Ever seen a squirrel grab a chip and wondered if it’d do the same with a piece of meat? Surprisingly, squirrels are opportunistic omnivores—they’ll eat meat if it’s around, but nuts and plants are still their main food. Let’s get into when and why they go for meat, and the kinds of animal food they actually eat.
You’ll find some interesting examples from nests, roadkill, and tiny prey that show how their diet shifts with the seasons, hunger, and even the squirrel species. Keep reading for some straight-to-the-point facts about what squirrels eat and what that means for the wildlife around your home.
Do Squirrels Eat Meat?
Squirrels usually munch on plant foods, but sometimes they’ll eat animal stuff if they need more protein, fat, or vitamins. You might see them go after eggs, insects, or even small animals and carrion, depending on what’s around.
Are Squirrels Omnivores?
Squirrels are definitely omnivores. Most of the time, they eat nuts, seeds, fruits, and fungi.
But they also eat animal foods—think insects, bird eggs, nestlings, or even small rodents if they’re easy to catch. Female squirrels especially look for extra protein during pregnancy and nursing, so they might hunt a bit more then.
Animal foods give squirrels nutrients that plants just don’t, like vitamin B12 and concentrated protein. Not every squirrel hunts every day, but grabbing meat or eggs when they can is totally normal. If you want more details, check out this explanation about squirrels eating meat.
How Often Do Squirrels Eat Meat?
It really depends on the season, where they live, and what food is around. In woodlands, squirrels might eat more insects and eggs in spring and summer because nests and bugs are everywhere.
In fall and winter, they mostly eat cached nuts, so you won’t see much meat unless they scavenge a carcass. When plant foods run low, squirrels turn to meat more often for protein and fat.
You’ll probably notice meat-eating if you check nests, spot raids on bird feeders, or see carcasses that squirrels have scavenged. Still, meat is just a small but useful part of their diet.
Can Squirrels Eat Meat in Urban Areas?
They can, but city squirrels don’t eat meat as often. Urban and suburban spots give them plenty of nuts, seeds, pet food, and human leftovers, so they rarely need to hunt or scavenge.
When they do eat meat in the city, it’s usually from trash, bird nests, or pet food left outside. Feeding squirrels cooked meat? That’s risky.
Cooked or processed meat can have salt, spices, or bacteria that aren’t good for squirrels. If you want to feed wildlife, skip the meat and stick to plain nuts and seeds. For more on how city life changes their diet, check this article on squirrels eating meat in various settings.
What Kind of Meat Do Squirrels Eat?
Squirrels mostly go for small, easy-to-catch animals, eggs, insects, and carrion, especially if plant food is running low or they really need protein. Their behavior shifts by species and what food is nearby.
Squirrels Eating Mice and Other Small Animals
Squirrels sometimes grab mice, baby rabbits, or small lizards if they get the chance. Ground and tree squirrels living near lots of small mammals do this more often.
They hunt when an opportunity pops up—like if prey is slow, injured, or stuck. You won’t see them stalking prey like a fox or cat.
Usually, they eat mice after a lucky encounter or if the prey is already vulnerable. Female squirrels might eat more animal protein during pregnancy or nursing, just to get those extra nutrients.
Do Squirrels Eat Eggs and Birds?
Yep, squirrels raid bird nests for eggs and sometimes even baby birds. You’ll see this more in yards with easy-to-reach nests or feeders close to branches.
Eggs are packed with calories and easier to eat than live birds, so squirrels take them when they find nests. They usually avoid fighting adult birds.
Nest raids happen more at night or early morning, when birds aren’t guarding the nest. If you want to keep nests safe, move feeders away from branches or use baffles and squirrel-proof nest boxes.
Do Squirrels Eat Insects and Carrion?
Squirrels eat insects and carrion more than you might expect. They’ll eat beetles, caterpillars, grubs, and spiders—these are handy protein sources, especially for young or nursing squirrels.
They also scavenge dead animals. If a squirrel finds roadkill, a poisoned rodent, or a dead bird, it’ll eat the meat.
Carrion is an easy way for them to get protein, especially when nuts or fruit are hard to find.
Do Gray Squirrels and Red Squirrels Eat Meat?
Both gray and red squirrels eat meat, but they don’t go about it quite the same way.
Gray squirrels—those common tree squirrels hanging around neighborhoods—grab eggs, insects, and, on occasion, small mammals or even carrion. You’ll probably catch gray squirrels raiding bird feeders or poking around nests, especially in the suburbs.
Red squirrels, which usually stick to forests, go after insects, fungi, and sometimes small vertebrates like lizards or young rodents when they can’t find enough plants. They’re pretty territorial about their food stashes and sometimes kill nestlings or other small animals to cut down on competition.
Species, season, and what’s around to eat all play a role in how much meat each type of squirrel ends up eating.
