TN10073 RED SQUIRREL TAMIASCIURUS HUDSONICUS
Trophic| References | |
| OMNIVORE | 45 |
| Omnivore | 90 |
| Lifestage | Food Item Consumed | Part of Food Item |
| Adult | Plants | Bark |
| Adult | Plants | Sap |
| Adult | Plants | Buds |
| Adult | Plants | Leaves/Needles |
| Adult | Plants | Flower |
| Adult | Plants | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Eumycophyta | |
| Adult | Eumycophyta | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) | Bark |
| Adult | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Coniferae | Bark |
| Adult | Coniferae | Sap |
| Adult | Coniferae | Buds |
| Adult | Coniferae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Pinus | Bark |
| Adult | Pinus | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Larix | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Picea | Bark |
| Adult | Picea | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Pseudotsuga | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Tsuga | Bark |
| Adult | Tsuga | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Abies | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Angiospermae | |
| Adult | Angiospermae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Dicotyledoneae | |
| Adult | Salicaceae | |
| Adult | Salicaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Juglandaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Betulaceae | Sap |
| Adult | Betulaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Fagaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Ulmaceae | Buds |
| Adult | Ulmaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Moraceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Rosaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Aceraceae | Sap |
| Adult | Aceraceae | Buds |
| Adult | Aceraceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Ericaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Caprifoliaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Corn | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Animals | |
| Adult | Animals | Egg/Fetus stage |
| Adult | Animals | Larva stage |
| Adult | Animals | Pupa stage |
| Adult | Animals | Juvenile stage |
| Adult | Molluscs | |
| Adult | Snails | |
| Adult | Insects | Larva stage |
| Adult | Insects | Pupa stage |
| Adult | Isoptera | Larva stage |
| Adult | Coleoptera | Larva stage |
| Adult | Lepidoptera | Pupa stage |
| Adult | Mammalia | Juvenile stage |
| Adult | Leporidae | Juvenile stage |
| Adult | Sciuridae | Juvenile stage |
| Adult | Aves | Egg/Fetus stage |
| Adult | Aves | Juvenile stage |
| Adult | Passeriformes | Egg/Fetus stage |
| Adult | Passeriformes | Juvenile stage |
| Adult | Carrion | |
| General | Plants | Bark |
| General | Plants | Sap |
| General | Plants | Buds |
| General | Plants | Leaves/Needles |
| General | Plants | Flower |
| General | Plants | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Eumycophyta | |
| General | Eumycophyta | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) | Bark |
| General | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Coniferae | Bark |
| General | Coniferae | Sap |
| General | Coniferae | Buds |
| General | Coniferae | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Pinus | Bark |
| General | Pinus | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Larix | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Picea | Bark |
| General | Picea | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Pseudotsuga | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Tsuga | Bark |
| General | Tsuga | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Abies | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Angiospermae | |
| General | Dicotyledoneae | |
| General | Salicaceae | |
| General | Salicaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Juglandaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Betulaceae | Sap |
| General | Betulaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Fagaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Ulmaceae | Buds |
| General | Ulmaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Moraceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Rosaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Aceraceae | Sap |
| General | Aceraceae | Buds |
| General | Aceraceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Ericaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Caprifoliaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Corn | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Animals | Egg/Fetus stage |
| General | Animals | Larva stage |
| General | Animals | Pupa stage |
| General | Animals | Juvenile stage |
| General | Molluscs | |
| General | Snails | |
| General | Insects | Larva stage |
| General | Insects | Pupa stage |
| General | Isoptera | Larva stage |
| General | Coleoptera | Larva stage |
| General | Lepidoptera | Pupa stage |
| General | Mammalia | Juvenile stage |
| General | Leporidae | Juvenile stage |
| General | Sciuridae | Juvenile stage |
| General | Aves | Egg/Fetus stage |
| General | Aves | Juvenile stage |
| General | Passeriformes | Egg/Fetus stage |
| General | Passeriformes | Juvenile stage |
| General | Carrion | |
| Important | Plants | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Eumycophyta | |
| Important | Coniferae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Pinus | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Larix | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Picea | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Pseudotsuga | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Tsuga | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Abies | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Juglandaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Fagaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Moraceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Rosaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Aceraceae | Sap |
| Important | Ericaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Aves | Egg/Fetus stage |
| Juvenile | Plants | Bark |
| Juvenile | Plants | Sap |
