Squirrels are among the most common and beloved rodents found across the world. These energetic and agile creatures are often seen scurrying up trees, darting across yards, and foraging for food. But have you ever wondered, what do squirrels eat? Their diet is surprisingly diverse and adaptable, depending on their environment and seasonal availability of food. In this blog, we’ll explore what they naturally eat, how their diet changes with the seasons, and offer tips on how to feed them responsibly if you enjoy having these lovely creatures in your yard. Let’s take a closer look at the foods that fuel these energetic animals and how we can support their natural behavior.
Understanding a Squirrel’s Natural Diet
Squirrels belong to the Sciuridae family and are found in various habitats, from dense forests to urban areas. Their diet primarily consists of plant-based foods, but they are opportunistic feeders who can consume a range of items. Let’s break down their natural diet:
1. Nuts and Seeds
One of the most iconic images of a squirrel is one holding an acorn. Nuts and seeds make up a significant portion of their diet and provide essential fats, proteins, and energy. Common nuts and seeds they consume include:
- Acorns
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Almonds
- Hazelnuts
- Sunflower seeds
- Pine nuts
They are also known for their habit of caching food, where they bury nuts to store for winter when food sources become scarce.
2. Fruits and Vegetables
Squirrels enjoy a variety of fruits and vegetables, which provide them with essential vitamins and hydration. Some of their favorites include:
- Apples
- Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
- Grapes
- Pears
- Peaches
- Carrots
- Corn
- Pumpkins
While they love fruits, it’s important to note that too much sugary fruit can be harmful to them in the long run.
3. Fungi and Mushrooms
They occasionally eat fungi and mushrooms, which are an excellent source of protein and nutrients. Some tree squirrels even have the ability to eat certain mushrooms that are toxic to humans!
4. Insects, Eggs, and Small Animals
Although squirrels are primarily herbivores, they are known to consume protein-rich foods like:
- Caterpillars
- Grasshoppers
- Bird eggs
- Small lizards
- Baby birds
This behavior is more common when plant-based food sources are scarce, particularly in harsh winter months.
5. Tree Bark and Twigs
When food is in short supply, squirrels may resort to chewing on tree bark, twigs, and plant stems. This provides fiber and helps them maintain their constantly growing teeth.
What Should You Feed Squirrels? (And What to Avoid!)
If you enjoy watching squirrels in your yard and want to feed them, it’s important to provide them with safe and nutritious options. A well-balanced diet helps keep them healthy, supports their energetic lifestyle, and ensures they don’t become dependent on unhealthy human food.
Healthy Foods to Offer Squirrels
To keep squirrels strong and active, consider offering them a variety of natural foods similar to what they would find in the wild:
- Nuts in the shell (preferably raw and unsalted): Walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, and acorns are excellent choices. These help maintain their dental health by providing something to gnaw on.
- Vegetables like carrots, zucchini, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens: These are rich in vitamins and minerals that support overall health.
- Fruits in moderation, such as apples, bananas, berries, grapes, and pears: While fruits provide natural sugars and hydration, they should be given in limited amounts to avoid excessive sugar intake.
- Seeds and grains like sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, oats, and corn: These provide energy but should be fed in moderation to prevent obesity.
- Nut butter (small amounts) spread on a tree branch for a fun treat: This can provide extra fats and proteins, but it should be given sparingly to avoid excess calories.
- Hard-boiled eggs (for extra protein in winter months): During colder seasons, they require more protein to maintain their body heat and energy levels.
Foods to Avoid
While squirrels may seem eager to eat just about anything, some foods can be harmful or even toxic to them. Avoid feeding:
- Processed Foods: Bread, crackers, chips, and cereals contain little nutritional value and can cause digestive problems.
- Sugary Foods: Candy, chocolate, and artificial sweeteners (such as xylitol) can be toxic and lead to serious health issues.
- Salted or Roasted Nuts: Excess salt can cause dehydration and kidney problems, so it’s best to stick to raw, unsalted varieties.
- Dairy Products: While they might nibble on cheese or milk-based foods, their digestive system isn’t designed to process lactose, which can cause stomach discomfort.
- Raw Beans and Peanuts: These contain natural toxins that can interfere with digestion or cause health problems if eaten in large quantities. Roasted, unsalted peanuts are safer in moderation.
