, a drink without alcohol 😀
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: lizzie on June 04, 2021, 01:18:47 PM
Years ago my wife and I were driving home from a trip to my parents. She said that I had a look on my face that made her think I was contemplating the mysteries of universe. After awhile she couldn't stand it anymore so she asked me what was on my mind. I looked at her and replied, I wonder why they don't advertise on the side of semi trailers?

Kid story alert....Kid story alert... :D

When my eldest son was around 6 yoa, he and I were in my truck one day, and I was taking him somewhere for a school function. (the hubs and other son stayed home).
James looked over at me and said "Mom? What is a virgin?"
I was a bit shocked that a 6 year-old would ask that and was thinking to myself that I wasn't quite sure how I was going to handle telling the facts of life to a 6 year-old, because afterall, that's something that you do when they are getting near puberty, right?

Well....I tried to put it in very simple terms that a 6 year-old would find reasonable, and I simply told him "It's someone who has never had sex.". He nodded his head and then had "the look" on his face like he was contemplating the mysteries of the universe, so I asked, "Is there anything else you were wanting to know?

He said yes, and he thought for a moment or so, then said, "Do Kiwi birds really live in Australia?"

HAHA! Here I was, thinking I needed to teach sex ed to a six yearl-old, and all he wanted to know was the definition of a word he'd heard, but didn't understand.
:D
I would have said, a drink without alcohol 😀

I wasn't smart enough to think of that. LOL
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Xraycer on June 04, 2021, 01:36:52 PM
Years ago my wife and I were driving home from a trip to my parents. She said that I had a look on my face that made her think I was contemplating the mysteries of universe. After awhile she couldn't stand it anymore so she asked me what was on my mind. I looked at her and replied, I wonder why they don't advertise on the side of semi trailers?

Kid story alert....Kid story alert... :D

When my eldest son was around 6 yoa, he and I were in my truck one day, and I was taking him somewhere for a school function. (the hubs and other son stayed home).
James looked over at me and said "Mom? What is a virgin?"
I was a bit shocked that a 6 year-old would ask that and was thinking to myself that I wasn't quite sure how I was going to handle telling the facts of life to a 6 year-old, because afterall, that's something that you do when they are getting near puberty, right?

Well....I tried to put it in very simple terms that a 6 year-old would find reasonable, and I simply told him "It's someone who has never had sex.". He nodded his head and then had "the look" on his face like he was contemplating the mysteries of the universe, so I asked, "Is there anything else you were wanting to know?

He said yes, and he thought for a moment or so, then said, "Do Kiwi birds really live in Australia?"

HAHA! Here I was, thinking I needed to teach sex ed to a six yearl-old, and all he wanted to know was the definition of a word he'd heard, but didn't understand.
:D
I would have said, a drink without alcohol

I wasn't smart enough to think of that. LOL
Nah, you were just caught completely off guard.

Reminds me of when my oldest child, was about 5, asked us how babies come about. I just rambled on using medical terminologies. She was rather confused with all the big, fancy words, and just went back to playing with her toys. Haha
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: lizzie on June 04, 2021, 01:45:07 PM
Lol. Great one! 😆
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: jmoronic on June 04, 2021, 03:34:41 PM
Let me see if I understand all of this, a 5 year old squirrel will eat the kiwi oil from baby virgin dolphins?
I'm I at least close?
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: LostinTexas on June 04, 2021, 06:26:07 PM
Squirrels eat a variety of fungus and mushrooms.  Some are edible by humans but some are not.  Just because an animal can safely digest a mushroom doesn’t mean you should try it.  That is one of the first rules of mushroom hunting.

Probably good advice, but it sure takes the sport out of it.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Back_Roads on June 04, 2021, 10:38:08 PM
 Here I thought a virgin was some one new to airguns  :o :-\ ??? :-[
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Hoosier Daddy on June 05, 2021, 08:22:13 AM
How on earth did I miss this thread?

Thank you all.

Soooo. Do I tell My favorite kid story or squirrels?
 
OH well, I just spelled "squirrels" so bad spellcheck suggested " Burlesques".
That's an omen... I'm going to quit while I,m ahead.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Struckat on June 05, 2021, 08:46:56 AM
Well Joe, see what you have done with your post? Start a new thread, I dare you.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: lizzie on June 05, 2021, 10:04:07 AM
HAHAHAH 😆
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Hoosier Daddy on June 05, 2021, 07:20:35 PM
Screw it... here we go.
"Kid story alert....Kid story alert"...  ;)

When Daughter #1 was about 3.... maybe 4
We were at Satan's Daughter's Mothers house (My 1'st Mother in Law)
My Daughter dropped a toy and said "OH SH*T"
 MIL (Satan's Wife) chuckled and said "Sonya, that is not a nice word... you shouldn't say that".
Sonya looked up, sweet as could be, and replied "I didn't say F*ck".

