Do Squirrels Eat Cilantro

If you’re a gardener, you’ve probably wondered, ‘do squirrels eat cilantro’ while watching these furry creatures explore your beds. It’s a common question for anyone trying to protect their herbs and vegetables from curious wildlife. Understanding what squirrels like to eat can help you manage your garden better and decide if you need to take steps to protect your plants.

Squirrels are opportunistic feeders. Their diet changes with the seasons and what’s available. While they are famous for loving nuts and seeds, they won’t say no to sampling tender greens, fruits, and vegetables. Let’s look at what this means for your cilantro and other garden plants.

What Squirrels Typically Eat

Squirrels are not picky eaters. Their primary diet consists of:

Nuts and Seeds: Acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts, sunflower seeds, and pine cones.
Fruits: Berries, apples, peaches, and figs when in season.
Vegetables: Corn, tomatoes, squash, and leafy greens.
Other: Fungi, tree bark, and even the occasional insect or bird egg.

This varied diet shows they are always testing new food sources. Your garden is essentially a buffet to them.

So, do squirrels eat cilantro? The answer is usually yes, but it’s not their first choice. Cilantro has a strong, citrusy aroma that many animals, including some squirrels, find unappealing. However, a hungry squirrel, especially in early spring or late fall when other food is scarce, is likely to take a bite. They might nibble on the leaves or dig around the plant, disturbing the roots.

Young, tender cilantro seedlings are more at risk than established plants. The fresh green growth is tempting. If squirrels are bothering your cilantro, it’s often because they are exploring or because their preferred foods are not readily available in your yard.

Why Squirrels Might Target Your Herb Garden

Squirrels don’t just eat for hunger. Sometimes their behavior is driven by other needs:

Thirst: Juicy plants provide moisture.
Boredom or Habit: They are curious and will taste many things.
Digging Instinct: They might dig in soft soil around herbs to bury or retrive food, damaging roots in the process.
Lack of Alternatives: If you have a bird feeder but no squirrel feeder, they’ll look elsewhere.

How to Protect Your Cilantro from Squirrels

If you want to keep your cilantro for yourself, there are several effective, humane strategies you can try. It often takes a combination of methods.

1. Use Physical Barriers

Barriers are the most reliable method. They physically prevent squirrels from reaching your plants.

Cloches or Row Covers: Place a wire cloche or a floating row cover over your cilantro bed. Ensure the edges are secured to the ground.
Chicken Wire Cages: Build a simple cage from chicken wire and place it over your herbs.
Raised Beds with Fencing: Attach a wire mesh fence to the sides of a raised bed. It should be at least 30 inches tall, as squirrels are excellent jumpers.

2. Try Natural Repellents

Repellents work by making you plants taste or smell bad. You need to reapply them regularly, especially after rain.

Capsaicin Spray: Mix a spray from water and cayenne pepper or use a commercial hot pepper wax. Squirrels dislike the spicy taste.
Garlic or Onion Spray: A strong garlic infusion can deter nibbling.
Predator Urine: Granules of fox or coyote urine available at garden centers can create a fear response. Place them around the garden perimeter.

Remember to always wash your herbs thoroughly before you eat them if you use sprays.

3. Distract Them with a Better Offer

This is a friendly strategy. Provide a more appealing food source away from your garden.

Set up a squirrel feeding station on the opposite side of your yard.
Stock it with dry corn cobs, peanuts in the shell, or sunflower seeds.
Keep it consistently filled so they prefer it over your cilantro.

4. Make the Area Uncomfortable

Squirrels prefer easy access. Make the garden environment less inviting.

Remove Bird Feeders: Or use squirrel-proof models. Bird seed is a major squirrel attractant.
Keep the Yard Tidy: Clear fallen nuts and fruits which can draw them in.
Use Mulch Carefully: Smooth stones or rough mulch like pine cones are harder to dig in than soft soil or straw.

What About Other Common Herbs?

Squirrels have different opinions on other herbs, too. Knowing this can help you plan your garden layout.

Often Eaten: Basil, parsley, and dill are often sampled.
Usually Avoided: Strongly aromatic herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, mint, and lavender are typically left alone. Their potent oils are a natural deterrent.

Planting cilantro near these stronger herbs might offer it some protection through companion planting.

When Damage Isn’t From Squirrels

Before you blame the squirrels, make sure they are the true culprits. Other garden visitors cause similar damage.

Rabbits: Create clean, angled cuts on plants, like they were snipped with scissors.
Deer: Tear leaves and stems, leaving ragged edges, and can reach higher plants.
Birds: Might peck at leaves or dig for insects.
Insects: Leave behind holes, trails, or speckling on leaves.

Correct identification saves you time and helps you choose the right solution.

Creating a Garden That Coexists with Wildlife

Complete exclusion is difficult. A better long-term goal is to create a balance where you can enjoy your garden and observe wildlife without significant loss.

Plant Extra: Always plant a little more cilantro than you need, expecting some sharing.
Use Container Gardening: Grow prized herbs in containers on a patio or balcony that’s harder for squirrels to access.
Choose Less-Palatable Plants: Focus on herbs and vegetables that squirrels tend to ignore for your main crops.
Be Consistent: If you use a repellent or distraction method, stick with it. Squirrels will learn and adapt.

FAQ: Your Squirrel and Garden Questions Answered

Do squirrels like cilantro and parsley?
They are more likely to eat parsley, which has a milder flavor. Cilantro’s stronger taste often makes it less prefered, but both can be nibbled on.

What is eating my cilantro at night?
Nocturnal culprits could include rabbits, slugs, or caterpillars. Look for slime trails (slugs) or droppings near the plants to help identify the pest.

Will coffee grounds keep squirrels away?
Some gardeners report success, as squirrels dislike the smell. However, evidence is anecdotal. It’s worth sprinkling used grounds around you plants as a mild deterrent.

Do fake owls scare squirrels?
They might work for a short time, but squirrels are intelligent and quickly realize the owl is not a real threat. Moving it daily can improve its effectiveness, but it’s not a reliable long-term solution on its own.

What smell do squirrels hate the most?
Strong scents like peppermint oil, garlic, cider vinegar, and capsaicin (from hot peppers) are known to be effective repellents for many squirrels.

Gardening with wildlife is an ongoing experiment. By understanding that the answer to ‘do squirrels eat cilantro’ is a cautious ‘sometimes,’ you can take practical steps to protect your harvest. With a mix of barriers, repellents, and smart planting, you can enjoy you cilantro in your cooking while enjoying the lively presence of squirrels in your yard from a respectful distance.