Do Squirrels Like Tomato Plants?

Squirrels are agile and intelligent animals that can adapt to new environments quickly. They are omnivores, which means they eat both plants and animals. In urban and suburban areas, squirrels often encounter tomato plants in gardens and farms. Gardeners and farmers might wonder if squirrels like tomato plants and if they could cause damage to the plants.

The Diet of Squirrels

Squirrels have a varied diet that includes nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, insects, and small animals such as birds and rodents. They are also known for their ability to cache or hoard food, which means they store food in various places to eat later. Squirrels tend to eat more nuts and seeds in the fall and winter months and switch to a diet of more vegetative matter in the spring and summer months when more plant-based food is available.

Do Squirrels Eat Tomato Plants?

Squirrels are known to eat vegetables such as corn, peas, and squash, but they typically do not eat tomato plants. The reason for this is that tomato plants contain solanine, which is a toxic compound that can be harmful to animals. Squirrels are known to avoid eating plants that contain high levels of toxic compounds, and they have evolved to detect and avoid such plants.

Do Squirrels Damage Tomato Plants?

Squirrels may not eat tomato plants, but they can still cause damage to them. Squirrels are known to dig up and eat bulbs, seeds, and young plants, which can cause damage to newly planted tomato plants. They can also climb trees or structures near tomato plants and drop nuts or other debris onto them, which can break branches or cause other damage.

How to Protect Tomato Plants from Squirrels?

There are several ways to protect tomato plants from squirrels. One way is to install fencing or netting around the plants to prevent squirrels from accessing them. Another option is to use natural repellents such as crushed red pepper, garlic, or predator urine to deter squirrels from the area. You can also try planting other plants that squirrels prefer, such as sunflowers, away from your tomato plants to lure them away from the tomatoes.

In Conclusion

Squirrels are omnivorous animals that eat a varied diet of nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, insects, and small animals. While they typically do not eat tomato plants due to the toxic compound solanine, they can still cause damage to the plants by digging up bulbs and seeds or dropping debris onto them. There are several ways to protect your tomato plants from squirrels, including installing fencing or netting, using natural repellents, or planting other plants that squirrels prefer away from your tomatoes.