| Juvenile | Plants | Buds |
| Juvenile | Plants | Leaves/Needles |
| Juvenile | Plants | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Eumycophyta | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Coniferae | Bark |
| Juvenile | Coniferae | Sap |
| Juvenile | Coniferae | Buds |
| Juvenile | Coniferae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Pinus | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Larix | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Picea | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Pseudotsuga | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Tsuga | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Abies | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Salicaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Juglandaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Betulaceae | Sap |
| Juvenile | Betulaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Fagaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Ulmaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Moraceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Rosaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Aceraceae | Sap |
| Juvenile | Aceraceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Ericaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Corn | Fruit/Seeds |
| Juvenile | Snails | |
| Juvenile | Insects | Larva stage |
| Juvenile | Insects | Pupa stage |
| Juvenile | Isoptera | Larva stage |
| Juvenile | Coleoptera | Larva stage |
| Juvenile | Lepidoptera | Pupa stage |
| General | Eumycophyta | Not Applicable |
| General | Spermopsida | Bark |
| General | Spermopsida | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Pinaceae | Bark |
| General | Pinaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| General | Angiospermae | Not Applicable |
| General | Dicotyledoneae | Not Applicable |
| General | Salicaceae | Not Specified |
| General | Molluscs | Not Specified |
| General | Snails | Not Specified |
| General | Carrion | Not Applicable |
| General | See Comments on Food Habits | Not Applicable |
| Important | Eumycophyta | Not Applicable |
| Adult | Eumycophyta | Not Applicable |
| Adult | Spermopsida | Bark |
| Adult | Spermopsida | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Pinaceae | Bark |
| Adult | Pinaceae | Fruit/Seeds |
| Adult | Angiospermae | Not Applicable |
| Adult | Dicotyledoneae | Not Applicable |
| Adult | Salicaceae | Not Specified |
| Adult | Molluscs | Not Specified |
| Adult | Snails | Not Specified |
| Adult | Carrion | Not Applicable |
| Adult | See Comments on Food Habits | Not Applicable |
| Adult | See Comments on Food Habits | See Comments |
| Adult | Animals | Not Applicable |
| Important | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Spermopsida | Fruit/Seeds |
| Important | Animals | Not Specified |
Comments on General Food Habits
THEIR PREFERRED FOOD IS SEEDS FROM CONIFER CONES. THEY ALSO EAT NUTS (OAK, HICKORY, WALNUT, ETC.), FRUITS (BERRIES, APPLES, ETC.), MUSHROOMS, INSECT LARVAE AND PUPAE, TREE SAP (PARTICULARLY MAPLE), AND TREE BUDS AND BARK *208*. THEY STORE FOOD IN LARGE CACHES (HOLLOW TREE, UNDERGROUND BURROW OR IN THE OPENINGS AT THE BASE OF A TREE) FOR WINTER USE *PA6762*. THEY USE A FEW LARGE CACHES (VS. THE MANY SMALL ONES OF GRAY SQUIRRELS) *46,336*. MANY MUSHROOM SPECIES ARE EATEN INCLUDING AMANITAS. THEY ARE EITHER TOLERANT OR IMMUNE TO THEIR POISON *208,141*. THEY PULL LOOSE BARK FROM TREES TO REACH MOTH PUPAE, LARVAE OF BARK BEETLES AND WOOD BORERS *208*. THEY MAY KILL AND EAT THE YOUNG OF COTTONTAILS AND GRAY SQUIRRELS *208*.THEIR FOOD SUPPLY MAY CONSIST OF A GREAT ABUNDANCE OF ONE KIND OF FOOD OR A LARGE VARIETY OF FOODS DEPENDING ON THE SEASON *208*. FUNGI MAY BE STORED IN TREE CROTCHES *46*. AN AVERAGE MEAL OF SEEDS FROM 12 PINE CONES IS 540 SEEDS *208*. THE RED SQUIRREL USUALLY HAS A FAVORITE FEEDING STUMP OR PERCH. MIDDENS FORM BELOW THESE SPOTS, CONSIST OF HUSKS, (SHELLS AND SCALES). THE SIZE OF THESE MIDDENS IS MEASURED IN BUSHELS AND VARIES WITH CONIFER SPECIES, THE PROPORTION OF THE DIET MADE OF SEEDS, THE FOREST AGE, THE SQUIRREL POPULATION AND THE USE OF THE FEEDING PLACE. THE MIDDEN MAY MEASURE UP TO 20 FT. BY 12 FT. AND 3 FT. DEEP *208,46*. Many mushroom species are eaten including amanitas, and they are either tolerant or immune to their poison *208,141*. They pull loose bark from trees to reach moth pupae, larvae of bark beetles and wood borers *208*. They may kill and eat the young of cottontails and gray squirrels *208*. This species stores food in a few large caches (vs. gray squirrels who use many small ones) *46,336*. The food supply may consist of a great abundance of one kind of food or a large variety of foods depending on the season *208*. Fungi may be stored in tree crotches *46*. An average meal of seeds from 12 pine cones totals 540 seeds *208*. This species usually has a favorite feeding stump or perch, under which, midens form. They are formed by husks, shells and scales, which are measured in bushels and varies with conifer species, the seeds' proportion in diet, forest age, squirrel population and the use of the feeding places. They can be up to 20 feet by 12 feet and 3 feet deep *208,46*. Many mushroom species are eaten including amanitas. They are either tolerant or immune to their poison *208,141*. They pull loose bark from trees to reach moth pupae, larvae of bark beetles and wood borers *208*. They may kill and eat the young of cottontails and gray squirrels *208,8905*. It stores food in a few large caches (vs. gray squirrels many small ones) *46,336*. The food supply may consist of great abundance of one kind of food or large variety by season *208*. Fungi may be stored in tree crotches *46*. The average meal of seeds from 12 pine cones is about 540 seeds *208*. This species usually has a favoite feeding stump/perch, and middens form below such: formed by husks, (shells and scales). The size is measured in bushels and varies with conifer species, seeds, proportion of diet, forest age, squirrel population and the feeding place, can be up to 20 feet by 12 feet and 3 feet deep *208,46*.
