Fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) are common across much of North America, inhabiting diverse environments like forests, urban, and suburban areas. These adaptable rodents are omnivores, consuming both plant and animal matter. This allows them to utilize a wide range of food sources throughout the year.
Core Dietary Staples
Nuts and seeds form the primary components of a fox squirrel’s diet, providing the necessary fats and proteins for their energy needs. Acorns from various oak species, hickory nuts, walnuts, and pecans are particularly favored. These hard mast foods are especially important during the fall and winter months when other food sources may be scarce.
To access the edible kernel, fox squirrels employ a levering technique with their incisors to open tough shells. They begin consuming nuts like acorns and hickory nuts even when they are still green, starting as early as August. Adult squirrels can consume about one and a half pounds of seeds and nuts each week.
Seasonal and Varied Food Sources
Beyond nuts and seeds, fox squirrels’ diet adapts with the seasons and availability of different food items. In spring, they consume tree buds, flowers, and young shoots from elm, maple, and oak trees. They also eat seeds of spring-fruiting trees like red maple and silver maple. As summer progresses, their diet expands to include fruits and berries such as mulberries and blackberries.
When other foods are less abundant, fox squirrels forage for fungi, including various species of mushrooms. They are also opportunistic consumers of animal matter, such as insects like moths and beetles. Occasionally, they may eat bird eggs and even small nestlings, though these are supplemental rather than regular food sources. In mid-winter, they might gnaw on tree bark, particularly the inner bark, which can provide fiber and minerals when other food is scarce.
Foraging Habits and Water Needs
Fox squirrels spend much of their foraging time on the ground, searching for fallen nuts and other food items. They also climb trees to gather food directly from branches. Their keen sense of smell helps them locate buried food caches and other edibles. Caching, where they bury individual nuts and acorns in multiple locations for later consumption, especially during lean times, is a survival strategy.
This caching behavior ensures a food supply through the winter months, when they rely on their stored provisions. While they obtain a significant portion of their hydration from the moisture content of their food, particularly succulent plants and fruits, fox squirrels also require direct water intake. They drink from various sources, including puddles, birdbaths, streams, and dew collected on leaves. On average, a squirrel might need 30 to 60 mL of water per day, though this amount can increase during hot, dry weather or for nursing females.