What Do Squirrels Eat in the Wild?

Squirrels are rodents, so their diets are mostly vegetarian. This vegetarian diet consists of varied items, from natural foods to foliage. However, their diet can include various items that aren't considered vegetarian, such as insects and smaller animals. The specific foods squirrels eat depend on the species, but the types of foods are common among all squirrels. So whether you're nursing a baby squirrel or simply yearning for squirrel knowledge, gain some insight into the culinary trends of wild squirrels.

  1. Animals and Insects

    • Squirrels are known to eat various types of insects, as well as small animals, like snakes. Squirrels are also known to eat small birds and bird eggs. However, eating birds, bird eggs and snakes is often a last resort for the rodent, an option the squirrel will only choose if faced with extreme hunger and no other option is present.

    Vegetables and Fruit

    • Squirrels enjoy various vegetables and fruits, which make them prime candidates for stealing items from nearby fields or country gardens, as well as fruit trees. Squirrels especially enjoy raw corn from the field, fresh or dried; the vegetable ranks as highly among choice squirrel foods as nuts and seeds. Other items in this category include tomatoes, green bell peppers, avocados, melon, strawberries, apples, grapes, cherries, peaches, apricots and oranges. They may also enjoy squash, cucumber, carrots, raw soybeans, turnip greens, sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach.

    Nuts and Seeds

    • Nuts and seeds of a wide variety rank highly on the list of squirrels' favorite foods. Squirrels enjoy seeds like sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, and nuts like pine nuts, buckeyes and acorns. On occasion they may feast on English and black walnuts, as well as hazelnuts, almonds and pecans, among others.

    Foliage and Fungi

    • Squirrels also like to eat a wide variety of foliage. This can include wild gourds, roots of plants and trees, pine cones and twigs. They'll also nibble on tree bark, leaves and various parts of a variety of flowers, such as petals and rosebuds, as well as herbs, like fresh rosemary and fresh lavender. This foliage can either be dead or alive. They'll also eat various types of fungi, such as mushrooms and lichens.

    The Wild Urban Forest

    • When you think of wild, you may think of wooded areas. But wild squirrels -- those that are undomesticated -- also run rampant in urban settings. The diets of these squirrels are much different from those of their forest-dwelling counterparts. While they enjoy the nuts, fruits, vegetables, fungus and foliage, they have also adapted to eating what they can find: chips, leftover foods like pizza and luncheon meats, dog food, and various kinds of snack foods.