Ever spotted a squirrel darting across your yard or raiding the bird feeder and wondered what really draws them in? Squirrels absolutely love nuts and seeds—acorns, walnuts, and sunflower seeds are their top picks. But they won’t say no to fruits, veggies, fungi, or even the occasional insect or egg when they’re after some extra protein.
If you’re hoping to attract, avoid, or just understand these busy little foragers, stick around. We’ll dig into what drives their food choices and how their wild instincts shape their diet.
You’ll get a sense of what fuels their energy, why they stash snacks everywhere, and some practical tips for managing squirrels in your yard or local park.
The Foods Squirrels Love Most
Squirrels go straight for high-calorie, easy-to-hide foods that keep them energized and ready for winter. You’ll spot them chasing after nuts, seeds, fruits, and some veggies, often carrying their finds in their mouths or burying them for later.
Nuts: The Top Squirrel Treats
Nuts are their all-time favorite. They’re packed with fats and calories in a compact shell. Squirrels crack open acorns, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, and hickory nuts with impressive skill.
These snacks help them bulk up for the cold. Squirrels use their sharp memory and sense of smell to dig up buried nuts, but they often forget a few—leading to surprise trees popping up later.
You can put out unsalted peanuts in the shell or whole almonds for them, but skip the salted or candy-coated stuff.
If you want squirrels to visit, try leaving whole nuts on a flat surface or in a tray. It’s fun to watch their strong jaws at work and see how quickly they stash their loot.
Seeds and Grains Squirrels Go Wild For
Seeds are another favorite—full of energy and easy to store. Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are top choices, along with pine nuts and birdseed blends.
You’ll often catch squirrels raiding bird feeders for sunflower kernels and peanuts. They’ll also eat plain corn or cracked grains like oats if they find them.
If you want to keep the mess down, put seeds in a ground-level dish. Or if you’re more interested in birds, use a squirrel-proof feeder.
Skip the salty or flavored seed mixes. Plain, unsalted seeds—especially shelled sunflower seeds—are perfect and safe for them.
Fruits That Squirrels Can’t Resist
Squirrels have a sweet tooth for soft, juicy fruits. Apples, persimmons, crabapples, and grapes are all on their menu when they’re ripe.
Fruit gives them quick sugar for energy and helps keep them hydrated, especially on hot days. Squirrels usually carry fruit to a quiet spot to enjoy it.
In fall, apples and persimmons are everywhere, while berries are a summer treat. If you offer fruit, take out any tough cores with lots of seeds, and definitely skip anything moldy or fermented.
Try placing whole or cut fruit on a plate or stump if you want to watch them snack, but don’t leave fruit to rot on the ground.
Favorite Vegetables in a Squirrel’s Diet
Squirrels won’t pass up a good veggie, especially if it’s tender and easy to reach. Tomatoes, zucchini, and carrots are common targets in gardens.
Young plants, soft tomatoes, and fresh carrot tops always seem to catch their eye. Sometimes they dig up bulbs or chew on stems just to get to the sweet parts inside.
To protect your garden, try cages or raised beds, and pick up fallen produce quickly. If you want to share, offer small, fresh pieces—raw carrot sticks or sliced zucchini are great.
Don’t give them cooked veggies or anything with oil, salt, or spices. Stick to plain, fresh vegetables to keep them healthy and avoid problems with mold.
Natural Diet & Foraging Habits
Squirrels depend on high-calorie foods, sharp senses, and a surprisingly good memory to survive. Let’s look at how different squirrel species pick their meals, how their diet shifts with the seasons, and what else—like insects and fungi—ends up on their menu.
How Different Squirrel Species Choose Their Food
Gray squirrels and fox squirrels really go for nuts—acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts, you name it. You’ll see them climbing oaks and hickories, cracking shells with their strong teeth, and burying nuts all over the place.
Red squirrels focus more on conifer seeds, pine cones, and mushrooms. They defend their tree territories and stash food in tree cavities.
Ground squirrels mostly eat seeds, grasses, and sometimes crops. You’ll find them foraging on the ground and hiding seeds in their burrows.
Flying squirrels eat seeds, fruits, and sometimes bird eggs. They usually forage at night and glide between trees to find food.
Your local squirrels will choose what’s available—tree nuts, lawn seeds, or whatever they find at your bird feeder.
Seasonal Changes in What Squirrels Eat
In spring and summer, squirrels munch on fresh fruits, buds, shoots, and insects to get the protein they need for breeding. You’ll notice them eating more berries and fruit during the warmer months when everything’s ripe and juicy.
When autumn rolls around, squirrels shift to high-fat foods like nuts and seeds, packing on fat and building up their winter stores.
During winter, they mainly eat the nuts they’ve hidden, nibble on bark, or snack on any dried fungi they managed to save. Red squirrels often eat more stored fungi, while gray squirrels dig up their buried nuts.
Ground squirrels sometimes hibernate or just slow down, living off their body fat until food is easy to find again.
Insects, Fungi, and Unique Foods Squirrels Eat
Squirrels mostly stick to plants, but they’ll grab insects or eggs when they’re craving protein. Sometimes you’ll catch them munching on grubs, caterpillars, or beetles.
During nesting season, they might even go after small birds’ eggs. Young squirrels and breeding females especially seem to go for more insects to get enough protein.
Some species really love fungi—think truffles, chanterelles, or boletes. Red squirrels, for example, dry mushrooms and stash them up in trees.
You might spot squirrels raiding gardens for corn or veggies, or even swiping peanut butter from feeders. When their usual foods run out, they’ll go for whatever’s around, including some odd human snacks.
These unusual choices can help squirrels get by for a while, but honestly, they’re not exactly a balanced diet.
