I think it depends on where you are at. If adjacent to natural habitat then do not do it. if deep within a suburb with any natural areas a mile or more away then consider the nature of the animal. Is it a known free ranging animal that travels an extensive territory or is it possibly one that has found a home nearby, such as in a park or other undeveloped area. Many animals, notably opposums and raccoons, have become urbanized, either through choice or necessity as their natural ranges have been taken over by human development. Such animals are at the mercy of humans. Funny some animal control people seem to think it is ok to let these animals enter the city to fend for themselves and not take on the responsibility of trying to encourage them to stay in areas still undeveloped or are partially used by men by providing suitable habitat that supports their natural prey.

Urbanized animals need support or they face a higher risk of an earlier death, though the average life span they can expect may amount to only 2 or 3 human years, due to becoming road kill, killed in traps, or shot by humans. Apparently from what I have been told, urbanized animals are expected to be one way of controlling vermin! This is really a stupid conclusion as the possibility exists that such animals may be exposed to rodents who have been poisoned since such prey would be more readily caught.

The most important thing you can do to help any wild animal is to provide water, first and foremost. Then provide space where it can find safety or shelter. Then grow plants in your yard that would yield the type of fruit that such animals would harvest for themselves.

These are just my opinions. Others may feel otherwise. but you can check out this link to learn more: National Wildlife Federation

OK, thanks for your valuable input.

I live in an urban northern Ohio suburb, and have to add a few notes here please! In such an area, what with driveways, sidewalks, pavement all too close on a city's aging grid plan, the mature trees are vanishing rapidly now. I lost my 350 yr old oak tree in the front yard, as it was slowly dying from the top down, and became too dangerous after YEARS of nursing it along. That tree, housed fox and flying squirrels both, fed them, and even stored their winter caches. Plus shielded us from the hot summer afternoon sun. What brought about the decision to have it removed, was, of course, a disaster in the backyard...we lost our very old HUGE American Beech tree, felled in a 94mph windstorm. It was on its way out too, from BBD, Beech Bark Disease (a symbiotic death trap for beeches all over the north). This Beech tree likewise, housed and fed both types of squirrels. Due to the horrific costs of dealing with the removal of the Beech's downed trunk, we had to face the facts..the equipment was already here, and the quote on taking down the oak was about $7,000.00 less than all other quotes on our skyscaper, so we no longer could wait it out. We were now out of large mast bearing trees. BUT...the same thing is happening ALL OVER...these large trees are reaching their limits, with space too small to support an endless lifetime, and tree diseases becoming more and more prevalent, including emerald ash borer, just to name yet another..Just within a 10 house stretch in my neighborhood, looking down the backyards, we have lost 3 Hickories, 2 spruces, a Magnolia, 2 Dogwoods, 8 Beeches, 11 Oaks, a Buckeye, and more...

THERE IS NO SQUIRREL FOOD....

And I am one of those who has maintained all along, for years, that if you take away the squirrels, you will indeed have more problems with rats and mice. Why? Because the squirrels cannot support, nor house themselves, in such a barren sky, without an arbor full of rotating mast crops, and the niches available within aging trees. Naturally, as our aging beauties became thinner along our streets, the remaining squirrels are forced to cross streets, rather than travel by branches as they used to. So their mortality rate grows even more desperate. And the squirrels are NOT there to help clean up the dropped overflow from bird feeders people think they need to use, not there to clean up garden 'junk', etc, which squirrels would be tidying up on a daily basis for all of us.

IF YOU LIKE BIRDS...

I have planted literally dozens of conifers, spruces, pines, hemlocks, junipers, etc, (even several ornamental hinoki just for my own fun), cedars, etc...I've planted 3 redbuds, an oak, and I've placed a peach tree deliberately at the back of the fence line, where squirrels travel, just for them. (hey, if I ever get one myself, and I don't hope to, it will be a very sad day!!) So far, the baby peach tree has already helped feed the little guys for 2 years, and this spring looks even more promising. I've planted a Black Tupelo (a.k.a Black Gum, or Pepperidge, they have berries for wildlife) in the front yard. I have blueberries interspersed with the conifers, as they like acid soil too. We have raspberries, which the robins hardly ever let any squirrels near. BIRDS..In this busy city area, I not only found a woodcock resting on his journey and feeding on worms in the lawn all one evening in the backyard, but have found migrating warblers at our Northern Bayberry shrub this week, feeding on the berries left from winter. Our old crabapple is still going strong, I planted that one 30 years ago, and it is HUGE!! We have a couple Holly trees too, also providing food. Plus, I find that the birds really love the winter's berries provided by the barberry shrubs I used as fillers in the border, (available in so many pretty colors, too! Like purple leaved, chartreuse leaved, you name it) Last fall I added a dogwood. Today I just dragged home a sweet cherry tree to plant this week. (not sure how I'm going to fit it in, but we will!)

Even with all of these efforts, there is really nothing for squirrels to eat at this time of year, without stored nuts leftover. At least there are still some scraps left for the migratories, and this yard seems to be their only stop in the 'hood'. (Imagine if my neighbors didn't insist on treeless lawns full of nothing but weedkiller & bluegrass!!)

My point is, I don't buy birdseed. I buy bushes and trees that feed both birds and squirrels. Squirrels have to eat too!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (unless you really prefer rats and mice!)

And you are quite right, water is essential. I have a watering holeformed of stonework, which all wildlife makes use of, for drinks and baths. Plus a few bowls under shrubs on the ground, when it gets hot, so even the rabbits can get a drink if they like. Even the insects have their tiny still spot for water.

What I have noticed, in a few shorts years of large trees being lost, is that the fox squirrel population has RADICALLY declined, it is scary, and so, so sad. I love fox squirrels..they're so personable!! I no longer see or hear ANY flying squirrels.

I do see an increase in grey squirrels, and I think it is only because they are ranging father to find food than the fox usually will do. Just my own observation, but I base that on the fact that, in just 1 year, with a couple more oaks down, the greys arrived. And in just 1 subsequent year since arriving to this neighborhood, they have intermingled with a small group of blacks about 2 miles from here, and are all turning black HERE, 2 miles away. So, my guess is, that the grey squirrels probably range a lot father, than fox squirrels can do. Fox squirrels are bigger, need more food, and need safe homes, do not fit into as small of cavities, etc. They are also very home-based, and do not stray far from where they were born as they mature.

I've raised 5 different orphaned fox squirrels along the way, at different times, and since they always came back just to say "Hi Mom!!", I know they do not go very far. Plus, I see the babies from intact families staying close to home base as they grow up, maybe only a tree or two away, in the good old days.

PLEASE think of squirrels...Plant for wildlife, birds and squirrels both!

It takes years for an oak, butternut, hickory, etc to start bearing mast. Plant NOW, this year, for future generations! Okay thanks if you have read this far! :)