- Junk Food and Fast Food: Items like fries, pizza, and processed meats are highly unhealthy.
By providing the right foods and avoiding harmful ones, you can help keep your backyard squirrels healthy, active, and thriving in their natural environment.
How Do Squirrels Find Their Food?
Squirrels have excellent memory and spatial awareness, allowing them to locate hidden food. They use their sense of smell to detect buried nuts, even under snow! During warmer months, they forage constantly, storing extra food for the winter.
In urban areas, they are highly adaptable and will rummage through trash, bird feeders, and even steal food from picnic tables! They are also quick learners, remembering locations where food is readily available and revisiting them frequently. Some even observe and mimic the behavior of other animals to find new food sources.
Additionally, squirrels practice “scatter hoarding,” where they bury nuts and seeds in multiple locations to ensure they have enough reserves. Interestingly, they sometimes dig fake caches to mislead potential thieves. Their ability to locate these hidden stashes later is a testament to their sharp memory and keen survival instincts.
Seasonal Variations in Squirrel Diets
Squirrels adjust their diets based on the availability of food throughout the year, ensuring they meet their nutritional needs in different seasons.
- Spring and Summer: As temperatures rise and plant life flourishes, they take advantage of the abundance of fresh foods. They consume a variety of fruits, tender green shoots, flowers, and buds. Insects and bird eggs may also supplement their diet, providing essential protein and nutrients. This period is crucial for building energy reserves after the scarcity of winter.
- Autumn: This is the peak season for food gathering, particularly nuts and seeds. They actively collect and bury acorns, walnuts, hazelnuts, and other nutrient-rich foods to store for the colder months. They also consume berries and fungi to build fat reserves that will help them survive when fresh food becomes scarce. Their instinct to hoard food is especially strong during this time, as they prepare for winter.
- Winter: With limited food sources available, they rely heavily on their cached food. They dig up buried nuts and seeds, which provide essential energy. In addition, they may eat tree bark, fungi, lichens, and even small insects or carrion when other food is scarce. Their winter diet is focused on survival, making the food they stored in autumn crucial for their well-being.
Feeding Squirrels Responsibly
If you want to help squirrels in your yard, consider these responsible feeding practices:
- Use squirrel feeders: These help prevent from raiding bird feeders and ensure they have a designated food source. Choose sturdy, weather-resistant feeders placed at a safe height away from predators.
- Avoid overfeeding: They need to maintain their natural foraging instincts. Offering too much food can make them overly dependent on human-provided sources, which may disrupt their natural behavior and diet.
- Provide fresh water: Especially during hot summer months, access to clean water is essential for hydration and overall well-being. A shallow dish or birdbath with fresh water can be beneficial.
- Create a natural habitat: Plant trees, shrubs, and native plants to provide a balanced diet and shelter. Oak, hickory, and walnut trees offer natural food sources like acorns and nuts, while dense foliage provides protection from predators.
- Offer healthy food options: If supplementing their diet, choose natural foods like unsalted nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid processed or salty foods, as they can be harmful.
- Monitor feeding areas: Regularly clean feeding stations to prevent mold, bacteria, and disease from spreading among wildlife.
- Respect local wildlife laws: Some areas have regulations regarding feeding wild animals. Be sure to follow local guidelines to ensure your efforts support rather than disrupt the ecosystem.
By following these responsible feeding practices, you can enjoy watching them in your yard while promoting their health and natural behaviors.
Is it Safe or Legal to Feed Wild Squirrels?
Feeding wild squirrels may seem like a kind gesture, but it’s essential to consider the broader implications of this behavior. While they may look cute, providing food to them can lead to a range of legal, safety, and behavioral issues that could negatively impact both humans and animals.
Legal Considerations
- Local regulations: In many places, feeding wild squirrels is illegal. This is due to laws protecting wildlife and ensuring that animals maintain their natural behavior. Authorities often discourage or prohibit feeding to prevent negative consequences that can arise from human interaction.
- Wildlife protection laws: These laws are designed to prevent animals from becoming dependent on humans for food. By feeding squirrels, people unintentionally interfere with the natural food chain, which can harm the ecosystem. Many wildlife experts warn that feeding wildlife should be left to trained professionals.
- Fines for violations: In some cities or parks, local authorities may impose fines on individuals caught feeding wildlife. Depending on where you live, these fines can range from a small fine to a more significant penalty, highlighting the seriousness of the issue.
