Very few animals draw such vastly different emotional reactions from people than squirrels. Some people think squirrels are absolutely adorable and love to feed and nurture them.  Other people think squirrels are nothing but nasty rats with fluffy tails.

Part of the love/hate relationship with squirrels concerns where exactly they fall in the animal kingdom. Almost everyone HATES rats and we are taught early on that rodents should be avoided.  But what about our furry tailed tree dwellers?

“Are Squirrels Rodents Like Rats?”

Squirrels are absolutely rodents.  While squirrels are rodents there are five SubOrders in the Rodentia class and squirrels and rats are in different SubOrders.  This means that rats and squirrels are loosely related but are separate species that cannot interbreed.

 

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Hawks are amazing and beautiful predators that are essential in nature’s food web.  One part of the food web is the role that squirrels play in the diet of hawks.  If you have ever wondered, “Do Hawks Eat Squirrels?” then this article will help you understand that:

Yes, hawks do eat squirrels.  Hawks are one of the top predators of squirrels and the species that eats the most squirrels is the Red Tailed Hawk. 

Let’s take a closer look at the differences in the types of hawks that live in the United States to gain a better understanding of their respective diets.

Accipiter vs Buteo Hawks

Hawks belong to the class of birds known as Raptors and there are two general types of hawks, Accipiters and Buteos.

Bueto Hawks are larger than Accipiters and some of the more populous species include:

• Red Tailed Hawk
• Swainson’s Hawk
• Ferruginous Hawk
• Rough Legged Hawk
• Red Shoulder Hawk

In general, buteo hawks are large, powerful and specialize in hunting small mammals.

Accipiter Hawks include species such as:

• Sharp Shinned Hawk
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Northern Goshawk

In general, the smaller accipiter hawks are fast moving aerial specialist that hunt by snatching other birds from mid-air or plucking them from your bird feeders.

All types of hawks are opportunistic predators and will eat whatever they can catch in their environment so if an accipiter thinks it can catch a squirrel then it will not turn down the meal.

The largest of the accipiter hawks, the Northern Goshawk, bridges both worlds and appears to hunt birds and mammals equally.

Red Tail Hawks Eat the Most Squirrels

The Red Tailed Hawk is the most common hawk in the United States and it has a ferocious appetite for squirrels.  Approximately 80% of a Red Tail Hawk’s diet consists of small rodents such as squirrels.

Of course, like most things in nature, there is much variation is the relationship between species.  There are at least 14 sub-species of Red Tail Hawks and many more species of squirrels so making blanket statements about the exact percentage of squirrels that makes up a Red Tail Hawk’s diet is, at best, a ball park estimate.

However, it is safe to say that Red Tail Hawks are one of the major predators of squirrels.

One interesting study I found took place in Alberta, Canada from 1965-1968 and studied he impact of Red Tail Hawks (subspecies was not identified) upon local prey species.

The study found that small mammals made up 66% of the hawk’s diet while waterfowl made up 18%.  Of the mammals taken, the majority species were Richardson’s ground squirrels and snowshoe hares.  The impact of the Red Tail Hawks upon the ground squirrel population was devastating with the hawks  consuming up to 60% of the entire ground squirrel population and up to 90% of the adults.

Using Red Tail Hawks to Hunt Squirrels

Because Red Tail Hawks are such excellent squirrel hunters many people engaged in Falconry will use them for this very purpose.

Below is an amazing video showing the interaction between a Falconer and his Red Tailed Hawk as they go squirrel hunting.

Squirrel Defenses Against Hawk Attacks

Squirrels have developed a number of defense mechanisms to try to escape aerial predators but the efficacy of the mechanisms is questionable.

When squirrels spot a hawk they will make specialized sounds to warn other squirrels.

It is also speculated that the crazy, erratic running patterns squirrels make through open spaces is an attempt to prevent a hawk from locking onto their location for a dive bomb attack.

Given the percentage of squirrels that get eaten by hawks I have to think that these defenses are not very effective!

 

 

Squirrels are busy animals. When it is nice outside, it is hard to go anywhere or spend more than a minute looking out your window without seeing a squirrel.  While these animals are busy throughout the warmer months, I started to wonder about how they got through the winter.

More specifically I wondered, “Do grey squirrels hibernate?”  I did some research and found that the answer is:

Grey squirrels do not hibernate.  Grey squirrels use multiple mechanisms to survive the cold including group warmth, shivering, food caching and bulking up for winter.

