Squirrels foraging in residential lawns are a common sight, prompting homeowners to wonder what these busy animals are consuming. Squirrels are highly adaptable, opportunistic omnivores whose diet shifts with the seasons and resource availability. Their frequent trips across the grass are driven by a continuous search for energy-rich foods needed for survival. This constant quest for sustenance means your yard can quickly become a temporary cafeteria for these rodents.
Common Plant-Based Food Sources
A large portion of a squirrel’s diet consists of plant material accessible in a typical lawn environment. Seeds are a primary attraction, particularly those spilled from bird feeders, such as black oil sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Squirrels are also adept at finding and consuming grass seed, especially when a lawn has been recently overseeded or repaired.
Nuts and fruits that drop from nearby trees, such as acorns, hickory nuts, and berries, are valued sources of fat and protein. When scattered across the grass, these items become easy targets for foraging squirrels. Tree squirrels will also excavate and consume flower bulbs planted just beneath the soil surface. They often target palatable tulip and crocus bulbs, but tend to avoid those from daffodils or alliums.
Squirrels occasionally snack on other items encountered during foraging. This includes tree buds and the fruiting bodies of fungi or mushrooms that sprout up in damp lawn areas. Their varied palate allows them to maintain energy reserves by capitalizing on whatever plant matter is most abundant.
Why Squirrels Dig: Foraging and Caching Behavior
The most noticeable evidence of squirrel activity is the small, shallow hole left in the soil. These holes, often one to two inches deep and the size of a coin, are primarily the result of caching behavior. Squirrels practice scatter hoarding, burying individual food items like nuts and seeds for later retrieval, creating a scattered pantry across the lawn.
The second reason for digging is active foraging for protein-rich animal matter, as squirrels are true omnivores. They hunt for invertebrates, including insect larvae, earthworms, and grubs, which are the subterranean larvae of beetles. Grubs are a nutritious target, providing fat and protein, especially during the spring, summer, and fall. A squirrel’s digging is distinct; they create small, concentrated divots rather than extensive pathways or mounds of dirt.
Discouraging Squirrel Activity
Homeowners can make their lawns less appealing by removing the primary attractants that draw squirrels to the area. A straightforward step is to eliminate readily available food sources, such as keeping pet food indoors and regularly raking up fallen nuts, acorns, or fruit. Bird feeders should be made squirrel-proof with baffles or switched to safflower seeds, which birds enjoy but squirrels dislike.
Protecting vulnerable plants often requires physical barriers to prevent excavation. Newly planted flower bulbs can be protected by laying chicken wire or hardware cloth just beneath the soil surface. For newly seeded lawn areas, temporary plastic netting or wire mesh can be laid over the soil until the grass is established.
Applying natural deterrents can also help make the lawn a less welcoming environment. Squirrels possess a strong sense of smell and are often repelled by scents like cayenne pepper, chili powder, or peppermint oil sprinkled in problem areas. Motion-activated sprinklers provide a humane, non-lethal way to startle and discourage squirrels from settling in the yard.