Here are some key factors influencing how often they eat:
* Food availability: When food is abundant, they'll eat more often, but when it's scarce, they'll eat less frequently.
* Season: They'll eat more often during the spring and summer when they're building up fat reserves for winter.
* Activity level: They eat more when they are more active, such as during breeding season or when they're caching food.
Here's a quick breakdown:
* Daytime: The majority of their eating happens during the day when they're active and foraging.
* Nighttime: They are less active at night, so they eat less frequently, often just snacking on a few cached nuts before settling down for the night.
Remember, this is a generalization, and the exact frequency can vary based on individual squirrels and their environment.