Grey Squirrels Do Not Hibernate

It turns out that grey squirrels are warm-blooded homeotherms. Homeotherms maintain a constant body temperature throughout the seasons and do not need to hibernate.

The primary mechanisms grey squirrels employ for winter survival include:

• Building protected nests
• Sharing body heat
• Reducing physical activity
• Creation of food caches
• Development of fat stores
• Development of a thicker coat
• Utilization of shivering

Grey Squirrels Build and Share Protected Nests

Grey squirrels make it through the winter by building warm nests or dreys.

Most tree squirrels will share their nests with other squirrels for the benefit of the shared body heat.  Grey squirrels will share a nest with just a few other squirrels while Flying squirrels have been known to share a nest with more than 20 other squirrels.

Here is a peek inside a grey squirrel nest…it looks kind of cozy in there!

Grey Squirrels Reduce Physical Activity in Winter

Once the squirrels are in their nests they tend to stay there as much as possible.  Grey squirrels will often stay in their nests for 2-3 days at a time and only come out to search for food around midday.

By staying in their nests they use less energy, stay warmer and help maintain the shared body heat.

Food Stashing

Grey squirrels spend much of the fall preparing food stores for winter.  Squirrels stash away acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, etc for winter munching.

Grey squirrels are classic scatter hoarders which means that they make as many food stores as possible.  This behavior is a form of food protection as if one or two food sources get discovered by other squirrels they still have plenty of other food sources in reserve.

One benefit of the grey squirrel’s rampant nut caching behavior is that it is impossible for the squirrel to remember where all of the nuts are buried.  Many of the undisturbed buried nuts will germinate, sprout and turn into the next generation of forest trees.

The instinctual drive to hide food gets somewhat comical at times.  Squirrels will hide nuts in car engines, in the fur of sleeping dogs and in the pockets of people who just gave them a nut!  If you would like to check out some silly videos of squirrels and their silly food caches then check out this article on Where Do Squirrels Hide Their Nuts?

Grey Squirrels Bulk Up with Fat and a Thicker Fur Coat

In the fall, when tree nuts are plentiful, squirrels will eat voracious amounts of extra food to pack on develop an increased fat layer.  Some estimates say that the grey squirrels consumes 32% more food than energetically required during the fall and increase their weight by 25%.

The increased fat layer serves as a layer of insulation to protect the squirrels core body temperature as well as a reserve of energy for when food sources becomes scarce.

In addition to gaining weight, squirrels adapt their bodies for winter by developing a thicker coat.  In colder regions the thicker coat is expanded to include more fur on their ears and the soles of their feet.

Shivering for Warmth

Grey squirrels utilize shivering to generate extra body heat during winter.

An interesting study has found that black squirrels, which are genetic variations of grey squirrels, are better at shivering and may eventually become dominant species in colder climates.

How You Can Help Grey Squirrels Survive Winter

If you want to help your squirrels make it through winter then there are several things you can do by providing:

• Shelter
• Nesting material
• Food
• Water

Provide Shelter

While squirrels will share nests to stay warm there is not always room for everyone.  The availability of prime nesting sites is one of the factors that determine whether a squirrel will make it through the winter.

There are several squirrel houses for sale that you could put up in your backyard that would provide much needed and appreciated shelter.

Provide Nesting Material

Squirrels line their nests with leaves, twigs and other debris to form an insulating barrier.

You can provide a supply of nesting material that has even better thermal properties than leaves and the squirrels will use it to make their nest extra warm.  According to The Squirrel Board Forum some great choices for nesting material include:

• Fleece
• Wool
• Fiberfill

Anything with rope like fibers (yarn, etc) should be avoided as baby squirrels can get tangled in the threads.

Provide Food and Water

Squirrels need to eat and drink during the winter so a readily accessible source of food and water will help them greatly.

Here is a great article on What to Feed Wild Squirrels if you need ideas on what to put in a feeder.

A heated water bath would also be nice providing that it can be placed in close proximity to the tree where the squirrels are nesting.  You do NOT want to make the squirrels travel far from their nest for either food or water.  Squirrels are ruthlessly hunted by hawks and in the winter time the protective coverage of tree leaves is absent.

If you are thinking about feeding the squirrels in your backyard then, just like feeding birds, there are quite a few things to consider.  You need to have a handle on the proper foods to put out, how to attract squirrels and how to make sure the squirrels can safely enjoy the snacks that you are providing.

Let’s get started and take a look at everything you need to know about feeding squirrels!