Safety Concerns
- Nutritional imbalance: Wild squirrels are foragers by nature, and their diet consists of foods that are naturally available in their environment, like nuts, seeds, and fruits. Food provided by humans often lacks the necessary balance of fats, proteins, and vitamins that squirrels need for good health. Over time, this can lead to malnutrition or obesity.
- Diseases and parasites: Wild squirrels can carry diseases, parasites, and infections such as rabies, Lyme disease, or fleas, all of which can be transmitted to humans or domestic pets. Even a simple bite or scratch can lead to health problems, so close interaction increases the risk of transmission.
- Attracting unwanted pests: Feeding squirrels can also attract other wildlife, such as raccoons, foxes, or even larger predators. These animals may pose a threat to pets or children and disrupt local wildlife balances. In urban or suburban areas, this can also cause nuisance problems or increase the chance of property damage.
What Food is Toxic to Squirrels?
While squirrels are adaptable, there are certain foods that can be toxic and potentially lethal to them. Some foods are harmful to squirrels even in small amounts, so it’s important to be aware of these risks, especially if you’re feeding squirrels in your yard or as a pet.
- Chocolate: Chocolate contains theobromine, a toxic substance to squirrels. Theobromine can cause severe health issues such as rapid heart rate, seizures, and even death in extreme cases. This substance is highly toxic to many animals, and squirrels should never be given chocolate under any circumstances.
- Avocados: Avocados, specifically the pit and skin, contain persin, a fungicidal toxin that can be harmful to squirrels. Persin can lead to respiratory distress, heart failure, or even death in severe cases. The flesh of the avocado is safe in small amounts, but it’s generally better to avoid feeding squirrels this fruit altogether.
- Onions and Garlic: Onions and garlic are harmful to squirrels due to the sulfur compounds they contain. These compounds can cause digestive upset, blood disorders, and damage to the red blood cells. Regular consumption can lead to anemia and other serious health issues, so these foods should be kept away from squirrels.
- Processed Junk Food: Junk food, including chips, cookies, and other packaged snacks, often contains high levels of salt, sugar, and artificial preservatives. These foods can lead to obesity, kidney disease, and liver damage in squirrels. While squirrels may be attracted to the smell or taste, these foods offer little nutritional value and can cause long-term harm.
- Artificial Sweeteners (Xylitol): Xylitol, a sugar substitute commonly found in sugar-free products, is extremely toxic to squirrels. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in seizures, liver failure, and potentially death. Always avoid feeding squirrels products containing artificial sweeteners.
- Alcohol and Caffeine: Both alcohol and caffeine are toxic to squirrels. Alcohol can depress the central nervous system, while caffeine can cause hyperactivity, heart palpitations, and seizures. Both substances can be fatal if consumed in large amounts, so they should never be given to squirrels.
By ensuring that squirrels only consume safe, nutritious foods, we can help protect them from harmful toxins that could seriously affect their health.
Conclusion
Squirrels are fascinating creatures with a diverse diet that varies based on their environment and the season. From nuts and seeds to fruits, vegetables, and even occasional protein sources, they are adaptable eaters that play a vital role in nature. If you choose to feed squirrels, make sure to do so responsibly, offering healthy and natural foods that support their well-being.
Next time you see a squirrel darting around your backyard, you’ll have a better idea of what they’re searching for—and maybe even leave them a tasty (and healthy) treat!
FAQ’S
- Do squirrels drink water?
Yes, squirrels drink water regularly, especially during hot weather. They get moisture from fruits and vegetables but also seek out puddles, streams, or birdbaths to stay hydrated. - Can squirrels eat peanut butter?
While squirrels enjoy peanut butter, it should only be given in small amounts. It is high in fat and salt, which can be unhealthy if consumed in excess. - Do squirrels store food for winter?
Yes, squirrels practice “caching,” where they hide nuts and seeds in multiple locations to retrieve them during winter when food is scarce. - Are there any plants that squirrels naturally avoid?
Squirrels tend to avoid daffodils, hyacinths, and alliums due to their strong scents and potential toxicity. These plants are sometimes used as natural deterrents in gardens. - Can baby squirrels eat the same food as adults?
No, baby squirrel rely on their mother’s milk for the first few weeks. As they grow, they transition to soft foods like fruits before eventually eating nuts and seeds like.
