What kinds of food do rodents eat?

Rodents exhibit diverse dietary habits, ranging from strictly herbivorous to omnivorous and even predatory behaviors. While some species are specialized, many are opportunistic generalists that consume both vegetable and animal matter.1

Their diets often include:
* Plant-based foods: Many rodents feed on nuts, fruits, seeds, fungi, leaves, buds, flowers, and the cambium layer of tree bark.2
* Animal matter: Depending on the species, rodents may consume insects, earthworms, and other arthropods. Some species are known to hunt small vertebrates, such as frogs, toads, and bird nestlings, or scavenge carrion.12

Rodents are anatomically adapted for these varied diets with strong, chisel-like incisors and powerful jaw muscles that allow them to gnaw through hard materials like nuts. Because they are often opportunistic, species living near human settlements may also rely on agricultural crops and stored food supplies. Some rodents in arid environments are even capable of obtaining their necessary water intake directly from the food they consume.2341