How to Enjoy Watching Squirrels

On one hand, feeding squirrels can be as simple as tossing a handful of peanuts onto you deck and seeing if any squirrels are brave enough to grab them.

However, if you really want to have the most fun with these furry critters then you can think more holistically and create a habitat that includes feeders, shelter and a water source.  I am not saying that you need to “go nuts” and spend hundreds of dollars on products and gadgets, but simply take a little time to think like a squirrel when you are setting things up.

“In a nutshell”, squirrels need food, water, shelter from the elements and protection from predators.  If you can provide all of these requirements then the squirrels will be more attracted to your yard and you will have a lot more fun watching their antics.

Should I Feed Squirrels in My Backyard?

A fundamental question that gets asked is whether or not you should even feed backyard squirrels in the first place.  After all, squirrels are wildlife and every wildlife authority will tell you that feeding wildlife is bad.

Feeding wildlife makes them dependent upon humans, exposes them to something other than their natural diet and increases negative interactions with household cats and dogs.

I get the arguments.  It makes sense on many levels.

And yet these same sources that tell us not to feed wildlife simultaneously offer us extensive guides on how to feed wild birds and keep squirrels out of birdfeeders. Hmmmm……does something seem “squirrely” about that to you?

Personally, I love to feed squirrels and I have no moral issues doing so because it serves two purposes:

• Keeps Them Away From Bird Feeders

• Helps Squirrels Survive Winter

Keeps Squirrels Away From Bird Feeders

Trying to keep squirrels out of birdfeeders is a multi-million dollar business.  You can spend well over $100 on a Droll Yankee squirrel proof bird feeder and still end up frustrated.

To me the answer to the bird feeder problem was obvious.  I give the squirrels a safe place to eat corn or other snacks and fill my bird feeders with safflower seeds.  Most songbirds love safflower but it is not a food that squirrels enjoy.

This way I get to watch birds and squirrels and everybody gets tasty treats!

Helps Squirrels Survive Winter

Winter is tough on squirrels and is one reason that most wild squirrels only live for a year or two.  There are two factors that can help a squirrel survive winter, availability of shelter and food.

You can help with shelter by putting up a squirrel house.  You can help with food by putting up a squirrel feeder.

Surprisingly, it even helps squirrels survive winter by feeding them in the fall.  In the fall squirrels will gorge on whatever then can find in order to bulk up with a protective layer of fat.  The fat layer serves both as insulation and a nutrient reserve.

Wildlife specialists will tell us that we should not interfere with natural cycles and we shouldn’t take efforts to help wildlife make it through the winter.

Nope.  Not at my house.

What are Squirrels’ Favorite Food?

Squirrels are omnivores that will eat just about anything but their favorite food is generally the tree nuts found in its natural habitat.  But, while it might be tempting to put native tree nuts in a feeder, you will soon find it to be an expensive proposition to feed your squirrels pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, etc.

Affordable food options that squirrels love include:

• Dried Ear Corn
• Roasted Unsalted Peanuts (More Information Below)
• Sunflower Seeds

Another option to consider is putting out a supplement such as deer antlers.  Squirrels are rodents and need to gnaw on hard surfaces to keep their teeth sharp and prevent overgrowth. Supplements such as deer antlers provide both a hard surface and much needed calcium and other micro nutrients.

Yet another option to consider is to add a water source.  Squirrels need water just as much as any other animal and will often come to water trays as long as they are not exposed in the open.

What not to feed a squirrel?

Do not feed squirrels highly processed junk food.  Seriously, you know that you really shouldn’t be eating Twinkies so why would you ever entice a squirrel to eat one?

Chocolate is slightly toxic to squirrels and must not be fed.

There are also some types of peanuts that I do not recommend which are:

• Raw/Fresh Peanuts
• Salted Peanuts
• Honey Roasted Peanuts

I would avoid Raw/Fresh peanuts for two reasons.

The first reason that I avoid fresh peanuts is that squirrels will bury many of them as winter food caches and they will germinate and grow all over your yard and in your flower pots.  I fed fresh peanuts for a short period of time and my yard ended up looking like a peanut farm!

The second reason I avoid fresh peanuts is that the high moisture content makes them susceptible for growing toxic mold if improperly stored for long periods of time.  The toxic mold that can grow on stored fresh peanuts is very harmful to squirrels.

I avoid salted and honey roasted peanuts because the sodium content is through the roof and serves no beneficial purpose to the squirrels.

