You’ll usually spot squirrels during the day, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. That’s when they dart around, searching for food with those twitchy tails. Squirrels (family Sciuridae) are diurnal, so they eat mostly during daylight hours, not at night.
As the seasons shift, their feeding habits change too. In spring and fall, they seem to forage with extra gusto, while winter brings more careful stash-building and a switch in what they eat—nuts, fruits, you name it. It really depends on the species and what’s around.
When Do Squirrels Eat Throughout the Year?
Squirrels eat at pretty regular times each day, but they change up their menu as the weather shifts. You’ll notice their patterns depend on temperature, what food is out there, and which squirrel species lives nearby.
Daily Feeding Times and Patterns
Most tree squirrels and urban squirrels head out early in the morning and again in the late afternoon. They leave their nests at dawn for breakfast, then rest when the sun gets high, and return for a second round before dusk. If you put out a squirrel feeder, that’s when you’ll get the most action.
Ground squirrels and fox squirrels do much the same, though in cooler weather, they might stay out longer. Red squirrels sometimes pop out more often, especially if they’re guarding food stashes. Flying squirrels don’t follow this pattern—they’re nocturnal, so you’ll only catch them at night near your feeder.
Weather shakes things up too. After a chilly night, squirrels might burst out for food when the sun warms up. If it’s pouring rain or snowing, they usually lay low until things clear up.
How Seasons Affect Squirrel Eating Habits
In winter, tree squirrels and city squirrels dig up stored nuts and seeds. You’ll catch them unearthing their hidden snacks or raiding feeders for fatty treats. Ground squirrels hibernate, so you won’t see them munching in winter at all.
Spring is all about buds and flowers. Gray squirrels and fox squirrels munch on tree buds, shoots, and early seeds. Red squirrels go for conifer seeds and sometimes sap as winter turns to spring.
When summer rolls around, squirrels add more fruits, bugs, and even garden veggies to their diet. You might see them grabbing berries or raiding corn patches. Once fall hits, every squirrel focuses on packing on weight and hiding nuts or cones for the cold months ahead.
Day vs Night: Timing Differences Among Species
Knowing which squirrels live near you helps if you want to watch or feed them. Tree squirrels, gray squirrels, and fox squirrels stick to daylight hours—so set out food in the morning or late afternoon for best results.
Flying squirrels and some ground squirrels are night owls or active at dusk. To attract flying squirrels, try putting out food and a safe nest box, then watch after dark with a flashlight. In busy neighborhoods, some urban squirrels might shift to nighttime to dodge people, so you could spot them under yard lights in the evening.
If you keep a feeder, try to match what and when you feed to the species nearby: high-fat nuts for winter tree squirrels, mixed seeds and fruits for summer, and hidden spots for flying squirrels at night.
What Squirrels Eat: Foods and Variations
Squirrels aren’t picky eaters. Sure, they love high-fat nuts and seeds, but they’ll also go for fruit, veggies, fungi, insects, and sometimes even small critters if the chance comes up.
Nuts and Seeds in the Squirrel Diet
Nuts and seeds make up most of a tree squirrel’s diet. Squirrels snack on acorns, walnuts, hazelnuts, hickory nuts, pecans, and pine nuts whenever they find them. These foods pack a lot of fat and calories, so they help squirrels bulk up and fill their winter stashes.
Squirrels have two main ways of hiding food: scatter-hoarding (burying single nuts all over) and larder-hoarding (storing piles in one spot). Both strategies help them get through tough months. You’ll also catch them eating sunflower and pumpkin seeds at feeders or in gardens, since those are easy to grab and store.
Fruits and Vegetables Squirrels Love
Squirrels will eat plenty of fruits and garden veggies. Apples, berries, persimmons, and pears are all on the menu when they’re ripe. Sometimes they nab tomatoes, corn, zucchini, or carrots from gardens or compost piles. Fruits give them fast energy, while veggies add water and fiber.
You might notice squirrels just nibble the flesh and leave behind peels or cores. If they get into your fruit trees, netting helps keep them away—unless you don’t mind sharing.
Meat, Eggs, and Insects: Squirrel Protein Sources
Squirrels mostly eat plants, but they’ll grab animal protein when they can. They snack on insects like caterpillars and beetles. Ground squirrels and some tree squirrels sometimes raid bird nests for eggs or eat small eggs if they find them.
Once in a while, you might see a squirrel chewing on a small dead animal. Protein is important for growing young squirrels and for adults during breeding or in cold weather when they need extra calories.
Human Foods and Feeding in Urban Areas
Squirrels in cities love to munch on a lot of human foods, though honestly, most of those snacks aren’t great for them. People often toss them bread, crackers, or even peanut butter straight from feeders or their own hands.
But here’s the thing—bread might fill a squirrel up, but it barely has any nutrition. If you give them bread all the time, it can actually hurt their health.
If you’re tempted to feed squirrels, you might want to stick with unsalted nuts, shelled sunflower seeds, or tiny bits of fruit. Want to help out without causing problems? Skip the salted or sugary snacks, and definitely don’t give them moldy or processed leftovers.
