You’ll probably spot squirrels grabbing nuts, nibbling fruit, or raiding a bird feeder—those little moments say a lot about what squirrels like to eat. Squirrels mostly eat nuts, seeds, fruits, and bits of plants, but they’ll go for fungi, insects, eggs, or even human food when it’s easy to snatch. I’ll walk you through what they eat most, how their menu changes with the seasons, and what shifts depending on where they live.
Notice the small clues—seeds scattered at a feeder, mushrooms poking up along a trail. Those details reveal a lot about squirrel habits. Curious about what really fuels their wild energy, which foods to skip, or how city squirrels adapt? Let’s dig in.
Core Foods Squirrels Eat
Squirrels chase after high-energy seeds and nuts, seasonal fruits, some garden veggies, and certain fungi. You’ll see them grab, carry, or bury these foods for quick snacks or to stash away for winter.
Seeds and Nuts
Nuts and seeds are the main calories for most squirrels. They love acorns, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, hickory nuts, chestnuts, and pine nuts—anything packed with fat and energy.
You’ll see squirrels crack tough shells with their sharp teeth and sometimes eat the kernels right away. Other times, they’ll bury a bunch for later.
Sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds show up a lot in yards and bird feeders. Squirrels can’t resist these, shelled or not, and they’ll take more than you might expect.
They scatter-hoard like pros, hiding food all over their territory. Sometimes they forget a few, and those forgotten nuts sprout into new trees.
If you’ve got yard trees, watch for conifer seeds from pine cones and beechnuts—squirrels will go after those, too. Their feeding helps forests grow, even while they’re just looking for a meal.
Fruits and Berries
Squirrels eat a surprising variety of fruits and berries. You might spot them on apple or persimmon trees, or snacking on wild berry bushes.
They’ll take ripe apples, grapes, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Fruit gives them quick sugar and water, so they eat more of it in summer and fall.
They often eat small fruits whole or take bites out of bigger ones. Ever find a half-eaten apple or a missing cherry under a tree? Probably a squirrel’s work.
Squirrels also go for persimmons and figs when they find them. They’ll visit orchards, vineyards, and backyard plants for a fruity treat.
Fruit seeds sometimes pass right through them or get buried nearby. That helps spread the seeds around. Still, when winter comes, squirrels depend more on nuts and seeds than on fruit.
Vegetables and Garden Plants
Squirrels will raid gardens for corn, tomatoes, carrots, peas, and squash. You might catch them nibbling corn kernels, stripping tomato plants, or digging up bulbs and seedlings.
Corn and tomatoes give them calories and some moisture. Carrots and greens add vitamins.
When food gets scarce, squirrels chew bark and cambium. If your young trees have missing bark or shredded spots, squirrels might be eating the living layer under the bark for winter nutrients.
To keep them out, try cages, raised beds, or sturdy fencing. Cover your seedlings until they’re strong enough to handle a little wildlife attention.
Fungi and Mushrooms
Squirrels eat a bunch of fungi, from mushrooms growing on the ground to underground truffles. You’ll see them digging for truffles or nibbling mushroom caps above ground.
Fungi give them protein and minerals, balancing out their nut-heavy diet.
When they hunt for truffles, squirrels use their nose and paws to dig them up. Sometimes they bury pieces for later, which actually helps spread spores.
Not all mushrooms are safe for humans, but squirrels seem to handle a wider range without much trouble.
If you see repeated digging in one spot, there’s probably a good patch of fungi there. Try to avoid using harsh chemicals—squirrels help the soil and forests by spreading fungi around.
Diet Differences and Special Eating Habits
Squirrels eat a huge variety of foods, depending on where they live and what kind of squirrel they are. Some stick mostly to nuts and seeds, but others add insects, bird eggs, or even small animals to their diet.
Squirrel Species and Their Preferences
Different squirrels have their own favorite foods. Red squirrels usually eat seeds, fungi, and conifer cones.
Gray and fox squirrels go for nuts like acorns, walnuts, and hickory, plus fruits and buds. Flying squirrels eat nuts and seeds too, but they also grab fungi and insects, especially at night.
Ground squirrels munch more on green plants, seeds, and a bigger share of insects than tree squirrels do.
Size and habitat matter. Bigger fox squirrels can crack larger nuts, while smaller tropical tree squirrels may go after more insects.
If you’re feeding wildlife or setting up a squirrel feeder, try to offer foods that match your local squirrels’ tastes.
Urban Versus Wild Squirrels
Urban squirrels change their diet because of people. In parks and backyards, gray and fox squirrels eat bread, birdseed, and even tossed-out snacks.
They still love nuts and fruit, but human food can make up a big chunk of their meals in cities.
Wild squirrels in forests stick to seasonal nuts, seeds, fungi, buds, and insects like beetles or caterpillars.
Feeding squirrels in town can change how they act. You might notice more squirrels showing up, sometimes fighting over feeders.
If you want to feed them, use a feeder built for nuts and seeds, and skip bread or salty snacks—they aren’t good for squirrels anyway.
Animal-Based Foods and Occasional Meat
Squirrels mostly eat plants, but honestly, they’ll grab animal-based foods now and then. Tree squirrels might go after insects like grubs, beetles, or caterpillars. Sometimes, they’ll even snatch bird eggs or nestlings if the opportunity pops up.
Ground squirrels, on the other hand, seem a bit more adventurous. They eat a broader range of insects and might go for small vertebrates whenever they can.
People have spotted squirrels eating meat or scavenging on carrion, which sounds surprising at first. Don’t assume squirrels crave meat all the time, though—they’ll just take the chance if they find protein sources like eggs or even milk from baby squirrels.
If you ever come across a baby squirrel, please skip the bread or meat. Reach out to a wildlife rehabilitator for help. When feeding wild squirrels, it’s best to stick with nuts and seeds that fit their natural diet.