If you want to feed your squirrels peanuts then please stick to roasted and unsalted.

Can You Buy Squirrel Food?

There are LOTS of commercial squirrel foods for sale and many of them are quite good but a little expensive.  Some of the best squirrel food options for sale include:

• Bags of Dried Ear Corn
• Bags of Roasted Peanuts
• Loose Feed Mix with Corn, Peanuts and Sunflower Seeds
• Squirrel Blocks with Corn, Peanuts and Pecans

The one commercial squirrel food that I would avoid are “Squirrel Logs” made of compressed sweet corn.  I have tried to get my squirrels to eat these corn logs multiple times and they absolutely refused to even take a nibble.

Where to Put Squirrel Food?

I always put squirrel food in a tree mounted feeder that is at least five feet off the ground.

Squirrels are often eaten by hawks and foxes, or killed by cats and dogs, so it is critical that they can eat someplace where they can escape from potential predators.

If you have a choice, put the feeder in a tree with large, overarching branches to protect the squirrels from hawks as much as possible.

Do not try to attract squirrels to an exposed Shephard’s hook type feeder in the middle of an open yard or on your deck rail.  It is too easy for cats, dogs and other animals to catch and kill squirrels when they are openly exposed and distracted by food.

How Often Should I Feed?

I like to put out some food, but not a lot, in the morning.

If you are feeding loose food such as a squirrel mix or loose peanuts then put out about a cup of food.  If you are feeding corn on the cob then one ear of corn is plenty.

Squirrels are most active shortly after sunrise so having fresh food available in the morning will make the food be available at just the right time.

By only putting out a limited amount of food you will be able to help the squirrels meet their dietary needs without making them completely dependent upon you.  Squirrels need a varied diet so all you are trying to do is supplement their natural food sources.

Will squirrel food attract rats?

If you put out big piles of squirrel food then it will absolutely attract rats.

This is another reason that you want to put out a limited amount of feed early in the morning.  Squirrels are active during the day while rats are active at night.

If you put out a limited quantity of food in the morning then the squirrels will eat it all during the day and it will not attract rats at night.

We have a lot of fun feeding squirrels at our house.  If you are just starting to feed squirrels then here is a strong chance you are trying to figure out inexpensive foods that they will love.  

One common question I see about feeding squirrels concerns their choice of food, specifically people want to know, “Do Squirrels Eat Corn?”

The answer is, “Yes.  Squirrels love to eat corn, either fresh or dried.  Squirrels will typically eat the germ portion of the kernel and discard the bran.”

What Kind of Corn do Squirrels Eat

Squirrels are not picky eaters and will eat just about any type of corn that you put in front of them.  I have seen squirrels eat:

• Dried Earn Corn
• Fresh Sweet Corn on the Cob
• Kernels of Processed Canned Sweet Corn

The one type of corn that I have never been able to get my squirrels to eat is old fashioned “Indian Corn”.

If you are feeding the squirrels in your backyard then dried corn is the most affordable food choice.  You can also feed the squirrels corn on the cob with one of our Picnic Table Squirrel Feeders of feed them loose corn with a box feeder.

Dried corn is incredibly inexpensive IF you can purchase it from a farm supply store.  These stores are selling corn as feed to cattle, pig and horse farmers who need inexpensive food for their livestock.  

Dried corn gets considerably more expensive if you buy it from a Big Box store that has it packaged as pet food.

Is Corn Good or Bad for Squirrels?

Whether or not corn is good or bad for squirrels is a question that sets off an interesting debate.

When a squirrel eats a kernel of corn it will eat the nutrient dense germ and throw away the starch laden bran.  The germ is composed primarily of oils and a variety of proteins. 

The issue is whether or not it is healthy for a squirrel to eat such a nutrient dense food.

Why Some People Say Corn is Bad for Squirrels

On one hand the argument is that if a squirrel’s diet is composed primarily of nutrient dense foods then it will end up overweight and unhealthy.  While I can appreciate the logic of the argument it is not particularly compelling as the argument projects human behavior onto squirrels.

That is, if squirrels spent their day binge eating the germ from corn kernels and streaming Netflix then they would end up fat as pigs. But that isn’t what squirrels do.  Squirrels eat until they are not hungry and are highly active throughout the day.

Why I Say Corn is Good for Squirrels

The reality is that squirrels lead a hard life.

Most squirrels never live past their first year due to two main factors:

• Eaten by Predators
• Lack of Food

I have covered the topic of squirrel predators elsewhere and want to focus on the impact of food availability upon squirrel mortality.

