As a nature lover and someone who has spent countless hours observing and interacting with grey squirrels all around the world, I can tell you that there are certain foods they absolutely love! In this post, I’m going to share 10 of their favorite foods so that you can learn what do grey squirrels eat.

Grey squirrels are omnivorous, meaning they eat a variety of food. Their diet mainly consists of nuts and tree bark but can also include insects, eggs, fungi, birdseed and even young birds. In urban areas, grey squirrels have been known to scavenge human food sources such as discarded leftovers.

Nuts
Tree bark
Insects
Eggs
Fungi
Birdseed
Young birds

What Do Grey Squirrels Eat?

Grey squirrels are a common sight in many parts of the world. They are known for their omnivorous diet, which consists of a variety of natural and artificial foods. Their diet is determined by seasonal availability and/or access to food sources.

Overview of Greys’ Diet

Grey squirrels are able to adapt to various environments, but their dietary needs remain relatively constant across locations. As such, grey squirrels consume a wide array of items. Tree nuts, fruits and vegetables make up the foundation for their diets; however, small animals like insects, fungi or eggs may also be included.

Tree Nuts and Other Fruits

Tree nuts are one of the major sources of high-energy nutrition for grey squirrels. These include various types such as acorns, hazelnuts, walnuts and chestnuts—all rich in fats and protein. In areas where these tree nuts are found in abundance, they form an important part of the diet throughout the year.

Other fruits like berries (blackberries & raspberries) along with apples can also provide adequate nutritional content when consumed alone or mixed with other items in a meal.

Acorns & Pine Cones
Hazelnuts, Walnuts & Chestnuts
Almonds & Pecans

Insects, Fungi and Eggs

Grey squirrels are omnivores, meaning they eat a variety of foods. Insects, fungi and eggs make up part of their diet. They’ll feast on bugs like caterpillars, beetles and grasshoppers. Fungi such as mushrooms can be found in their bellies too. Grey squirrels may also feast on the occasional bird egg or two!

Where to Find Insects & Fungi

Insects play an important role in providing supplemental nutrition for grey squirrels during certain times throughout the year. The same applies for fungi that grow on decaying wood or even from underground sources like roots and tubers.

These resources can often be found near fallen trees, stumps or wood piles that have been left aside from human activity due to lack of interest or because they pose too much risk if handled directly (due to pests).

Scavenging Urban Foods

Urban environments can provide suitable sources of food too – albeit less consistent than wild ones – through garbage cans full with discarded items such as snacks, stale breadcrumbs and other edible debris that provide enough sustenance until better opportunities arise.

5 Foods Grey Squirrels Absolutely Love!

Grey squirrels are omnivorous creatures, meaning they eat both plant and animal foods. But if you’re trying to attract these bushy-tailed critters to your backyard or garden, it helps to know what their favorite treats are. Here’s a list of the 5 most popular foods grey squirrels love.

1. Hazelnuts, Walnuts & Chestnuts

These nuts pack a lot more than flavor. Nuts such as walnut, hazelnut and chestnut contain essential proteins and fats that help keep grey squirrels healthy throughout the year. Make sure not to go overboard when stocking up on any kind of nut – too much can lead to obesity in wild animals.

2. Almonds & Pecans

Almonds and pecans are particularly popular treats among grey squirrels. They provide the perfect crunchy combination, while also offering a generous amount of essential nutrients such as healthy fats, protein, calcium and vitamins. Their easy-to-access shells make these treats easy for even the fussiest of critters to access and enjoy!

3. Apple Slices, Berries & Bananas

Nutritious fruits like apples, berries and bananas offer gray squirrels a natural source of carbs and fiber. Apples are rich in antioxidants such as Vitamin C which provides the animals with antimicrobial activity when they need it most during colder months.

Frostbite is especially harmful to these critters because heat loss occurring during hibernation can be dangerous; snow cover also makes mice harder for them to detect. When looking for nutritional intake sources, organic fruit selections should be kept in mind – bush bananas provide calcium while citrus berries give excellent amounts of dietary fiber with some vitamin C included! When space is limited, wholesome portions typically no more than half an apple, a banana or small handful of berries would make good snacks for our wild friends!

4. Sunflower Seeds & Pumpkin Seeds

Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are a favorite of grey squirrels! They contain essential vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats for these furry critters. Additionally, the protein helps them to stay active during colder months. The little crunchy seeds also make for a fun snack that can easily be found in any backyard garden or wild area.

5. Peanuts & Cashews

Grey squirrels love peanuts and cashews! These tasty treats are a rich source of energy for the animals. Not only are peanuts packed with protein, fat and fiber, but they also contain several essential vitamins and minerals like zinc, copper, magnesium and phosphorus. Cashews also provide an energizing nutty flavor that squirrels can’t get enough of! Adding these to your backyard bird feeder will be sure to entice grey squirrels from miles away!

Conclusion

So, what do grey squirrels eat? These fun-loving furry creatures enjoy a variety of foods that range from nuts and fruits to vegetables. They have an appetite for acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts and chestnuts. Fruits like apples and berries appeal to the squirrel’s taste buds as well as various green leaves and twigs. Grey squirrels will take advantage of bird feeders by eating their seeds too!

It’s clear that there are plenty of options when it comes to feeding these little critters. Based upon what we’ve learned today, grey squirrels love munching on all sorts of goodies including acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, chestnuts and fruits such as apples and berries. So if you’re wondering what do grey squirrels eat – now you know!