The question of whether squirrels consume their dead touches on a fascinating area of animal behavior called necrophagy. While the common image of a squirrel involves burying nuts, many species of tree and ground squirrels are not strict herbivores. They are classified as opportunistic omnivores, meaning they occasionally supplement their diet with animal matter. This dietary flexibility, driven by nutritional need and resource availability, provides the context for examining the rare instances where this behavior is observed in the wild.
Necrophagy and Cannibalism in Squirrels
Squirrels generally avoid eating the remains of a deceased adult conspecific, but the behavior is not unheard of in the scientific record. When a squirrel consumes the carcass of any dead animal, it is called necrophagy. Consuming the remains of their own species is a specific form of necrophagy known as cannibalism.
Cannibalism is most often documented in two specific contexts: the consumption of roadkill and infanticide. Researchers have observed ground squirrels consuming the remains of others hit by vehicles, suggesting an opportunistic drive to utilize a readily available protein source. This scavenging behavior is especially common in burrowing rodents when resources are scarce.
The most frequent form is infanticide, where a squirrel kills and sometimes consumes the young of a rival. This extreme behavior is typically a strategy to eliminate genetic competition or to bring a female back into reproductive readiness sooner. These documented instances confirm that squirrels possess the physiological capacity and inclination to consume meat, even that of their own kind, under certain ecological pressures.
Typical Squirrel Diet and Nutritional Requirements
Squirrels primarily depend on a diet rich in plant matter, including nuts, seeds, fruits, and fungi. Species like the gray squirrel and the red squirrel spend significant time foraging and caching food high in carbohydrates and fats to sustain them through colder months. Their digestive systems are optimized for breaking down starches and lipids found in tree-based resources.
However, squirrels are not solely vegetarian, and their nutritional needs require protein sources that nuts alone cannot always provide. They actively seek out insects, bird eggs, and small nestlings during the spring and summer breeding seasons. This carnivorous activity provides a crucial boost of protein, vitamins, and minerals that supports the demanding metabolic needs of reproduction and growth.
A balanced diet is paramount to a squirrel’s health. The occasional consumption of animal matter helps to round out the nutritional profile that their primary diet of seeds and nuts may lack. This opportunistic consumption of meat is a survival mechanism, demonstrating a flexible approach to finding necessary sustenance within their environment.
Behavioral and Ecological Reasons for Avoidance
Squirrels generally avoid consuming deceased conspecifics due to strong ecological and behavioral deterrents. The primary risk is the high potential for disease transmission from a sick or deceased individual. Diseases like tularemia and salmonellosis can be carried by dead animals, and consuming infected tissue could quickly lead to illness or death for the scavenger.
Avoidance of sick or dead individuals acts as a natural mechanism to maintain the health of the local population. A squirrel is much more likely to expend energy foraging for known, safer food sources like cached nuts or fresh seeds. Furthermore, the energetic cost of consuming an adult carcass often outweighs the nutritional benefit compared to the easily accessible, high-calorie sources they prefer.
Scavenging on a large carcass also involves remaining in a vulnerable position for an extended period, increasing the risk of predation. For a small prey animal, staying alert and mobile is a higher survival priority than utilizing a potentially contaminated and exposed food source. Therefore, the risk of disease and predation strongly favors avoidance in most natural circumstances.
What Happens to Deceased Squirrels
If a squirrel dies in the wild and is not consumed by a conspecific, the body quickly becomes a resource for other components of the ecosystem. The fate of the carcass depends heavily on where the animal dies. If a squirrel succumbs to illness or injury in a hidden location, such as a tree hollow or a nest, the remains may simply decompose there.
Bodies that fall in the open are rapidly discovered by a diverse range of scavengers. Birds of prey, such as hawks and owls, will readily take a carcass, as will mammalian scavengers like opossums, raccoons, and foxes. These animals play a significant role in the quick removal and recycling of organic matter within the environment.
Insect activity is another major factor in the decomposition process. Flies, beetles, and other invertebrates quickly colonize the remains, breaking down the body into its basic elements and returning the nutrients to the soil. As a result, a deceased squirrel rarely remains accessible for long, further limiting the opportunity for other squirrels to engage in necrophagy.