One of the key factors that determines whether a squirrel survives a winter is the availability of food.  Squirrels spend most of the autumn gathering and stashing nuts, fungi and other food sources in various caches so they will have a winter food source.

Squirrels will also gorge on available food in autumn in an effort to create internal fat stores.  The fat stores serve both as an energy source and a layer of internal insulation.

Feeding squirrels corn can help them bulk up and add the needed fat layer.  The corn can also serve as a supplemental food source that allows squirrels to stash more of their natural food sources for winter consumption.

Given that squirrels are highly likely to get killed by predators, or starve to death during the winter, I am not concerned that they might eat too many corn kernels and get a little chubby.

Special Considerations

There are two cases where I readily acknowledge that feeding corn to squirrels can be harmful.

• Molded Corn
• Canned Corn

Molded Dried Corn

Corn that is not fully dried (moisture content in the 20% range), or dried corn that has been stored under conditions of high humidity, can become moldy and are a source of mycotoxins.  Mycotoxins are toxic to most animals.

If your corn is moldy then do NOT feed it to squirrels.

Canned Corn

Canned sweet corn is typically processed with a high level of salt.  I do not know the level at which a high amount of salt is bad for a squirrel but, given the wide array of other foods you can feed squirrels I do not see a reason to feed them something loaded in salt.

Like other small mammals, squirrels are also susceptible to attacks from a wide variety of predators. These predators vary according to the types of squirrels. Different species of squirrels have evolved to adopt various defense mechanisms against predators, but they still tend to make vulnerable targets. This is also why squirrels live longer in captivity than they do in the wild.

Have you ever wondered, “What Eats Squirrels?” I did and this is what I found!

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The dietary habits of squirrels is fascinating!  What and how these animals eat is essential for the development of healthy forests and varies throughout the year.  There are even a couple of food items that they require which will really surprise you!

Have you ever wondered, “What do squirrels eat?”

Squirrels are opportunistic omnivores that primarily eat nuts (acorns, hickory, pecan), tree buds, grains, grasses and fungi.  Squirrels will also eat protein sources such as bird eggs, insects and small reptiles.  The exact diet of a squirrel is dependent upon both the species in question along with geographical location.

Let’s take a closer look at how the diet of a squirrel varies between different species and throughout the year.

Squirrels Are Omnivores

Squirrels are opportunistic eaters and their diets will vary based upon what food sources are available.  Some of the most common food sources for these animals are given below.

Tree Nuts

One of the primary food sources for squirrels are the tree nuts found in their natural habitats.

Grey and Fox squirrels love to eat nuts from oak, walnut, hickory, and pecan trees.

• Acorns
• Hickory nuts
• Hazelnuts
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Almonds

Red Squirrels subsist primarily upon the nuts found within pine cones.  The heavy reliance upon this particular food source is why these animals are often referred to as “Pine Squirrels”.

Tree nuts are a significant portion of a squirrels diet but they are not available all year long.

While squirrels will create large caches of nuts when they are plentiful in the fall, these resources are usually completely consumed during winter and requires the animals to rely upon other food sources in the Spring and Summer.

Sometimes a squirrel will forget where they left a cache of nuts and some of these will sprout in the Spring and help the forest remain healthy!

Tree and Flower Buds

In the Spring squirrels will feast on the tender, nutrient dense budding flowers and fresh green shoots from their favorite trees and shrubs. At times they will even eat the bark from some trees.

Some common tree buds that they enjoy include:

• Maple
• Hackberry
• Elms
• Dogwoods
• Wild Cherry
• Mulberry

If you are an avid gardener then you have probably watched your precious tulips being munched upon (or even dug up!) by squirrels looking for a Springtime meal.

Vegetables

Squirrels appreciate a healthy diet and all sorts of vegetables are on the menu!  Some of the most common vegetables they consume are:

• Pumpkin and pumpkin seeds
• Carrots
• Tomatoes
• Broccoli
• Peas
• Lettuce
• Cauliflower

It can be really hard to keep squirrels out of vegetable gardens and many people resort to trapping.

Fungus and Lichen

I love eating mushrooms and so do squirrels!

While all squirrels eat mushrooms they are a primary part of the diet for flying squirrels and are heavily relied upon by pine squirrels.

Like so many things in nature, there is a special relationship between flying squirrels, the fungus that love and the health of the forest.

