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We are Orlando Wildlife, and we solve conflicts between people and wild animals. From squirrels in your attic, to raccoons in your trash, to bats, rats, birds, and snakes, we do it all. We specialize in safe and effective solutions to Florida critter problems. We service the greater Orlando region, and we offer fast service - we can usually schedule a same-day appointment. Give us a call at 407-996-4964 any time, 24/7, and we will discuss your unique wild animal problem, and give you a free price quote over the phone. We're ready to take your call now!

Our service range: We service Lake County, Osceola County, Seminole County, Flagler County, Sumter County, Volusia County, and more. We also service Kissimmee, Sanford, Alafaya, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Buenaventura Lakes, Casselberry, Clermont, Daytona Beach, DeLand, Deltona, Four Corners, Meadow Woods, Ocoee, Oviedo, Palm Coast, Pine Hills, Poinciana, St. Cloud, University, The Villages, Winter Garden, Winter Park, Winter Springs, and more.

Orlando Wildlife Education: Do Squirrels Kill Mice, Rats, Or Birds?

It is a misconception that squirrels are vegetarians, living off of nuts, seeds, and berries. They do eat other small animals and birds. In desperate times, a mother squirrel will even eat her own babies. Some say, however, that a squirrel only resorts to killing and eating meat when other foods are scarce.



Do Squirrels Kill or Just Eat?
Will a squirrel kill a mouse or rat, or just eat what it finds already dead? Squirrels have been seen eating road kill or a bird that died from flying into a window. But do they also kill? Apparently they do. A squirrel will rob a bird’s nest of eggs and baby birds. They have also been known to kill adult birds.

Just What Do Squirrels Eat?
The majority of foods that make up a squirrel’s diet are nuts, acorns, berries, eggs, and baby birds. However, they will eat many foods similar to what people eat. Squirrels that live in urban areas especially have learned to enjoy people’s foods. Fruits of all kinds, including berries and melons, many vegetables, breakfast cereals and grains, birdseed, and of course, nuts of all kinds. Squirrels who live around people have developed of love of cheese, which gives them an extra amount of fat to store up for winter months. Like people, they sometimes like to eat things that aren’t good for them. Some things they don’t like include raw onions and all types of hot peppers.

Other Foods
When fruits and nuts are in short supply, a squirrel will resort to eating insects. They will eat grasshoppers, crickets, butterflies, and caterpillars, and a variety of other bugs. They will eat oyster mushrooms and acorn truffles. They will eat dog and cat food, dry or canned. However, as mentioned before, some of the things they eat aren’t necessarily good for them. In the summer, when their best and preferred diet is most readily, they feast on fruits and vegetables, grains and nuts—which just happen to be the best food for people, too! But when these things are scarce and they are hungry, they will turn to less healthy foods, such as mice, rats, or baby birds. They will even eat adult birds on occasion. In the springtime when their cache of acorns has been depleted, they will turn to these other foods, such as bird eggs, baby birds, road kill, or whatever they can find. Previous Education Articles
Do Orlando mice chew on wires?
What is Orlando canine distemper?
How to find and remove Orlando snakes in your attic
Are cage traps a good option for Orlando mice?