To maintain a healthy condition, gray squirrels require about two-tenths of one pound of nutritious food daily, and fox squirrels require a slightly larger amount. Since squirrels do not hibernate, they must rely on their body's fat reserves and on stored food supply. A Michigan study showed that, of 251marked caches of hickory nuts and acorns, only two remained unused at the beginning of the spring.
Squirrels prefer hickory nuts, beechnuts, and white and red oak acorns.
When hard mast is not available, squirrels feed on other fruits and berries, flower parts, buds, bark, roots, mushrooms, and some animal and insect matter. Squirrels will drink water from streams, pools, tree cavities, snow, dew, and can even obtain water from acorns. Recommendations on this web site do not endorse any commercial products or trade names.