by Angie Pollock

Created on: July 01, 2008

Like with all other animals in the wild, the squirrel's eating behavior has a reason and a purpose. That reason is survival. These amazing little varmints can adapt quickly to their environment and can even make a meal of plants and mushrooms that are known to be poisonous to humans.

Primarily herbivorous, squirrels eat a variety of vegetation including the most popular fruits and nuts but have also been known to eat small insects and snack foods from an unattended picnic basket. Depending upon their environment, squirrels are known to store seeds, grains and nuts for the long winter hibernation period. In southern regions, squirrels are active year round as my bird feeders can attest to.

While they prefer food that nature has provided to them naturally, they are opportunists. They will take any advantage of a free meal and will come back day after day to fill their little tummies. Urban squirrels have learned to coexist with their human-filled environment and use the opportunities of human resources for survival. Rural squirrels depend upon nature and the environment to survive and are not as social as their urban counterparts.

Squirrels hide their food from other animals, including other squirrels, in different places until they need to crash their supply. Hoarding of food is a natural instinct of squirrels whether they are located in urban or rural areas. The squirrels will hoard their stashes in different hiding spots so that if another animal finds the stash, they will still have a food supply in another hiding spot.

Squirrels are considered vermin or "an animal difficult to control" which can be confirmed by anyone who has ever visited Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C. These small creatures will congregate where there is a food source and this park's food sources are the masses of government employees and tourists visiting the park daily.

While many consider the squirrel to be a nuisance, these interesting and playful creatures do have a purpose in the environment. During the process of traveling and foraging, squirrels spread seeds throughout our environment which can lead to new growth.

When squirrels hoard acorns in the ground, they don't always return to eat it. These acorns can spout new oak trees that the squirrels and humans depend upon for survival. Hoarding of these nuts are not only a future meal for the hoarder but ensures new tree growth for future generations of squirrels.

Most people either love squirrels or they hate them. While they can bring enjoyment to some, squirrels have a bad reputation of causing destruction that costs home and business owners heavily every year. They have been known to take up residence in local attics as well as causing power outages.

I happen to love them because I enjoy watching them chase each other and play first thing in the morning. Our neighborhood has a multitude of large oak trees that the local squirrels call home. Even when they are robbing the bird feeder or digging up my freshly planted bulbs, I still feel very lucky to have these creatures in my environment.

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