I got "The Look" from many directions. ::)
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: lizzie on June 05, 2021, 07:37:41 PM
HAHA LOL :D
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: kbstingwing on June 05, 2021, 07:47:48 PM
Back to the main subject..... ;D
Get edible sweet corn, eat edible sweet corn, bait squirrels with corn cobbs, shoot squirrels, gut and clean squirrels, shove Corn Cobbs in squirrels like a skewer, cook squirrels over fire, eat squirrels on a stick (Cobb). ;) ;) ;) easy huh.... ;D
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: kbstingwing on June 05, 2021, 07:49:53 PM
or even better, shoot squirrels, use squirrels for bait for Black bear, shoot black bear, eat black bear..... ;D ;D ;D 8)
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: jmoronic on June 05, 2021, 07:54:40 PM
This is starting to sound like a duck stuffed in a chicken, stuffed in a turkey
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Xraycer on June 05, 2021, 08:36:42 PM
Screw it... here we go.
"Kid story alert....Kid story alert"...  ;)

When Daughter #1 was about 3.... maybe 4
We were at Satan's Daughter's Mothers house (My 1'st Mother in Law)
My Daughter dropped a toy and said "OH SH*T"
 MIL (Satan's Wife) chuckled and said "Sonya, that is not a nice word... you shouldn't say that".
Sonya looked up, sweet as could be, and replied "I didn't say F*ck".

I got "The Look" from many directions. ::)
Haha

Reminds me of one time I was driving with my oldest daughter, she was about 2 or 3, a car pulled out in front of me, and I just caught myself and said, "SHOOT!" Next thing I hear in the back, was a sweet little voice playfully saying, "shoot, shoot, shoot"  :D
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: jmoronic on June 05, 2021, 08:57:03 PM
Okay, a kid story, My ex-wife had a son after she re-married, he was about 4 years old and doing something wrong so she said to him,
"I don't want to see you doing that again!" He turned and looked at her and said, "well close your eyes"
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: jmoronic on June 05, 2021, 08:57:37 PM
He learned young
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: lizzie on June 05, 2021, 09:10:33 PM
4 years old is THE BEST AGE EVER for kid cuteness!
That's when they start having their own original ideas, and are really good at thinking creatively.

If I could choose a time to go back to in my life, it would be from when my boys were that age.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Firewalker on June 10, 2021, 10:16:03 AM
I do think I need to have a t-shirt made with the line, "a 5 year old squirrel will eat the kiwi oil from baby virgin dolphins?"  ;D


A fav of mine but stolen from a post, "My 6 year old son asked me where Poo came from and I went on and on about food, digestion, bacteria, upper and lower intestines and bowels, sphincters and finally dropping it off at the pool. He then looked at me and asked, "So, what about Piglet?""
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Mrblonde40 on June 10, 2021, 05:57:49 PM
My 5 year old daughter has no idea about privacy and the bathroom.  So she walked in, I couldn't stop what I was doing at the time.  She then proceeded to ask her mother how I could pee standing up.  My wife starting explaining biology, I just looked at her and said "daddies can do that" and walked away.  Easy answer and she was good with it.  And if that story is too dicey then moderators feel free to delete this. 
As far as the squirrels, black walnuts are edible, I believe, but I'm not going to gnaw through one like the squirrels do.  And sunflowers, a squirrel will sit there forever shelling and eating them, Ive seen them sit on the ground for up to half an hour eating them, I don't have that kind of patience.    Or if you'd prefer the walnuts, just follow the squirrel around.  Added bonus is that somehow they can tell the good ones from the bad ones.  There was a walnut in our driveway, one squirrel picked it up spun it around in his paws and then threw it on the ground, over the next several days other squirrels picked it up and did the same thing before throwing it back on the ground.
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: jmoronic on June 10, 2021, 08:01:13 PM
I do think I need to have a t-shirt made with the line, "a 5 year old squirrel will eat the kiwi oil from baby virgin dolphins?"  ;D


A fav of mine but stolen from a post, "My 6 year old son asked me where Poo came from and I went on and on about food, digestion, bacteria, upper and lower intestines and bowels, sphincters and finally dropping it off at the pool. He then looked at me and asked, "So, what about Piglet?""

Ha,ha,ha funny, took me a minute...
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: jmoronic on June 10, 2021, 08:07:06 PM
I do think I need to have a t-shirt made with the line, "a 5 year old squirrel will eat the kiwi oil from baby virgin dolphins?"  ;D


A fav of mine but stolen from a post, "My 6 year old son asked me where Poo came from and I went on and on about food, digestion, bacteria, upper and lower intestines and bowels, sphincters and finally dropping it off at the pool. He then looked at me and asked, "So, what about Piglet?""

You are going to get a lot of questions ???
Title: Re: Squirrel food that humans can't eat?
Post by: Xraycer on June 11, 2021, 08:18:56 AM
.........He then looked at me and asked, "So, what about Piglet?""

I would have said, piglets are delicious!  ;D