Squirrels are well-known for their fondness for nuts. These energetic rodents often capture attention with their diligent foraging and burying behaviors, especially as they prepare for colder months. Nuts hold a special appeal in their diverse diet.
The Preferred Nut Varieties
Squirrels prefer nuts that offer a high energy return. Top choices include acorns, especially white oak acorns due to their lower tannin content. Walnuts, hickory nuts, pecans, and hazelnuts are also highly sought after. These nuts are rich in fats and calories, providing essential energy for their active lifestyles and for storage.
Physical characteristics also influence squirrel preferences. While they have strong teeth for cracking shells, nuts offering a significant reward for the effort are often chosen. Walnuts provide a substantial meal due to their larger size, and hazelnuts and almonds are favored for their dense fat content. Squirrels prefer to consume nuts in their shells, as gnawing helps maintain their continuously growing teeth.
Why Certain Nuts Are Favorites
A squirrel’s nut preferences are rooted in their biological needs and foraging strategies. Nuts are nutritional powerhouses, offering concentrated sources of fats, proteins, and essential nutrients. This high caloric density is important for squirrels to build fat reserves, crucial for winter survival when food is scarce.
Ease of access and storage potential also play a role. Shelled nuts act as natural preservatives, protecting kernels from spoilage and pests, which is important for caching. Squirrels balance the effort to open a nut with its nutritional payoff, often choosing tougher nuts like walnuts and hickory nuts for their superior energy content.
Beyond Nuts: A Squirrel’s Broader Diet
While nuts are a staple, a squirrel’s diet is broadly omnivorous. They consume a wide variety of plant-based foods, including seeds, fruits, berries, fungi, tree buds, and flowers. Seasonal availability often dictates their food choices, with fresh produce more prominent in warmer months.
Squirrels also supplement their plant-based diet with animal matter. They may eat insects, bird eggs, small mammals, and even bones for calcium. This diverse intake ensures they receive a comprehensive range of nutrients for their health and activity throughout the year.
Nuts and Foods to Avoid
Certain nuts and human foods can be harmful to squirrels. Peanuts, often considered nuts, are legumes and offer little nutritional benefit. Raw peanuts can contain aflatoxins, a harmful fungus.
Cashews are high in phosphorus. Consuming them in excess can lead to mineral imbalances.
Highly processed human foods like candy, chips, baked goods, and salted snacks are detrimental. These items lack nutritional value and can cause health issues like dehydration, dental problems, and metabolic diseases. Foods like chocolate, avocados, onions, and garlic are toxic.