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.