,The fungi eaten by flying squirrels, mycorrhizae, grows near the base of trees and helps promote the health of nitrogen fixing bacteria.  The nitrogen fixing bacteria help provide trees with essential nutrients trees that enables healthy growth.

When flying squirrels harvest this fungus they help spread the spores and distribute the fungus throughout the forest.

Insects, Moths and Worms

Insects are eaten in the summer and are probably especially important for juveniles.

Insects are plentiful, easy to catch and are typically high in protein.  This combination makes insects an ideal food source for young squirrels who are just starting their way through the world and need plenty of protein for rapid growth.

• Grasshoppers
• Crickets
• Small bugs as available

Birds and Eggs

Squirrels are opportunistic eaters and will chow down on bird eggs or even fledglings if they happen to come across an unprotected nest.  The most notorious species for eating birds are the Northern and Southern flying squirrels.

Flying squirrels spend most of their time in trees so they have more opportunity to come across nests.

The National Wildlife Federation states, “Southern flying squirrels are considered one of the most carnivorous squirrels because they supplement their diet with eggs, birds, and carrion.”

Meat

The meat eating behavior of squirrels varies significantly between species.

Female Fox and Grey squirrels will eat carrion to provide much needed protein while pregnant and nursing.

Pine squirrels have been reported to actively hunt chipmunks and even northern hare.

Ground squirrels routinely fight snakes that come to eat the young from their burrows.  Often the ground squirrels will kill the snake and eat it afterwards

Here is a GREAT article about the amazing defenses ground squirrels have against snakes!

Fruits

Squirrels are extremely fond of fleshy fruits like apples and peaches.  Depending upon the region and fruit, orchard owners will often report losing up to 20% of their harvest to squirrels and birds.

Many owners of fruit trees resort to picking fruits early when they are still not quire ripe just to avoid having the tree ravaged by hungry squirrels.

Other fruits that squirrels enjoy which are found in their natural habitats include:

• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Wild strawberries
• Blueberries

You can also head over to YouTube, do a search for “Drunk Squirrel” and find plenty of videos featuring squirrels that have consumed a little too much of the following fermented fruits:

• Pears
• Apples
• Cherries
• Crabapples

Two Surprising Foods!

There are two unexpected food categories for these animals and they are both based upon the fact that squirrels are members of the rodent family.

Let’s take a look!

Bones and Antlers

One surprising food item that needs to be addressed is the squirrel’s need for animal bones or antlers.

The defining characteristic of a rodent is the presence of front incisor teeth that never stop growing.  Rodents need hard substrates to gnaw upon.  The gnawing keeps the incisors sharp and prevents them from becoming overgrown.

An ideal substrate for squirrels to gnaw upon are the bones and antlers of other animals.  In addition to keeping their teeth in shape, the bones and antlers provide a rich source of calcium for the animals.

Poop

I bet you didn’t see this one coming!

All rodents practice “coprophagy” which involves eating their own feces.  Although this probably sounds disgusting, coprophagy is an essential practice.

When rodents eat food some of the essential digestive work that converts the food into absorbable nutrients is performed in the lower intestine.  The issue is that while the lower intestine can perform the conversion, it cannot absorb the nutrients.

In order for rodents to benefit from the digestive work performed by the lower intestine they must eat their poop so the nutrients can be absorbed in the upper intestines.

Squirrels and Bird Feeders

If you have been feeding birds for longer than a few days then you already know that squirrels love to eat sunflower seeds.  Trying to keep squirrels out bird feeders is a billion dollar industry.

One of the best ways I have found to deter squirrels is to fill my feeders with safflower seeds which is one of the few foods that squirrels do not like to eat.

I have found safflower seeds to be readily accepted and enjoyed by the songbirds in my yard and the squirrels are completely uninterested in raiding the feeders.

Should You Feed Squirrels Peanuts?

Peanuts are not a natural part of a squirrel’s diet and whether or not you should offer them to your furry friends is a point of debate.

Many wildlife specialists will tell you that peanuts are high in fat and are not healthy for wild animals.  Other folks will point out that the leading causes of squirrel mortality are predation, cold and lack of food.  I love my squirrels so I don’t mind putting a little extra food out for them, especially during winter months.

Peanuts should not be the primary food source for squirrels so if you do decide to feed them make sure their are other food options available.  You could always put up one of our picnic table squirrel feeders and let them eat corn!

Further Reading and Resources

The following wonderful resources were used as reference materials for this article.  If you would like to learn more about the dietary preferences of these amazing animals then please explore the links below!

