So, you’re curious about when squirrels actually eat and how to time feeding for their health? Squirrels mostly eat during daylight, with early morning and late afternoon being the sweet spots for offering food. That’s when they’re out and about the most, which makes it easier to catch them in action.
Seasons really shake up their appetite and food choices. You’ll get some straightforward tips on what to feed them, when to put food out, and how to steer clear of common mistakes that could mess with your local wildlife.
When Can Squirrels Eat Throughout the Year?
As the seasons shift, squirrels change up their eating habits, timing, and food storage. You’ll notice when they go for fresh stuff, when they dig up old snacks, and when they’re most active during the day.
Eating Patterns by Season
In spring, squirrels munch on buds, young leaves, insects, and early fruits. You might spot them nibbling tree buds or making a mess in the garden when veggies and berries pop up.
Nursing females especially need protein for their babies, so you’ll see them hunting insects too.
Summer means more fruits, seeds, and insects. Squirrels snack on berries, garden crops, and sometimes even bird eggs.
Their menu shifts to foods with more water, so you might catch them at birdbaths or nibbling on juicy fruit.
When fall rolls around, it’s all about nuts. Squirrels gather acorns, walnuts, and other nuts to fatten up and stash away.
You’ll probably see them hiding nuts in the yard, prepping for winter.
Winter gets tough. Squirrels depend on their hidden food and sometimes eat bark.
When snow covers everything, they dig up buried nuts or chew on dried fruit and tree bark. If you want to help, stick to unsalted nuts and raw veggies—never bread.
Daytime and Nighttime Feeding Habits
Squirrels like to keep busy during the day, especially at dawn and late afternoon. That’s when you’ll spot them darting around for food.
Morning and dusk are usually their prime times, since it’s cooler and safer from predators.
Most tree squirrels don’t bother with nighttime snacking. If you hear rustling after dark, it’s probably flying squirrels or another nighttime critter.
Try to match your feeding schedule to their routine—early and late in the day works best.
Weather can mess with their plans. On cold, windy days, they don’t stay out long, but warm afternoons draw them out.
If you’re putting out food, check it often so it doesn’t get moldy or attract the wrong animals.
Food Storage and Scatter-Hoarding
Squirrels don’t put all their eggs in one basket. They scatter-hoard, burying small stashes all over the place.
You might notice shallow holes near trees or fences where they’ve tucked away nuts.
This scatter-hoarding helps them survive winter, and sometimes forgotten nuts grow into new trees.
They use memory and their noses to find most of their hidden treats, but some get left behind—maybe 20–30%—and those often sprout.
If you’re feeding squirrels, offer raw, unsalted nuts in the shell to keep things natural.
Skip foods that spoil fast. Want to watch them hide food? Put a few nuts near some bushes and see where they go.
What Squirrels Eat and Foods to Offer
Squirrels eat a wide mix of plants and some animal foods. For the healthiest option, offer raw, unsalted nuts and fresh produce that’s close to what they’d find in the wild.
Nuts and Seeds Squirrels Love
Nuts make up a big chunk of a squirrel’s diet. Try giving whole nuts in the shell—acorns, walnuts, pecans, hickory nuts, and hazelnuts are all winners.
Shelled or salted nuts can upset their stomachs, so stick to raw, unsalted ones.
Seeds like pumpkin and sunflower are high in fat and protein, making them good treats. Pine nuts are tiny but pack a punch.
Don’t overdo it with one type of seed; mix things up with whole nuts for a better snack.
A tray feeder or just scattering food under trees works fine. Keep everything clean and toss out anything moldy or soggy.
That way, you keep your yard healthy and help prevent disease.
Fruits and Vegetables in a Squirrel’s Diet
Squirrels love fruits and veggies, especially if they’re local or homegrown. Berries, grapes, and cherries make great, sweet snacks.
Cut bigger fruit into small pieces so even young squirrels can manage.
Corn (kernels or tiny ears), carrots, and leafy greens like kale or lettuce are good veggie choices.
Offer raw veggies with the skins on. Cooked or seasoned ones usually have salt or oil, which isn’t good for them.
Skip the bread as a regular snack. A tiny bit won’t hurt, but it doesn’t really help them either and can fill them up so they ignore better food.
Definitely never give chocolate—it’s poisonous for many animals and can be deadly.
Protein Sources: Insects, Eggs, and More
Squirrels are omnivores, so they’ll go for protein when they feel like they need it. Out in the wild, they hunt insects, grubs, and, every now and then, small animals.
Sometimes, if they stumble upon bird eggs or nestlings, they’ll eat those too. Still, you probably shouldn’t encourage that.
If you really need to give them extra protein, just offer a bit of plain, cooked egg—no seasoning, and cut into small pieces. Skip the raw meat or fatty leftovers from your kitchen.
They’ll also munch on fungi and truffles. Wild squirrels eat dried or fresh mushrooms they find while foraging.
Don’t feed them animal bones, salty meats, or processed pet food on a regular basis. Tree sap and fresh buds give them sugars and water, which might explain why they strip bark or chew on branches in the spring. You don’t have to add sap to their diet.
