Ground squirrels eat a wide variety of foods including seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables, green plants, and occasionally insects or bird eggs. Their diet changes with the seasons, often shifting from fresh vegetation in the spring to high-calorie foods like acorns and grains in the fall. They are opportunistic foragers, which means they’ll also eat pet food, compost scraps, or anything edible left in yards. Understanding what a ground squirrel eats is essential for preventing infestations and protecting gardens, lawns, and fruit trees from damage.
If your garden’s looking like a warzone and your lawn suddenly features tiny dirt volcanoes, there’s a good chance you’re dealing with a ground squirrel. These little burrowers might seem harmless at first, but once they find a steady food source, they settle in like unwanted tenants with bottomless appetites. From nibbling on fruits to tearing through flower beds, ground squirrels aren’t picky and that’s exactly what makes them such persistent backyard invaders.
Knowing what a ground squirrel eats is more than trivia, it’s the first step to getting them off your property. Their diet explains their habits, their hiding spots, and why your yard is suddenly looking like a salad bar. If you’re in Florida’s Treasure Coast and starting to feel outnumbered, don’t worry. We’ll break it all down, then show you how AAAC Wildlife Removal can help take back your space the smart way.
Meet the Underground Foragers
Ground squirrels aren’t just tree squirrels with dirtier paws. These burrowing rodents spend most of their time on (or under) the ground, digging tunnels, foraging for snacks, and dodging predators. While there are different species across the U.S., including the California ground squirrel, they all share a few core traits: short tails, chubby cheeks, and an uncanny ability to turn your yard into Swiss cheese.
Unlike their tree-loving cousins, ground squirrels prefer open fields, gardens, and sun-soaked lawns. They build elaborate tunnel systems that can stretch several feet underground, complete with storage chambers for food and cozy spots for hibernation during colder months. And yes, they’re active during the day, which means they do their damage while you’re sipping coffee or watering the plants.
They’re also quick breeders and highly adaptable, which makes them tough to evict once they’ve settled in. That’s why it’s important to understand their behavior, especially what draws them in and keeps them close. Spoiler: it starts with their stomach.
Inside the Ground Squirrel Diet: What’s on the Menu?
Ground squirrels don’t just snack, they strategize. These burrow-loving foragers adapt their diet to whatever’s growing, falling, or left out in the open. Understanding their go-to meals gives you a serious edge in protecting your yard from becoming their personal grocery store.
Seeds and Grains
This is ground squirrel gold. Sunflower seeds, corn kernels, wheat, oats, barley, anything that falls from feeders or garden beds becomes prime forage. They gather seeds obsessively, sometimes stuffing their cheek pouch to carry food back to the burrow for later feasting. If you’ve got a bird feeder, chances are it’s doubling as a squirrel buffet.
Fruits and Vegetables
They’re not shy about stealing from your garden. Ground squirrels love berries, melons, tomatoes, and anything juicy and ripe. If you have a fruit tree nearby, it’s another easy target, fallen fruit or low-hanging produce makes for an effortless snack. In spring and summer, they go for soft produce when vegetation is at its peak. One squirrel can decimate rows of strawberries in a day, especially if your garden isn’t fenced.
Leaves and Green Plants
These little vegetarians graze on clover, grass shoots, dandelions, and just about any leafy plant. They often chew low and fast, leaving behind torn stems and stripped patches. If you’ve noticed shredded lettuce or disappearing sprouts, you’re probably hosting a daytime squirrel diner.
Nuts and Tree Bark
When winter’s on the horizon, ground squirrels switch to fat-packed foods like acorns, almonds, and pecans. They’ll dig through mulch or climb short distances to harvest fallen nuts. These high-calorie meals help them build up reserves before squirrels hibernate or go into a dormant state during colder months. In a pinch, they’ll even gnaw on tree bark and twigs, not just for nutrients, but to help grind down their constantly growing teeth.
Insects and Bird Eggs
Mostly herbivores, ground squirrels will occasionally add a little protein to the mix. As opportunistic omnivores, they’ll snack on beetles, crickets, and caterpillars if they come across them. In rare cases, they might raid unguarded nests for eggs or nibble on carrion, especially if their usual food supply runs dry.
Pet Food and Human Scraps
Leave a bowl of dog or cat food outside, and you’ve got yourself an open invitation. Ground squirrels will take advantage of anything edible, compost bins, fallen snacks, crumbs around patios. Once they associate your property with easy calories, they’ll keep coming back like clockwork.
Where Do Ground Squirrels Call Home?
Ground squirrels aren’t tree climbers, they’re tunnel architects. These critters dig extensive underground burrows that can stretch six feet deep and over 20 feet long, complete with food storage and escape routes. You’ll typically find their handiwork in open fields, gardens, pastures, and sunny yards with loose, dry soil.
They avoid dense woods and prefer flat, open spaces where they can keep watch for predators. If your lawn has little foot traffic, sparse grass, or exposed patches of dirt, it’s prime real estate for a new squirrel neighborhood. Once they move in, they rarely move out on their own.
Pest Prevention: Beware of Ground Squirrel Damage
The key to keeping ground squirrels away? Make your yard less appetizing. Start by removing easy food sources like fallen fruit, open pet food, and spilled birdseed. Trim back tall grass and brush to eliminate hiding spots and consider installing fencing or mesh around gardens and vulnerable plants.
For added defense, use natural deterrents like garlic spray, predator urine, or motion-activated sprinklers. These don’t harm the squirrels, but they do make your property feel a lot less friendly. The less comfortable your space is, the quicker they’ll look elsewhere for lunch.
Ground Squirrels Eat Everything, So Don’t Feed the Problem
Ground squirrels are small, but their impact isn’t. They’ll chew through your garden, stash seeds in your lawn, and turn peaceful yards into tunnel-riddled messes. And with a menu as wide as theirs, just about every outdoor space is at risk.
If you’re dealing with damage and DIY deterrents aren’t cutting it, it’s time to bring in the pros. AAAC Wildlife Removal is ready to help you reclaim your space with expert trapping, humane removal, and prevention strategies that actually stick. Let’s make your yard squirrel-free for good.
