Can Squirrels Eat Chocolate?

Feeding squirrels is a lovely activity – they approach you, and you just feel the need to give them something to eat! They will surely appreciate your food.

But can squirrels eat chocolate? Some of the treats we like the most are not natural, which means that we are not talking about straight fruits. But chocolate is basically cocoa and nuts, right? So how does this work?

This Your Pet, Your Love guide will talk about this and other topics related to squirrels and chocolate.

Can Squirrels Have Chocolate?

Let’s cut to the chase here – a squirrel cannot eat chocolate. Chocolate has a chemical component called theobromine, which is harmful to some mammals.

It depends on the type of chocolate you eat, but in general, all chocolate, including white chocolate, has theobromine, which can be fatal for squirrels.

This doesn’t mean that squirrels do not like chocolate, though. They might enjoy the treat and steal it if they have the chance, but we must avoid feeding them with this substance entirely.

Can Wild Squirrels Eat Chocolate?

No, wild squirrels and somewhat domestic squirrels cannot eat chocolate. They also cannot eat junk food or processed sweets due to the risk of poisoning.

Unlike domestic squirrels, wild squirrels do not have a regular feeder. As a consequence, if they start to suffer from diarrhea or other chocolate consequences, they will have no one to look up to them, which might be fatal.

Is Chocolate Toxic for Squirrels?

Yes, chocolate is toxic for squirrels and can kill them. Whether we talk about a chocolate bar, a single chip, or even dark chocolate, they are all forbidden to squirrels.

Cacao in its purest form does not harm squirrels all the time, but squirrels are so small that just 0.5 mg of chocolate can be fatal to them.

It is better to give them a sunflower, a nut, or any other natural treat instead of chocolate. All rodents must have a natural diet of plants and greens, so even if they do not start vomiting out of eating processed foods, it is still up to us to keep them safe.

So, Is Chocolate Harmful for Squirrels?

Yes, chocolate is bad for squirrels. In fact, many chocolate products have caffeine, which can create seizures in squirrels because they cannot digest this component.

This means that they can die due to chocolate toxicity on their body. In short, yes, chocolate is poisonous to squirrels and you should avoid it at all costs.

Do Squirrels Like Chocolate?

One thing is chocolate being bad for the body of a squirrel, and another thing is if they like it. Although dogs, cats, birds, and other animals might find chocolate cookies or bars tasty, they are still bad in moderate amounts.

Perhaps some squirrels do like chocolate, but if you want to ensure their good health, do not give them chocolate or sugar in any quantity.

Pet Recap: Can Squirrels Eat Chocolate?

Giving chocolate to squirrels is bad, and you should not do it under any circumstances. Chocolate must be avoided in any size, shape and type. 

You, as a human, might enjoy chocolate, and perhaps squirrels like it as well, but it is a harmful substance that they are not meant to eat whatsoever.

FAQ

Can Squirrels Eat Oreos?

No, squirrels cannot eat Oreo cookies. Oreo has chocolate, and it has already been established that squirrels can’t eat chocolate.

Is Peanut Butter Harmful to Squirrels?

Peanut butter is not entirely harmful to squirrels like chocolate is, but it is not a natural treat, and you should not feed your or wild squirrels with peanut butter.