Feeding

Red squirrels eat mainly tree seeds, particularly conifer seeds, for most of the year. However, they eat a variety of other foods especially in spring and early summer when the previous autumn’s seed crop may no longer be available. At this time their diet switches to the buds, flowers and shoots of coniferous trees, such as spruce, larch and pine. Other foods include fruits, berries, caterpillars, and even bird eggs.

Fungi, such as species of Boletus and Russula, are also eaten, and red squirrels are even known to place mushrooms in trees to dry them for later consumption. Indeed, squirrels play an important role in forest ecology by dispersing the spores (which survive passage through the gut) of truffle-like fungi which they dig up and consume.

Red squirrels do not hibernate but in winter they are active for only a few hours each day, usually at first light, and they remain in their drey during bad weather. In spring their daily activity is extended, reflecting the seasonal increase in daylight and temperature. From May to October they have two active periods in a day, one in the morning and, after a rest period, another in the afternoon.

During the autumn red squirrels spent a lot of time on the ground foraging and storing seeds. Storing food is very important for them and seed stores in pine forests can sustain then for 40 – 50 days. This is sufficient to support them over cold periods or through periods of food shortage.