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In response to my last squirrel column, I was asked for some clarification about what they eat. More specifically, whether or not they are omnivores.
Squirrels, being primarily herbivores, eat a wide variety of plants, as well as nuts, seeds, conifer cones, fruits, fungi, and green vegetation. Some squirrels, however, also consume meat, especially when faced with hunger. [21] [32] Squirrels have been known to eat small birds, young snakes, and smaller rodents, as well as bird eggs and insects.
Mount Graham red squirrels behave in a manner similar to most other subspecies of American red squirrel. They are diurnal and do not hibernate during the winter months, but instead carry out activities in the mid-day sun. [7] Mount Graham squirrels usually eat a diet of mixed seeds, conifer cones and air-dried fungi. [8]
They feed on fruit and nuts from trees such as red and white oak, hickory, and beech. They store food, especially acorns, for winter consumption. They also dine on insects, buds, mushrooms, mycorrhizal fungi, carrion, bird eggs, nestlings, and flowers. Predators include snakes, [5] owls, hawks and raccoons. Domestic cats can also be potential ...
Squirrels are foragers, which means that they collect food — things like nuts and berries. A squirrel may build up a cache of extra food for when they don’t have time to go out and find a meal.
Instead of viewing squirrels as nuisances, consider their virtues. For premium support please call: 800-290-4726 more ways to reach us
Some people do "squirrel fishing" as a way of simultaneously playing with and feeding squirrels. Humans commonly offer various nuts and seeds; however, wildlife rehabilitators in the field have noted that neither raw nor roasted peanuts nor sunflower seeds are healthy for squirrels, because they are deficient in several essential nutrients.
Eastern gray squirrel eating a cicada. Eastern gray squirrels have a high enough tolerance for humans to inhabit residential neighborhoods and raid bird feeders for millet, corn, and sunflower seeds. Some people who feed and watch birds for entertainment also intentionally feed seeds and nuts to the squirrels for the same reason. [59]
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