As an avid squirrel observer, I have dedicated myself to uncovering the secrets of these fascinating creatures. From my years of experience, I’m here to tell you all about what do squirrels eat in the spring. From nuts and berries to wildflowers and insects, I can share all the delicious details of their nutritious diet, which is essential for their survival. So if you’ve ever been curious about what your furry friends are munching on this season, read on to discover their crave-worthy culinary delights.

Squirrels mainly eat nuts, seeds, fungi, and fruits in the spring. They will also consume buds, flowers, bird eggs, and insects. To meet their nutritional needs, they may even supplement their diet with bark and sap. During springtime, squirrels may find a variety of food sources such as:

Nuts – including acorns and beechnuts
Berries – including blueberries and blackberries
Wildflowers – including dandelions and violets
Fungi – including mushrooms and truffles
Insects – such as caterpillars and grubs
Bird eggs – found in nests high up in trees

What Do Squirrels Eat In The Spring?

Squirrels are opportunistic animals that gravitate towards whichever food sources are available in the warmer months. As the snow melts and trees start to bud with new foliage, squirrels begin foraging for different edibles to satisfy their nutritional needs. To find out what squirrels munch on during the vernal season, let’s take a look at their diet.

Fruits And Nuts

As temperatures increase and plants emerge from their winter slumber, squirrels set out to feast on the bounty of fruits and nuts that spring has to offer. Fruits such as blueberries, raspberries, cherries, and blackberries become extremely attractive to these acrobatic rodents, who revel in snacking on them wherever they are available. Nuts like walnuts, almonds, and pecans provide a source of protein, fats, vitamins and minerals that do well to nourish these bushy-tailed critters throughout the warmer months.

Apart from being excellent sources of calories and nutrients, feeding on fruits and nuts allows squirrels to preserve energy during the leaner times of spring when other resources may not be available as readily. This also makes them less exposed to predators while they indulge in sustenance.

Vegetables

Although squirrels tend to dine mostly on fruits and nuts in the springtime, they will consume almost any vegetable that is available including corn cobs and potatoes. During late frosts or early summers when other food sources are scarce, squirrels will turn to vegetables for sustenance.

Because vegetables constitute a significant portion of their diets during this time of year, it is important for us to make sure that our garden beds have been cleared of potential snack items before tucking them away for summer. Otherwise, you may end up hosting an unwelcome guest come harvest time!

Berries

Squirrels love berries—they give them plenty of energy without requiring them to expend too much effort gathering or processing the food item. Berries are often found amid vegetation across North America so finding some for a squirrel’s lunch would usually be quite easy.

If you happen to find yourself out walking in an area where there’s plenty of ground vegetation then there’s a good chance you’ll encounter some squirrel activity in action as they scurry around gathering any available berries.

Wildflowers

In addition to fruits and nuts, wildflowers give squirrels an extra boost of nutrition during springtime.

These small but mighty flowers contain helpful toxins which enable a number of animal species – including squirrels – ward off predators by making themselves distasteful or poisonous. Roses, daisies and tulips are all options which can provide nutritious snacks while hiding your furry friends from would-be predators.

Fungi

“Looking for something different?” A common reaction amongst many night-predators as well as day-dwellers after witnessing countless hours in mushroomed woods!

Belonging to the fungi family are mushrooms: delicacies enjoyed by both humans and rodents alike!

[Mushrooms](#) can be found scattered among leaves in most forests, so it is no surprise that they often land onto cherished lunch plates among locals like deer mice and over 345 species of rodents – including our thick-furred cuties: squirrelesque!

Whether it comes atop slices of toast or devoured plain, mushrooms provide an extra dose of health benefits due its unique anti-inflammatory properties!

Insects

Squirrels love to snack on insects during springtime! These critters are opportunistic omnivores, capable of snacking on a wide variety of insect species. Spiders, larvae, and beetles are among some of their favorite meals. They’ll even occasionally feast on flying bugs like bees or wasps when they can catch them. With so many options at their disposal, squirrels have plenty of tasty snacks to choose from this season!

Bird Eggs

Squirrels are known to eat birds‘ eggs, but not to the extent of other animals such as foxes or crows. During springtime, they may look for nests to scavenge eggs from, but they will prefer other food sources such as nuts, fruits, and insects. Squirrels also favor acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, pecans, almonds and other nut-based snacks.

Bark and Sap

Squirrels have the unique ability to consume bark and sap as part of their diet. They have powerful teeth and strong claws that are able to tear open the protective outer layers of tree trunks and capture the sweet, nutritious liquid inside. While sap and bark do not provide much protein, they can help supplement squirrels’ nutritional needs in times of food shortage.

Nutritional Needs Of Squirrels

In order to maintain a balanced diet, squirrels need a variety of foods. This includes nuts and seeds, berries and fungi, insects and grubs, as well as protein sources such as small animals or eggs. Squirrels also benefit from the vitamins found in bark and sap.