• Reference 1
• Reference 2
• Reference 3
• Reference 4
• Reference 5
• Reference 6
• Reference 7
• Reference 8
• Reference 9
• Reference 10

Squirrels are among the most common wildlife that we see in urban environments and they generate a lot of curiosity with their behavior and antics.  People are especially fascinated with baby squirrels because, let’s be honest, they are absolutely adorable!  If you are excited about the thought of seeing some of these delightful itty bitty fur balls then you are probably wondering, “When do squirrels have babies?”

Squirrels have a litter of 2-4 babies, called kits or kittens, in February and March.  Older female squirrels will produce a second litter in August.  The timing of the births will vary based upon latitude and availability of food.  The babies will leave the nest at three months of age and reach full size nine months after being born.

The Months That Squirrels Have Babies

We are going to be specifically looking at the Eastern Grey squirrel for this article as it is one of the most common squirrel seen and asked about in urban environments.  Other species of squirrels (Fox, Red, Flying) follow similar patterns of reproductive behavior but with different breeding dates and gestation periods.

Eastern grey squirrels breed in late December through February in warm climates.  In colder climates the breeding season is delayed and occurs in January through March.  Grey squirrels have a second breeding season in May through June which extends into July in colder climates.

Grey squirrels will carry their babies for 44 days which results in the earliest baby squirrels being born in late January and the latest being born in April.  In the fall breeding season the babies will be born in June and July.

Breeding Month	Gestation	Birth Month
December	44 days	January
January	44 days	February
February	44 days	March
March	44 days	April
May	44 days	June
June	44 days	July
July	44 days	August

By taking the differences in climate into account you can see that squirrels in Florida will have babies in late January and June while squirrels in Michigan will have babies in April and August.

The numbers and dates presented above are general ranges but they can vary dramatically based on environmental conditions.  An article published in the Journal of Ecology by John Gurnell in 1996 showed a strong statistical correlation between both food availability and winter severity with the breeding patterns of grey squirrels.  To quote from the article’s abstract:

“In good seed years, breeding starts in December, in poor seed years the start of breeding is deferred until the spring. There was no or very little spring breeding in 5 years when food supplies were poor.” 

Here is a more detailed article describing what squirrels eat that shows the importance of different food sources.

How Many Babies Are in a Litter?

Grey squirrels average three babies per litter with a maximum liter size of eight. These babies, called kits or kittens, are born blind, deaf, and furless, like most other species of rodents. Their ears are also folded against their skull and they are completely helpless.  The kits weigh about 15 grams which is about the same weight as two tablespoons of flour.

The mother remains in the nest with the babies, where she cares for them by herself. They are fed every few hours and require constant care by their mother for several weeks.

When Do Baby Squirrels Leave the Nest?

The timeline for the development of young squirrels can be described as follows

• 1-2 weeks old: Pink skin, eyes and ears closed. Kits are nursing.
• 2-3 weeks old: Dark skin, eyes and ears closed. Kits are nursing.
• 3-4 weeks old: Fuzz type fur, eyes and ears closed. Kits are nursing.
• 4-5 weeks old: Fur development, eyes and ears open.  Kits are nursing.
• 6-7 weeks old: Bushy tail and looks like a miniature adult. Kits are nursing.
• 7 weeks old: Weaning begins and solid food is introduced.
• 10 weeks old: Weaning is complete.
• 11 weeks old: Young squirrels leave the nest and are independent.

Baby squirrels become fully independent and are able to leave the nest roughly three months after being born.  This means that the squirrels that are born in late January will start running around your yard towards the end of April while ones born from the summer breeding season will emerge in the September/October timeframe.  

Depending on the number of squirrels in the immediate area and available nesting sites, the young squirrels may try to build their nest close to their mother. Grey squirrels are not territorial and most stay within two miles of their home nest. If the area is crowded with other squirrels, the young squirrels may be forced to travel further away to establish their nest.

Squirrels born from the summer mating season have little time to prepare for winter by fattening up and caching nuts than squirrels born in the spring. As a result, the long term survival rate for summer babies is typically lower than spring babies. The other major factor that influences how long squirrels live is the abundance of predators.

How Old Are Squirrels When They Mate?

Young squirrels reach their full adult size and mass around 9 months of age but sexual maturity takes longer to obtain.

Females grey squirrels typically reach sexual maturity when they are about 15 months old while male squirrels are sexually mature closer to 12 months old but will be delayed if in the presence of dominate males.  This means that a female squirrel born in November would be ready to mate in the following summer season.