Comments on Adult Food Habits
THEIR PREFERRED FOOD IS SEEDS FROM CONIFER CONES. THEY ALSO EAT NUTS (OAK, HICKORY, WALNUT, ETC.), FRUITS (BERRIES, APPLES, ETC.), MUSHROOMS, INSECT LARVAE AND PUPAE, TREE SAP (PARTICULARLY MAPLE), AND TREE BUDS AND BARK *208*. THEY PREY UPON NESTLING BIRDS AND YOUNG RABBITS AND SQUIRRELS *PA6762,208*. THEY STORE FOOD IN LARGE CACHES (HOLLOW TREE, UNDERGROUND BURROW, OR IN THE OPEN AT THE BASE OF A TREE) FOR WINTER USE *PA6762*. THEY STORE FOOD IN A FEW LARGE CACHES (VS. THE MANY SMALL ONES OF GRAY SQUIRRELS) *46,336*. MANY MUSHROOM SPECIES ARE EATEN INCLUDING AMANITAS. THEY ARE EITHER TOLERANT OR IMMUNE TO THEIR POISON *208,141*. THEY PULL BARK LOOSE FROM TREES TO REACH MOTH PUPAE, LARVAE OF BARK BEETLES AND WOOD BORERS *208*.THEIR FOOD SUPPLY MAY CONSIST OF A GREAT ABUNDANCE OF ONE KIND OF FOOD OR A LARGE VARIETY DEPENDING ON THE SEASON *208*. FUNGI MAY BE STORED IN TREE CROTCHES *46*. AN AVERAGE MEAL OF SEEDS FROM 12 PINE CONES IS 540 SEEDS *208*. THE RED SQUIRREL USUALLY HAS A FAVORITE FEEDING STUMP OR PERCH. MIDDENS FORM BELOW THESE SITES. FORMED BY HUSKS, (SHELLS AND SCALES) A MIDDEN'S SIZE IS MEASURED IN BUSHELS AND VARIES WITH CONIFER SPECIES, THE PROPORTION OF THE DIET COMPOSED OF SEEDS, THE FOREST AGE, THE SQUIRREL POPULATION AND THEIR USE OF THE FEEDING PLACE. THE MIDDEN MAY MEASURE AS LARGE AS 20 FT. BY 12 FT. AND 3 FT. DEEP *208,46*. Many mushroom species are eaten including amanitas, and they are either tolerant or immune to their poison *208,141*. They pull loose bark from trees to reach moth pupae, larvae of bark beetles and wood borers *208*. They may kill and eat the young of cottontails and gray squirrels *208*. It stores food in a few large caches (vs. the gray squirrels who have many small ones *46,336*. The food supply may consist of a great abundance of 1 kind of food or a large variety of foods depending on the season *208*. Fungi may be stored in tree crotches *46*. The average meal of seeds from 12 pine cones is 540 seeds *208*. They usually have a favorite feeding stump or perch. Midens form below the feeding areas due to husks, shells and scales, which are measured in bushels and varies with conifer the species, the seeds' proportion in the diet, forest age, squirrel population and the use of feeding places. They can be 20 feet by 12 feet and 3 feet deep *208,46*. Many mushroom species are eaten including amanitas. They are either tolerant or immune to their poison *208,141*. They pull loose bark from trees to reach moth pupae, larvae of bark beetles and wood borers *208*. They may kill and eat the young of cottontails and gray squirrels *208*. This species stores food in a few large caches (vs. gray squirrels many small ones) *46,336*. Food supply may consist of a great abundance of one kind of food or a large variety by season *208*. Fungi may be stored in tree crotches *46*. The average meal of seeds is from 12 pine cones and equals 540 seeds *208*. It usually has a favorite feeding stump/perch, and middens form below such. They are formed by husks, (shells and scales) and the size is measured in bushels and varies with conifer species, seeds proportion of the diet, forest age, squirrel population and use of feeding place. They are up to 20 feet by 12 feet and 3 feet deep *208,46*.
Comments on Juvenile Food Habits
NEWBORN RED SQUIRRELS NURSE THEIR MOTHER'S MILK. THEY MAY NURSE THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE SUMMER *208*. AFTER BEING WEANED, THEY CONSUME THE SAME FOOD AS ADULTS (NUTS, BERRIES, MUSHROOMS, ETC.) *PA7846*.
Comments on Larval Food Habits
| References/Lifestage | Reference Numbers |
| General | 46, 141, 208, 5881, PA6762, PA8234 |
| Adult | 46, 84, 141, 208, 5881, PA6762 |
| Juvenile | 208, 5881, PA6762, PA7846, |
| Important | 46, 141, 208, 5881, PA6762 |