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What foods do tree squirrels eat?

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Tree squirrels are omnivorous rodents whose diets vary depending on their species and environment. Their primary food sources include:

  • Plant-based foods: They frequently consume nuts, fruits, and seeds. They also eat leaves, buds, flowers, nectar, and the cambium layer of tree bark.
  • Fungi and insects: Fungi and various insects are common components of their diet.
  • Animal matter: They occasionally consume bird eggs, nestlings, and carrion. Some species, such as red squirrels, may even hunt small animals, including other squirrels, though this behavior is less common among tropical tree squirrels.1

Equipped with powerful jaws and strong, chisel-like incisors, tree squirrels are well-adapted for gnawing open hard nuts to access the energy-rich contents inside.1