by Sandy Winn

Created on: July 01, 2008   Last Updated: July 15, 2008

Ravenous rodents, swashbuckling mammals, little thieves, raiders of the unguarded bird-feeder, cute and fuzzy critters, or chipper and fun little characters are just a few ways to describe a creature common just about everywhere in the world - the squirrel. Understanding their eating behavior can be done simply by sitting and watching them for just a little bit each day and throughout various times of the year. It is quite a pleasant experience observing them as you are sure to be entertained by their comical behavior.

Nature has provided squirrels with a special set of teeth, like most rodents, for gnawing. Their teeth grow all the time and that is one reason why their preferred diet are hard seeds and nuts. Gnawing on hard foods (as well as electrical wires, twigs, and bark) helps not only to wear down their teeth so they can grow again but sharpens them as well. To acquire the tasty and meaty treat found in the center of nuts and seeds, squirrels make holes in them. How many they make depends on the type of nut it seeks. Usually two are needed for obtaining the meat from softer nuts like hickory whereas harder ones, such as butternuts and walnuts, take up to about four. After the squirrel has "ratta-tap-tapped" enough to make the holes, it then dines on the food inside which nourishes its tiny body.

Squirrels, those little rascals, like to eat foods they don't have to work so hard for as well which is why there are so many products on the market meant to deter them from thieving food from bird feeders. They aren't doing this to purposely peeve the human animal, they need food for survival - just like they aren't purposely trying to ruin electrical wires to cause chaos, they chew on those to benefit their teeth. They also take delight in eating, to the horror of many of our two-legged friends, nestlings and eggs. However, if mom or dad bird is present, the squirrel will definitely be given a "what for" and carry on its way. Buds and pine cones are another food these little pirates enjoy.

Unlike chipmunks, squirrels do not have pockets in their mouthes to carry their food but they are often viewed with their cheeks stuffed full - giving them that "mouth full of goodies" appearance. Squirrels make their nest in hollow trees, vines, in the ground, and hollow tree trunks which are all great places for food storage and shelter. They do not always keep food in their nest and prefer sometimes to keep it outside close to home. How they locate their hidden food depends on the squirrel; some rely on smell, others need a visual, and yet others rely on memory.

Squirrels are fun creatures to study and it truly is a delight to observe their habits in nature. On backyard fences they take little steps and then suddenly stop, prop up on their hind legs, sniff the air, peer around to make sure there isn't a predator within the area, and scurry forth with a mouth full of food or while on their way to forage. They peek out from behind trees at parks as if they are studying human behavior instead of vice versa and then will either press their little paws into the ground before moving to another tree, or dig into the bark and climb upwards as if to show off their impressive climbing abilities. Sometimes they may even give you quite an aerial performance as they jump from limb to limb, on their way to who knows where. Grab your video camera, camera, chair, pen or pencil, a book to take notes, find a squirrel, and then be prepared to not only learn but be entertained.

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