Saturday, January 23, 2010

What Do Squirrels Eat?

so i was at school today and i saw a squirrel and i started to wonder if they eat bird eggs? i mean, its logical right? not every tree bears acorns or nuts, so if they didnt have food could they possibly eat bird eggs?What Do Squirrels Eat?
Unlike rabbits or deer, squirrels cannot digest cellulose and must rely on foods rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Early spring is the hardest time of year for squirrels, since buried nuts begin to sprout and are no longer available for the squirrel to eat, and new food sources have not become available yet. During these times squirrels rely heavily on the buds of trees, in particular, those of the Silver Maple. Squirrels are omnivores; they eat a wide variety of plant food, including nuts, seeds, conifer cones, fruits, fungi, green vegetation, and insects.What Do Squirrels Eat?
yes squirrels do eat bird eggs as well as young rabbits too.


at least in the north.

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Unlike rabbits or deer, squirrels cannot digest cellulose and must rely on foods rich in protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Early spring is the hardest time of year for squirrels, since buried nuts begin to sprout and are no longer available for the squirrel to eat, and new food sources have not become available yet. During these times squirrels rely heavily on the buds of trees, in particular, those of the Silver Maple. Squirrels are omnivores; they eat a wide variety of plant food, including nuts, seeds, conifer cones, fruits, fungi, green vegetation, and insects.


Urban squirrels have learned to get a great deal of food from over-generous humans. One of the more common and inexpensive foods fed to squirrels is peanuts. Recent studies however have shown that raw peanuts contain a trypsin inhibitor that prevents the absorption of protein in the intestines, therefore offering peanuts that have been roasted is the better option. However, wildlife rehabilitators in the field have noted that neither raw and roasted peanuts or sunflower seeds are good for squirrels, since they are deficient in several essential nutrients. This type of deficiency has been found to cause Metabolic Bone Disease, a somewhat common ailment found in malnourished squirrels
Ground squirrels inhabit most agricultural and rural areas of California. They are found around buildings, gardens, and industrial sites, as well as in nature. Ground squirrels damage many food-bearing and ornamental plants. Particularly vulnerable are all types of grains, and fruits and nuts such as almonds, apples, apricots, peaches, pistachios, prunes, oranges, tomatoes, %26amp; also walnuts. They also eat certain vegetables and field crops at seedling stage. Squirrels damage young shrubs, vines, and trees by gnawing bark, girdling trunks, eating twigs and leaves, and burrowing around roots. Squirrels even gnaw surface-type plastic irrigation pipe.
Nuts, seeds, wild fruit and berries are a large part of the diet of


squirrels. In winter, much of their diet is made up of hibernating insects


and their larvae found under the bark of trees; also the juicy buds of


trees. But squirrels bury food in the ground, in preparation for winter;


one nut or acorn or seed in each hole. During the winter they seem to


locate these stores by smell, and dig them up.
Most squirrels eat nuts, seeds, grain, and fruit. By far their favorite food would be nuts, followed by sunflower seeds. Urban squirrel have adapted to eat just about anything, including pizza, luncheon meats and all forms of snack foods. Squirrels have been known to eat bird eggs, but this is a last resort. When natural food is scarce, they will eat anything they can find.


*Hope This Helps*
I used to feed the squirrels in Central Park, and they ate everything! They would eat the bread crumbs that I had reserved for the birds, and they would eat my fried chicken too!





I started buying giant 5lb. bags of peanuts for the squirrels and bird seed for the birds and the squirrels would eat the bird seed too.





Members of the rat (rodent) family, they will eat anything. They're cute though. (smile)
Yes, squirrels eat birds eggs. Two things to remember. Squirrels are rodents and eggs are a great source of protein. Egg eating squirrels have been documented. Squirrels also eat mushrooms and insects. You have to remember acorns and hickory nuts are not available year round.
ICE CREAM CONES!!





True story:





Army mess halls have (or did 15 years ago) ice cream machines. You know the cheap nasty ice-milk soft serve ones.





In AIT (army school) there was a quad of buildings with grass and trees in the middle of it. Squirrels lived there. People would throw the ';end butt鈥檚 of ice-cream cones to the squirrels. After a while, they expected and enjoyed them.





I heard a scream as I was walking out of the mess hall.





A squirrel was not planning to wait for the ice-cream cone. He ran up this guys leg , up his body, out on his arm and snatched it out of his hand!





He screamed like a girl.. High falsetto and everything. He did a panic dance.


I about peed my pants laughing so hard, but then covered my own ice cream cone and walked a little faster to the barracks.
They eat:


Acorns


Tommatos


Apple


Walnuts of tress


Some eat certain kinds of grass


Mostly and friut.





Well a squirrl might eat an egg if it was laying there, like if someone threw it like to taste it and if they don't like it they most likely might spit it out.
guess they could, but the tree won't fight them for the nuts, and the bird would put up one heck of a brawl if it caught them eating the eggs. Also, they have a good memory so they can bury/hide nuts all over when they do find them and use them when they need them
I've not ever heard of a squirrel eating eggs, but it sounds plausible. We have lots of squirrels in our neighborhood and town. But we also have many, many pecan trees, oak trees and lots of growing things that squirrels like.
They are rodents. Therefore they are scavangers. Anything will be considered food for them, including a nest left unattended.
small insects and lil worms answer this plz





http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Akog78p33ME.tRK_kzXOjsHsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080429195706AAMVO7V
acorns and peanuts








answer this please


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;鈥?/a>
they live in areas that supply them nuts... if they became desperate i sure they would eat what it takes to survive
Squirrel's eat all like nibber from futurama
They are herbavores and will eat many types of nuts, veggies, fruits.
Little children!
They eat nuts!





I have a bumper sticker that says ';Protect you nuts!'; and it has a squirrel holding a nut.
Nuts ^^


No, they don't eat bird eggs. :P





Squirrels wouldn't live in an area with no nuts ^^
They have been known to at a last resort, but its not likely to happen, that i know of.
Acorns, of course!
nuts, silly!
NuTs!
Acorns, nuts, fruits %26amp; they may eat their heart out........if someone broke their heart that is......
nuts
they will eat fruits
nuts!
Nuts and seeds. They don't eat eggs.
they eat nuts





like you





think about it, lol
acorns!!!


and i believe vegtables


my aunt had one for a pet once


it was really cool

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