There was a little squirrel, he scurried up a tree. When he turned around, he threw a nut at me.
The
diet of the Eastern grey squirrel consists of a huge variety of
things. It's diet is usually affected by the seasons and what is
available during a particular season. They feed on nuts, seeds,
fungi, fruits, flowers, shoots, insects, caterpillars, and even
the cambium layer of tree bark.
During the spring and summer months, the squirrel becomes an
obsessive hoarder saving and storing all the food for winter
that it can find. They leave the food in countless different
caches which they will come back to later, when food sources are
scarce. In cities squirrels diet may consist of more less
traditional foods. They have learned to steal food from people
and birdfeeders. In fact, this is such a problems that there
is a market for squirrel proof bird feeders. One way to prevent
squirrels from feeding from your birdfeeder is to buy seed that
is coated with hot pepper flakes. This is effective because
birds cannot taste the spiciness while squirrels hate it.
To me, it seems as if these little guys are always hungry. I
have personally seen squirrels on UWL's campus snacking on
pizza, chips, and ice-cream cones that students have left.
Througout history, squirrels have been consumed by various groups
of people. Although squirrel meat is relatively high in cholesterol
it is a good source of certain vitamins and minerals. For example it
is a good food source of Niacin, Vitamin B6, Phosphorus and
Selenium, and a high source of Vitamin B12 and Iron. The table below
gives you a little clearer idea of the nutrition facts of a single
serving of squirrel meat. I also included a few recipes on how to
cook squirrel.
Camp Stew
10 squirrels
2 cups corn
1 lb. bacon, chopped
5 lb. potatoes, diced
2 qt. tomatoes
3 lb. onions
2 lb. lima beans
1 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
salt & pepper to taste
flour
Put the squirrels in a large pan. Cover half way with water. Bring
to a boiling temperature. Cover and simmer until the squirrels are
tender. Remove the squirrels from the stock. Set the stock aside.
Remove the meat from the bones. Return the meat to the stock and add
the corn, bacon, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, beans, celery, salt &
pepper, and worcestershire sauce. Cook for 2 hours stirring
occasionally. To thicken the stew add a small amount of flour mixed
with water. Simmer 20 - 30 minutes longer.
Note: This is a huge recipe that can be cut down based on how many people you plan to serve.
Squirrel Croquettes
8 small squirrels
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup spicy seafood breading
1 cup milk
oil
In a large pot, cook the squirrels in salted water until the meat
starts to fall off the bones. Remove the squirrels and allow to
cool. When cool, remove the meat from the bones and shred. In a
large bowl, combine the meat, onion, celery, salt, pepper, breading
and milk. Mix well. Place in refrigerator for one hour. Remove from
the fridge and shape into patties. Add some oil to a large skillet
and heat over medium heat. Add the patties and cook until they turn
light-brown. Flip when half done.
Now that you know all about nutrition, I suggest continuing on to the REPRODUCTION page to get a better understanding of the species lifecycle. Or you may wish to return to the homepage.