Nuts And Seeds

Like humans, squirrels love to snack on nuts and seeds. They particularly enjoy acorns, beechnuts, hickory nuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, walnuts, peanuts and almonds. Nuts are an excellent source of protein, vitamins and minerals that provide energy for busy days of gathering food.

Nuts such as acorns are rich in calcium
Hickory nuts are high in fiber
Pine nuts provide essential fatty acids

Berries And Fungi

Squirrels relish snacking on berries throughout the spring months. Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and other soft fruits are packed full of antioxidants while mushrooms provide added vitamin D benefits. Fungi play an important role in improving intestinal health by preventing digestive issues.

Blueberries are a rich source of vitamin C
Mushrooms support immune system health
Raspberries improve eye health

Insects And Grubs

Insects can offer extra nutrition for squirrels during the spring months. Birds often leave behind eggs for the little rodents to enjoy and caterpillars provide an additional protein source within reach. Grubs can be found under tree bark where they feed on decaying wood—the perfect snack for hungry squirrels.

Caterpillars contain essential minerals like iron
Grub larvae offer a great source of protein
Bird eggs contain fatty acids which boost energy levels

Protein Sources

Squirrels are opportunistic when it comes to sourcing protein. Insects, eggs and small animals such as mice and birds make up the bulk of their diet in this category. In addition, they are also known to scavenge meat and garbage as well. Nuts, berries and fungi also provide some nutritional benefits that allow them to sustain themselves throughout the seasons.

Bark And Sap Benefits

Squirrels are known for their love of acorns, but they also enjoy other nuts, like hickory nuts, walnuts, pecans, and almonds. But that’s not all; squirrels are also big fans of tree bark and sap! Bark from a variety of trees is an important source of fiber and minerals for squirrels. The sap from some trees provides energy and additional nutrition in the form of vitamins and minerals. These unique sources of nutrition give squirrels something to snack on throughout the day – helping them to thrive!

Foraging In The Spring

Squirrels enjoy changing up their diets with the seasons, and spring is no exception! In the warmer months they love to take advantage of easily available food sources like nuts, berries, flowers, fruits and vegetables. They also feast on insects and other small invertebrates. Squirrels are opportunistic eaters though, so they won’t hesitate to try something new and potentially tasty!

Fruits, Nuts, And Vegetables

As temperatures heat up in the spring, squirrels begin seeking out these foods as an ideal source of energy. Fruits such as apples, pears, and plums are just some sweet treats they will snack on. Nuts like acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, pecans, almonds and hazelnuts provide them with essential proteins and fats for a balanced diet. Additionally, squirrels enjoy eating a variety of vegetables such as carrots, celery, cabbage and lettuce.

Research has shown that squirrels can adapt their diets based on the availability of food sources during different seasons. In addition to fruits and nuts, squirrels may also turn to buds and flowers for sustenance in periods of food shortage. For example, Painter et al. (2002) suggested that there may be a genetic component to what types of foods squirrels prefer to eat.

Insects, Grubs, And Wildflowers

Insects are another regular menu item for squirrels during the spring season. They have developed a taste for beetles, ants and caterpillars – all rich sources of protein. Grubs are also highly sought after due to their high nutrient content. In fact, research conducted by Munson et al (2008) found that there is a correlation between a squirrel’s diet and its body mass index (BMI). Wu & Levin (2015) also discovered that type of diet consumed by squirrels affects energy expenditure and nutrient intake levels.

Squirrels will also dine on wildflowers like dandelions and violets which provide vitamins A and C respectively. These colorful blooms not only look pretty but are major players in helping our furry friends get through the warmer months.

Fungi And Bird Eggs

Fungi like mushrooms are particularly popular amongst our bushy tailed friends who crave these delicious morsels for their essential nutrients. Though it might seem odd at first, bird eggs may also be part of their gourmet-style menu. Squirrels often ascend to high heights where they steal these from nesting birds or other animals.

Apart from being tasty snacks for squirrels, fungi and bird eggs contain an abundance of vitamins necessary for keeping them healthy throughout springtime.

Bark And Sap

Bark is another favorite food item among these furry critters because it provides fiber to help keep them feeling full when other mating options aren’t available. Some trees even provide sap which serves as an important source of nutrition in times when other resources are scarce.

Feeding Squirrels

Foods To Avoid

It’s important to remember that while most snacks may be okay in moderation such as fruits or other natural items; unhealthy ones like chocolate should definitely be avoided since they can be toxic when digested over long periods of time.

Backyard Bird Feeders

When considering how to feed squirrels in your backyard one option is installing bird feeders as these make great homes for accessing natural snacks like seeds or nuts without having to put too much effort into it.

Peanuts And Other Treats

Finally, if you want to go above and beyond for your bushy tailed neighbors don’t forget about their favorite snacks—peanuts! Just make sure you keep any extras away from birds or other wildlife that might come in contact with them.

