What Do Squirrels Eat? The Squirrel Diet Explained

Squirrels are some of the hungriest little critters we’ve ever encountered in our years of wildlife management. These busy foragers will try just about anything they can get their paws on! Whether you’re dealing with pesky backyard invaders or just curious about these fuzzy acrobats, understanding what squirrels eat helps explain their behavior and might even help you manage unwanted visitors.

Natural Squirrel Diet: What They Eat in the Wild

Squirrels are opportunistic omnivores with seasonal eating habits that change throughout the year. In the wild, their diet consists of:

Nuts and Seeds – The Ultimate Squirrel Favorites

Nuts top the list of preferred squirrel foods. These protein-packed treats are what squirrels are most known for gathering and burying for later. Their favorites include:

• Acorns – The classic squirrel food
• Walnuts – High in healthy fats
• Pecans – Rich in nutrients
• Hazelnuts – Easy to store
• Pine nuts – Harvested from pine cones
• Chestnuts – Seasonal favorites
• Almonds – Though not native to many squirrel habitats
• Beechnuts – Found in forested areas

Gray squirrels are better at remembering where they’ve buried their nuts compared to red squirrels. This gives grays a survival advantage when food becomes scarce.

Fruits and Berries

When available, squirrels go crazy for fruits! They’ll eat:

• Berries – Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries
• Tree fruits – Apples, pears, peaches
• Wild fruits – Persimmons, pawpaws, wild cherries
• Other fruits – Grapes, melons, bananas (when available)

Fruits provide quick energy and important vitamins for these active animals.

Vegetables and Plants

Gardeners know all too well that squirrels enjoy vegetables. They target:

• Corn – A particular favorite
• Leafy greens – Lettuce, spinach, kale
• Root vegetables – Carrots, radishes, turnips
• Squash and pumpkins – Both the flesh and seeds
• Tomatoes – Particularly when ripe

Squirrels also consume plant parts like:

• Young shoots and buds
• Flower bulbs (except daffodils, alliums, and hyacinths, which they avoid)
• Tender bark and twigs
• Tree sap

Fungi and Mushrooms

Squirrels are natural mushroom hunters! They eat various fungi including:

• Truffles – Underground mushrooms
• Shelf mushrooms – Growing on trees
• Common forest mushrooms – Many varieties

These provide essential nutrients not found in other food sources.

Insects and Other Protein Sources

While primarily plant-eaters, squirrels won’t turn down protein when they find it:

• Caterpillars and larvae
• Grasshoppers and crickets
• Bird eggs (opportunistically)
• Small invertebrates

These foods become more important when other food sources are scarce.

What Different Squirrel Species Eat

What Do Baby Squirrels Eat?

Baby squirrels (kittens) have specific dietary needs:

• Newborns: Rely exclusively on mother’s milk for the first 5-8 weeks
• Weaning squirrels (7-10 weeks): Begin trying solid foods like soft nuts and fruits
• Juvenile squirrels: Gradually transition to adult foods, starting with softer options

If you find an orphaned baby squirrel, contact a wildlife rehabilitator immediately! Baby squirrels require specialized care and feeding.

What Do Flying Squirrels Eat?

Flying squirrels have unique dietary preferences:

• More carnivorous than other squirrel species
• Regularly eat insects, eggs, and carrion
• Love tree sap and fungi
• Consume nuts and seeds like other squirrels
• Often feed at night (they’re nocturnal)

What Do Ground Squirrels Eat?

Ground squirrels (including chipmunks) focus on:

• Seeds from grasses and plants
• Nuts stored in underground burrows
• More insects than tree squirrels
• Bulbs and roots (they’re excellent diggers)
• Agricultural crops (making them pests in farming areas)

Seasonal Diet Changes

Squirrels’ eating habits change dramatically with the seasons:

• Spring: Fresh buds, flowers, early berries, insects
• Summer: Abundant fruits, vegetables, seeds from flowers
• Fall: Massive nut collection for winter storage, mushrooms
• Winter: Rely heavily on stored nuts and seeds, tree bark when desperate

What Squirrels Like to Eat the Most

If you’re wondering what treats squirrels simply can’t resist, these top the list:

1. Peanut butter – The ultimate squirrel bait (though not necessarily healthy for them)
2. Black walnuts – Preferred over many other nuts
3. Sunflower seeds – High energy and easy to eat
4. Sweet corn – Both fresh and dried
5. Pecans – A high-calorie favorite

Foods Squirrels Should Avoid

Not everything squirrels eat is good for them. Problematic foods include:

• Salted nuts or processed foods – The salt content is harmful
• Chocolate and caffeine – Toxic to squirrels
• Processed human snacks – Poor nutrition and harmful additives
• Bread – Fills them up without proper nutrition
• Dairy products – Squirrels are lactose intolerant

Foods That Squirrels Naturally Avoid

Some plants have natural squirrel-repelling properties:

• Hot peppers – Squirrels hate capsaicin (though birds don’t mind it)
• Garlic and onions – The strong smell deters them
• Daffodil bulbs – Naturally toxic to squirrels
• Alliums – Including ornamental varieties
• Hyacinths – Another bulb they avoid

Managing Squirrels Around Your Home

If squirrels are becoming pests in your yard or home, understanding their diet helps with management:

• Feed birds with squirrel-proof feeders or add cayenne pepper to birdseed
• Plant bulbs they avoid (daffodils, alliums)
• Remove fallen nuts and fruits promptly
• Consider creating a designated squirrel feeding area away from gardens
• For serious infestations, professional squirrel removal services might be necessary

According to a study by the University of California, squirrels can remember the locations of thousands of nuts they’ve buried, sometimes for months at a time. That’s some serious brain power for such a small animal!

When squirrels become problematic in homes, they’re usually seeking food or shelter. In The Woodlands and surrounding areas, we frequently respond to calls about squirrels in attics, especially during fall and winter when they’re looking for warm places to store food and raise young.

Conclusion

Squirrels are adaptable, opportunistic eaters that play important roles in forest ecosystems by spreading seeds and controlling insect populations. While their feeding habits can sometimes make them backyard pests, understanding what they eat helps us coexist with these bushy-tailed neighbors.

Want to learn more about squirrels? Check out our articles on squirrels in attics and how to repel squirrels naturally.