You’ll spot squirrels darting around the Plaza, and honestly, feeding them is such a simple way to win them over. Squirrels in Dreamlight Valley go nuts for peanuts—definitely their favorite. But they’ll happily snack on fruits you find on bushes and trees, too.
Knowing what they like makes it easier to approach them and score some rewards. Here’s what to feed them, when they show up, and how to actually get those goodies (and maybe a new furry friend).
What Do the Squirrels in Dreamlight Valley Eat
Squirrels in Dreamlight Valley seem to love peanuts more than anything else. They’ll also take plenty of fruits and foraged stuff, and each color version shows up on certain days and times in the Plaza.
Favorite Food: Peanuts
Peanuts are hands down the top treat for squirrels. If you feed them a peanut, you might see them drop Dream Shards, Memory Shards, or even a Motif Bag.
You get the best rewards when you offer their favorite snack. Walk up to a squirrel in the Plaza—just don’t sprint or they’ll bolt. Grab a peanut from your inventory, get close, and hit the feed button.
The game recognizes peanuts as their “favorite,” so you’ll have a better shot at cool rewards and unlocking them as companions.
Fruits and Other Liked Foods
Squirrels won’t turn up their noses at fruit, either. Apples, bananas, blueberries, cherries, coconuts, dreamlight fruit, gooseberries, lemons, and raspberries all work.
Some weird ones count too, like brussels sprouts, nutmeg, and cape gooseberry. If you’re out of peanuts, just use whatever fruit you’ve got.
You’ll get fewer rare drops, but it still helps you collect companions and earn little bonuses. It’s smart to keep apples or bananas on hand so you never miss a chance.
All Squirrel Color Variants and Their Schedules
You’ll find five squirrel colors: Black, Classic, Gray, Red, and the rare White. Each one pops up at specific times, so you’ll need to plan if you’re after a certain color.
Here’s a quick rundown (these are just examples):
- Black Squirrel: usually mornings to midday, several days a week.
- Classic Squirrel: shows up afternoons and evenings, pretty often.
- Gray Squirrel: midday to midnight on some weekdays.
- Red Squirrel: mornings or certain days only.
- White Squirrel (rare): only on Sundays, 10 AM to 4 PM.
Check the in-game Plaza schedule to match up your hunt with the right time.
Where to Find Squirrels in the Plaza
All squirrel critters hang out in the Plaza. You’ll spot them near benches, along paths, or close to trees and bushes.
They wander a lot, so you might have to scan the whole area for the color you want. If one runs off, just wait for the next spawn window or leave and come back to reset things.
The in-game critter guide will tell you which colors are around that day and when they’ll appear. Saves a lot of time if you’re on a mission.
Feeding Squirrels: How and Why
Squirrels go wild for peanuts, but most fruits from bushes and trees will do if you’re out. Feed them and you might get Dream Shards, Memory Shards, or even unlock them as a Companion after a few tries.
How to Feed Squirrels Step-by-Step
When you spot a squirrel in the Plaza, make sure it’s active. Put your chosen food in your hotbar or just open your inventory and pick a peanut or fruit.
Walk up and hit the feed button when you see the prompt. If the squirrel likes what you’ve got, it’ll eat right away.
Peanuts give the best rewards, but sometimes you’ll need to feed a squirrel twice before it joins your Companion list. Keep an eye on which ones you’ve already fed.
Go for peanuts when you want Dream Shards. If you’re out, apples, bananas, blueberries, and raspberries are solid backups.
Don’t waste time with random foods—squirrels aren’t interested in most other items.
Feeding Rewards and Possible Drops
Feed a squirrel and you could get Dream Shards or Memory Shards. If you use their favorite food (peanuts), you’re more likely to see Dream Shards and sometimes a Motif Bag.
Here’s what you might get:
- Dream Shard (most common)
- Memory Shard (a bit less common)
- Motif Bag or a rare crafting item (pretty rare)
Favorite foods usually mean better or rarer rewards. Liked foods give you something, just not as much.
It’s worth keeping track of what drops, especially if you’re aiming to finish foraging tasks or Dreamlight Duties.
Unlocking Squirrels as Companions
Feed a squirrel its favorite or liked foods a few times and you’ll unlock it as a Companion. Most squirrel types need two successful feeds before you can add them to your Companion menu.
Once you unlock one, it moves to your Companion list. You can equip it for photos or just to hang out.
Double-check your inventory and Companion slots to make sure you got it. For the rarer colors, don’t miss their spawn window—feed them while you can or you’ll have to wait for another shot.
Benefits for Dreamlight Duties and Tasks
When you feed squirrels, you make progress on several objectives. You’ll knock out general critter-feeding tasks, specific “feed squirrels X times” goals, and even some foraging Dreamlight Duties.
If you give them their favorite foods, you’ll finish tasks even faster. Favorite foods drop Dream Shards and count as full-value interactions, which feels pretty rewarding.
Try using feeding to collect Dream Shards for upgrades. You’ll also need those shards for Remy’s Recipe Book quests, especially when you’re trying to unlock peanuts.
Keep an eye on which biomes and times each squirrel pops up. It’s easy to miss them if you’re not paying attention.
When you equip an unlocked squirrel as a Companion, you won’t get any stat boosts. Still, it’s handy for photo tasks, and it helps you finish collection-based duties.
