Squirrels are omnivores that eat both plant and animal matter. This can include everything from tiny insects to nuts and seeds. Sometimes they’ll eat it right away and sometimes they’ll store food in their cheek pouches for later. Squirrels need to eat throughout the year and in all seasons. In the winter, when many of the plants they eat are unavailable, squirrels rely on the food they have stored or buried, such as nuts and seeds, to survive. They store their foods in special places called caches. These caches help squirrels survive during times when food is scarce. That’s where the squirrel goes when it needs to replenish its energy.
So what are some common foods of squirrels?
Nuts
Squirrels eat nuts. Nuts provide squirrels with energy and protein. Nuts contain essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber.
Squirrels love to snack on hazelnuts, walnuts, peanuts, pecans, almonds, chestnuts, pistachios, cashews, pine nuts, and Brazil nuts. They also enjoy eating beechnuts, hickory nuts, filberts, and coconuts.
Seeds
As anyone who has owned a bird feeder can tell you, Squirrels will eat seeds. according to the National Wildlife Federation, squirrels consume approximately one pound of seeds each year. Like nuts, seeds contain nutrients including vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, iron, calcium, potassium, selenium, and Omega-3 fats. X
Berries
In addition to nuts and seeds, squirrels eat berries. And like those other foods, berries are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are needed for good health. Berries offer squirrels something different though, they offer them a change in taste and texture. This is unfortunate for gardeners who are trying to grow berry bushes.
Acorns
If cartoons have taught us anything it is that squirrels love to eat acorns. While they can’t get them all year round, they can get them in the fall just in time to fatten up for winter. In fact acorn production peaks in fall and winter. During this season, squirrels store acorns in caches to have enough food to last through the cold months. If you live near an oak tree, you might see squirrels gathering acorns and then burying them in your yard. You can encourage them by leaving out some acorns in a safe place where squirrels can easily access them.
Squirrels love acorns because they contain high levels of fat and protein. In fact, one ounce of acorns contains nearly 10 percent of their daily recommended intake of both nutrients. The best thing about acorns is that they are easy to find and gather. If you want to gather acorns and feed them to your squirrels, look for fallen acorns in your yard or park. Once you collect them, keep them dry until you are ready to put them out.
Important to note: If the squirrel doesn’t come back for the acorns they’ve buried, you could have little oak trees sprouting in your yard come spring.
Bird Eggs
Yes, squirrels also eat bird eggs. As homeowners who are trying to attract wildlife, including birds, into our yard, this can be disconcerting. But as mentioned above squirrels are omniverous animals that eat a variety of plant and animals. They will eat almost anything they can fit into their mouth. In addition to the above their diet includes insect larvae, worms, and even bird eggs.
Remember, squirrels are wild animals and they are known to be opportunistic feeders who will eat whatever they find.
Even though they are cute and entertaining, when it comes to what squirrels eat, they do have a dark side.