STLRaceChicks' Blog

What do squirrels eat?
Being rodents, squirrels eat a wide variety of mostly vegetarian foods -- but some add a few insects or small animals as well. Here is a general list of what squirrels eat -- but each species has its favorite menu.
In their natural habitats tree squirrels eat a variety of foods including fungi, insects, bird eggs and young birds, pine nuts, and acorns, plus a wide variety of other seeds, nuts, dried corn, fruits, twigs, buds, bark, leaves, pine cones, roots, and mushrooms. And on occasion -- almonds, English and black walnuts, oranges, avocados, apples, apricots, and a variety of other plants. During ground foraging they may feed on strawberries, tomatoes, corn, and other crops. And don't forget dog food, table scraps and whatever else smells good!

not an expert.I googled/LOL

Actually, after talking about this with the Moms in my prayer group this morning, I am pretty convinced that this was a baby squirrel, and not a baby bunny.

Unlike mother bunnies, who don't do much to care for their little ones when they decide to venture out of the nest, momma squirrels are very protective. My guess is that the baby squirrel fell out if its nest, and the mother was trying to rescue or protect it in some way. Because of the rain, I have not been able to go out and look to be sure, but that's my theory.

Thanks for the info. I was pretty sure squirrels wre not meat eaters, but you just never know!

HI, I OPERATE THE WILDLIFE REHAB CLINIC IN FENTON, AND HAVE BEEN CARING FOR INJURED AND ORPHANED WILD ANIMALS FOR 25 YEARS. SQUIRRELS DO NOT EAT RABBITS, NOT TO SAY IT IS IMPOSSIBLE, BUT HIGHLY UNLIKELY. SQUIRRELS ARE RODENTS AND EAT AS YOU THOUGHT, NUTS BERRIES, ROOTS, BUD SPROUTS, SUNFLOWER SEEDS,WILD FRUITS ETC. I WOULD BET MY PROFESSION THAT WHAT YOU SAW WAS A MOTHER SQUIRREL MOVING HER BABY. WHEN IT RAINS AS MUCH AS IT HAS, SOMETIMES THE NEST IS DAMAGED, AND SHE HAS TO MOVE THEM. THE WAY YOU DESCRIBED IT BEING IN HER MOUTH IS HOW THEY TRANSPORT YOUNG. MANY TIMES, UNLESS YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH BABY ANIMALS OF A SPECIES IT IS EAY TO MAKE A MISTAKE. IT IS VERY COMMON FOR PEOPLE TO CALL US WITH A BABY RABBIT THAT TURNS OUT TO BE A SQUIRREL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE WILDLIFE CLINIC IN FENTON FOR MORE INFO, PLEASE DO, WE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU. YOU MAY ALSO LOOK AT OUR WEB SITE, I'M PRETTY SURE WE HAVE PICS OF BOTH SPECIES. ONE GOOD CLUE BETWEEN RABBITS AND BUNNIES IS, RABBITS DO NOT HAVE MUCH OF A TAIL, PROBABLY SMALLER THAN THE TIP OF YOUR LITTLE FINGER, SQUIRRELS ARE A COUPLE OF INCHES LONG EVEN WHEN THEY BORN. HOPE THIS HELPS.ONE MORE THING, THERE IS PLENTY FOR SQUIRRELS TO EAT IN THE SPRING, JUST LOOK AT ALL THE BUDS ON THE TREES, THEY WOULDN'T BE GOING HUNGRY THIS TIME OF YEAR.

I know they eat my tomatoes and even hot chili peppers

Once a squirrel has eaten meat they will crave it again. They can get it outta trash cans, dumpsters, trash on the sie of the highway, etc. Never heard of them becoming hunters but why not, if the pray is catchable and small enough for them to overtake.

As many have said they will eat anything when hungry. I long for a way to use these critters who love to damage my property. I know they are good for planting nuts everywhere to reforest the planet. They want an oak tree growing in my tomato bed. The only predator they have in my yard is a hawk who regularly visits to feast. He is one of those who were placed in the tall buildings downtown to rid us of the pigeon problem. Like that worked!

p.s.: it kinda scares me that people who race , assumingly at high speeds, may have thought that a squirrel rescued a rabbit, i know , i know, im mean, whatever