Squirrels are small rodents with large eyes, slender bodies, and bushy tails. These are probably the cutest mammals you will find in the world. A squirrel’s fur and color vary from region to region. You may see them gliding from one tree to another or jumping high on the trees.
Either way, they look so adorable that you can’t seem to look away! Though they are generally scared of humans but would be friends with you too! They can even feed from your hands or cuddle with you all time! These furry little fellows have padded feet, which let them jump as high as 6 meters! If you are wondering what squirrels eat, you must keep reading the article below!
What are red squirrels?
Squirrels have around more than 200 species throughout the world. Every region has its kinds of squirrels. Like any other species, red squirrels are one of the types of squirrels. These are native to America but can also be found in other parts of the world. Red squirrels are named so because of their prominent red color.
Though their fur is a mixture of black, brown, gray, and red, the red tone is more prominent than the other colors. This red color makes them stand out from the other species of squirrels! The red squirrels live to live in woodlands or coniferous trees. They are an endangered specie in some parts of Europe.
They are small, timid, and calm compared to the others. The fantastic thing about these squirrels is that they change their shade throughout the year. In summers, they might look redder, while their fur thickens and becomes gray in winters!
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What do the red squirrels eat?
Squirrels are the species in the wild that will feed on literally anything that gets in their way! You may have seen them munching on a peanut, but their diet varies around a lot more things. Usually, all the species of squirrels like chewing on the same things but there are a few that one specie likes and the other doesn’t.
The red squirrels like eating a variety of items. Following are the things a red squirrel eats:
- Nuts
- Fruits
- Berries
- Hazelnuts
- Peanuts (unsalted)
- Sunflower seeds
- Chestnuts
- Pine nuts
- Flower buds
- Flowers
- Pine nuts
- Fungi
- Walnut kernels
And the list goes on. Red squirrels can eat anything, but if you plan to feed them yourself, a little research is always better since there are unhealthy foods for a squirrel’s well-being.
What foods are unhealthy for red squirrels?
Now, you may be wondering if a squirrel can eat all of these things mentioned above, so what are the unhealthy things left? Don’t worry, since we are here to clear all your queries! If taken by a squirrel in larger quantities, a few things may cause health issues.
- High sugar diet
Foods with high sugar content are usually dangerous for red squirrels. High sugar foods can be human junk food, granolas, candies, cookies, etc. high sugar foods can cause increased obesity in squirrels which may lead to diabetes! Yes, a squirrel can get diabetes if it eats a lot of sweetened things.
- High starch diet:
Foods with high starch content, like bread, cereals, potatoes, etc., are not easily digested by the squirrel’s body and may cause blockages in the digestive tract. The cellulose inside the bread can cause bloating and other gastric issues. Also, starchy food is not nutritious and should be avoided.
- Chocolate:
While you may have thrown a piece of chocolate at a red squirrel, let me tell you that you shouldn’t have! Chocolate contains a substance known as theobromine which causes severe health issues in a squirrel’s body. Too much intake of chocolate may even lead to the death of a red squirrel.
- Other materials:
Avocados contain a substance known as persin, which can lead to a squirrel’s death if eaten in large amounts. Besides this, red squirrels should not eat cashews, dried corn, acorns, etc.
What do the red squirrels do with their food?
The red squirrels are true food hoarders. They keep gathering food throughout the year. They only utilize around 20 % of the food they accumulate. The rest, 80%, is stored for later use. The red squirrels are small animals and don’t feed abundantly on food.
They store their food under the ground usually or in their nests. They accumulate the food in summers so they can easily feed on that food in winters when the temperatures drop.
The red squirrels are very sharp and intelligent when it comes to the storage of their food. For instance, one trick that they do is that they would pretend to hide their food under the ground while the thief may be looking. They are fooling the thief and would have hidden their food somewhere else.
Although the squirrels apply this trick but lose more than 605 of their food to the thieves or other animals in the wild, this doesn’t stop the furry fellows from hiding their food!
You may be thinking, if the squirrels hide their food so how do they retrieve it later? When the squirrels hide their food under the ground, they later find it with spatial memory. Their padded paws and sharp mustaches help them find the food where they hid it. So it is not a tough job for them after all!
What do the red squirrels drink?
Though squirrels eat various things just as food, the liquid is significant for their bodies too. Red squirrels drink loads of water, especially during high temperatures, pregnancy, or feeding the little ones! They like to drink fresh water, which is one reason they like to have their habitats near islands. Besides this, they like to live in urban or suburban areas near humans where they can easily access water or milk.
Do red baby squirrels eat bread?
The red baby squirrels eat whatever their mother gives them to eat for the first few months. Just like older red squirrels, they can feed on bread, but everyone should keep one thing in mind baby red squirrels should intake healthy foods since it’s the time for their growth and development. Bread will only give them a few carbs and energy but no nutrition.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What do the red squirrels eat in winter?
The red squirrels eat the same food in winter that they eat in summers, like nuts, fruits, seeds, flower buds, etc. The red squirrels don’t hibernate, so they store their food under the ground or in nests during summers. In winters, they live by feeding on the stored food.
What do the red squirrels eat in the UK?
The red squirrels in the UK mainly feed on nuts, fungi, fruits, and seeds. During autumn, when trees are full of seeds, these furry mammals store this food for later use. Other than this, when food is scarce during the year, they may feed on insects, flowers, plant shoots, birds’ eggs, berries, etc.
Can a red squirrel eat fruits and vegetables?
A red squirrel’s diet varies with the availability of food. Though their favorite foods are nuts, they can rely on fruits and vegetables in scarce situations. The red squirrels may eat fruits like apples, plums, pears, and bananas. These fruits are not just tasty but also provide a good calcium level for a squirrel’s body. Similarly, red squirrels also eat some veggies like carrots, tomatoes, or leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, and kale.
Can a squirrel eat my cat’s food?
Though this may seem quite shocking red squirrels can feed on cat food. They love munching on dry cat food with their sharp incisors!
What happens if squirrels overeat food?
Red squirrels are endangered because of the scarcity of food in many areas. But if a red squirrel or any other squirrel overeats food, not only will it become obese, but it may also get diseases like diabetes. Hence, one shall give a proper and balanced diet to a squirrel.