Squirrels As Pets

For those interested in having an adorable, furry companion, a pet squirrel is an increasingly popular choice. Squirrels are sociable creatures that bond quickly with their owners and provide hours of entertainment. However, owning a pet squirrel comes with certain responsibilities as well as special considerations to ensure optimum health and wellbeing.

Things To Consider Before Getting A Pet Squirrel

Before making the decision to bring home a pet squirrel, it is important to take into consideration the costs associated with owning such an animal. You will need to factor in veterinarian care, food costs, cage set up and maintenance, bedding materials and enrichment items such as toys. In addition, living arrangements may be affected depending on the laws and regulations in your area. It is important to research these requirements before proceeding with plans to own a pet squirrel.

In order to meet the needs of your pet squirrel you will also need access to resources in terms of time and money. As any kind of pet requires adequate attention and commitment from its owner, it is essential that you are prepared for the demands of owning a pet squirrel.

Food Requirements For Pet Squirrels

Pet squirrels require a balanced diet that includes both fresh foods and formulated diets. Fresh foods should comprise at least 50% of their daily intake; staple vegetables such as broccoli or kale should be supplemented with nuts as well as vitamin-fortified seed mixes or pellets for additional nutrition. Fruits such as raisins make for great treats but shouldn’t form a major part of their daily diet.

It is also important to provide your pet squirrel with plenty of water throughout the day, particularly when fruits or vegetables are involved. As many species enjoy crunching on wood blocks or chewing sticks, offering chewable items can help keep your pet entertained while providing much-needed exercise.

Health Benefits Of Owning A Pet Squirrel

Having a pet brings more than just companionship; studies have shown that interacting with animals can significantly reduce stress levels and improve mental wellbeing. Research has further suggested that owning small pets such as squirrels can be particularly beneficial due to their high level of social interaction and lower noise levels compared to larger animals.

The presence of animals has been linked to lower blood pressure levels and increased serotonin production, suggesting overall improvement in physical health benefits too!

FAQ

What type of food should I provide for wild gray squirrels?

Wild gray squirrels enjoy a variety of snack items, including nuts like acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts and beechnuts. They also like fruits like Osage oranges and tree buds, as well as seeds including pumpkin and squash ones. To treat them to a snack, try providing:

Peanuts and peanut butter
Pecans and pistachios
Grapes or strawberries
Corn, carrots or apples

What is a preferred food of the Grey squirrel?

Grey squirrels enjoy an array of snacks that primarily consist of nuts. Their favorites include acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts, beechnuts and Osage orange fruits. Additionally, they can be seen noshing on peanuts, peanut butter, pecans, pistachios and other tree fruits. Squirrels also partake in seasonal treats such as grapes, corn, squash, zucchini, pumpkin seeds, strawberries, carrots and apples.

What type of fruit does a squirrel prefer to eat?

Squirrels enjoy a range of fruits, with some common favorites being acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts, and Osage orange fruits. Other yummy treats they enjoy are peanuts, peanut butter, pecans, pistachios, grapes, corn, strawberries, carrots and apples.

What type of food do gray squirrels consume during spring?

As spring brings warmer weather and more food sources, gray squirrels will feed on a variety of items. In addition to their favorite nuts such as acorns, walnuts and hickory nuts, they may also nibble on fruits such as Osage orange, strawberries and apples. Additionally, they’ll supplement their diet with vegetables like zucchini, carrots and squash. Peanuts, pecans and peanut butter are also common snacks for these rodents.

What types of food are suitable to give to squirrels in my outdoor space?

If you want to feed squirrels in your backyard, there are a variety of tasty options. You can provide them with nuts like acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts, and beechnuts. Fruits such as Osage oranges, grapes, strawberries and apples also make for delicious snacks. Vegetables like squash, zucchini, carrots and peanuts can be given too. Peanut butter is an excellent item for squirrels to enjoy as well. Finally, adding pumpkin seeds and pecans will be sure to put a smile on the squirrel gang!

What type of food do you give to a gray squirrel?

Gray squirrels can be fed a variety of foods. A nutritious diet for them consists of nuts like acorns, walnuts, hickory nuts and beechnuts; fruits such as Osage oranges and apples; vegetables like carrots, squash and zucchini; grains like peanuts, peanut butter, pecans and pistachios; seeds like pumpkin seeds; and small amounts of juicy snacks such as grapes, corn and strawberries.

Conclusion

What do squirrels eat in the spring? This is an important question to answer in order to provide sufficient food for these adorable creatures. As illustrated above, squirrels can enjoy a varied diet of nuts, berries, wildflowers, fungi, insects, and bird eggs -allowing them to benefit from an array of nutritional sources.

Therefore, if you plan on providing a treat for your local squirrel population this season, you now have the insider knowledge of their delicious spring menu. But whatever you decide to feed them with, make sure that it’s something high in protein and provides essential vitamins and minerals. Feeding them the correct nutrients will help ensure they stay happy and healthy throughout the springtime!