The reproductive cycle of male grey squirrels is interesting and is defined through testicular development.  Sexually active male squirrels have very pronounced testicles that go through two seasons of testicular regression where the size of their testicles shrink by up to 90%.  These times of regression correspond to seasons where females are not breeding and are thought to be a way to conserve energy.

The thought that testicular regression is an energy conservation mechanism is supported by a study that showed males which were extremely well fed in an enclosed environment did not undergo regression.  Further supporting this idea is another study which showed regression was prolonged when food was scarce.

Squirrels do not mate for life and are quite promiscuous.  Males will mate with multiple females and females will mate with multiple males.  It is not uncommon for a female squirrel to have a litter where the kits are sired by multiple fathers.  The mating process involves elaborate chases where males pursue the females and scare away other males.

I love feeding the squirrels and watching my dogs chase them in circles. Most of the time the critters are just scampering around like normal and chattering away at my dogs.

Sometimes though, you will see a squirrel that is acting incredibly aggressive towards humans or that is stumbling around when it walks.  Both of these behaviors are similar to what is seen in rabid wild animals. It made me ask the question, “Do squirrels carry rabies?”

Squirrels do not carry rabies but do carry other diseases.  If you see a squirrel behaving erratically then there are multiple reasons to explain the odd behavior other than rabies.

The Center for Disease Control states that squirrels are extremely unlikely to carry the rabies virus.  While rabies is certainly a dangerous disease for humans it is actually quite rare in the US population.  On average there are only 2-3 reports of rabies being transmitted to humans in this country each year.

Here is a link to the rather short list of all US rabies cases since 1951.  In almost all cases of infection the disease was transmitted to a human through contact with bats.

Squirrels May Carry Other Diseases

Just because you don’t have to worry about rabies doesn’t mean that it is safe to handle squirrels as they can spread tularemia and leptospirosis through their bites.

Tularemia is a bacterial disease that attacks the skin and lymph nodes. The lymph nodes may swell while ulcers may develop at the site of the bite. The symptoms may develop within several days up to two weeks.

Leptospirosis is also a bacterial disease. Those infected with this disease may experience headaches, fever, vomiting, rashes, and jaundice. Leptospirosis may also lead to kidney damage.

In rare cases, squirrels may also spread ringworm. Ringworm is not a worm. It is a fungal infection that primarily affects the skin. A red rash with a ring-like appearance may develop and become irritated. This infection may spread through contact with a squirrel and is less likely to spread as a result of a bite.

While squirrels rarely pass diseases to humans and pets, it is still important to visit a doctor if you are unfortunate enough to getting bitten to take preventative action against infections.

Why Is a Squirrel Acting Erratic?

One symptom people associate with rabid animals is the animal acting erratically.  Normally if you see a wild animal that has a staggering gait or is approaching you in an aggressive manner then you should be concerned about the animal being rabid.  However, there are many reasons to explain this behavior is squirrels other than rabies.

Aggressively Seeking Food

Squirrels are smart animals.  If one of their standard food sources comes from people sitting on park benches and feeding them peanuts then they are going to assume that anyone sitting on those benches has some food for them.

It is not uncommon for squirrels that are used to being hand fed by humans to run towards people and even start climbing on them and going through their pockets.  These squirrels can become quite aggressive at times and have been known to accidentally scratch people with their sharp claws as they climb around them.

Intoxicated

Squirrels have an extremely diverse diet that often includes fruits and vegetables.  If a squirrel eats fruit has fermented then the little guy can get drunk and will be wobbling around as it walks.

You can head over to YouTube and do a search for “Drunk Squirrels” and see how common this is.  There are videos of squirrels getting intoxicated from fermented pears, crabapples, cherries, apples and pumpkins.

Poisoned/Injured

Another reason for erratic behavior in a squirrel is if it is in distress from being poisoned or attacked by a predator.

There are a lot of people who dislike squirrels, especially ground squirrels, and resort to the use of poisons to eliminate them.  A poisoned squirrel is going to be suffering and walking/acting in a manner that is not normal.  Unfortunately there is nothing you can do to help a squirrel that has been poisoned.

Squirrels have many predators and are under frequent attack.  If you see a squirrel that is walking or acting strangely then there is a good chance that it has escaped a predatory attack but was injured in the process.  If you see an injured squirrel you can put some food and water into a sheltered location for it but do not try to catch it with your bare hands.