A Surprisingly Diverse Family

Squirrels are small to medium-sized rodents belonging to the family Sciuridae of the animal kingdom. There are about 200 species of squirrels in the world, ranging from the tiny African pygmy squirrel, which seldom grows beyond 5 inches, to the Indian giant squirrel, which can grow up to a length of 3 feet.

Species commonly found in the United States include gray squirrels, fox squirrels, red squirrels, and more. Squirrels form one of the most diverse groups of animals on the planet, which explains the variety you see in their feeding habits.

Squirrels, What Do They Eat?

Flying Squirrel

A northern flying squirrel gliding through the air at dusk, its patagium membrane stretched wide between its legs.
Flying squirrels glide using a skin membrane called the patagium, which also helps them reach birds' nests.

Although most squirrel species are herbivorous in nature, there are some species that feed on insects. One such exception is the flying squirrel, which feeds on insects as well as small birds. It has an extraordinary ability to glide in the air, which helps it reach the nests of birds and feed on their eggs.

Squirrel Diet in the Wild

A red squirrel eating, holding food in its front paws.
A European red squirrel (one of the most familiar squirrel species) making a meal of seeds and nuts.

The feeding habits of squirrels differ according to the species and habitat. Squirrels in natural surroundings feed on seeds, nuts, corn, fruits, leaves, roots, and mushrooms. Some species in the wild also eat insects, small animals and birds, fungi, and birds' eggs. Those found in gardens often feed on almonds, oranges, apples, and tomatoes.

Take the Squirrel Diet Quiz!

5 quick questions. How well do you really know what squirrels eat?

Squirrel Diet in Captivity

A squirrel eating nuts while perched on a tree stump.
In captivity, squirrels are mostly fed corn, nuts, and seeds, a much simpler menu than their wild cousins enjoy.

In captivity, a squirrel's diet is mostly restricted to corn, nuts, and seeds. At times, you may also notice garden squirrels feeding on dog food or leftover food in the house.

A Voracious Eater

A red squirrel burying a nut in soft autumn soil among fallen leaves.
Squirrels bury food across dozens of separate caches to survive the cold months ahead, a habit that also accidentally plants many trees.

Squirrels are not at all choosy about what they eat. They will feast on anything that comes their way. They also have the habit of storing food, especially during the winter season.

They either store it in the hollow barks of trees, or dig the ground and bury it. The latter is one of the main reasons why squirrels are disliked by gardening enthusiasts all over.

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Teeth Built for Gnawing

A squirrel gnawing on a nut, showing its large front incisors.
A squirrel's ever-growing front teeth need constant wear, which is why you'll sometimes see them gnawing on wires or wood.

At times, you see squirrels gnawing at electric wires or other hard surfaces. This is how they sharpen and shorten their teeth. Their teeth grow very fast, and gnawing on hard surfaces helps keep them short.

In baby squirrels, teeth start appearing by the 4th week of birth. As soon as their teeth develop, they start foraging and feed on a range of food, including seeds and nuts.

While some people consider squirrels cute, others consider them pests. Their habit of feeding on everything that comes their way has made them notorious. Keeping squirrels in a cage is not a good idea, since they need a free environment and a lot of exercise to stay healthy. A better idea is to have them as pets in your garden, where you can feed them and play with them occasionally.