Tag Archives: Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis)

Eating Like A Bird

January 1, 2026

I take pride in saving the seedheads of native plants for the birds. Though I often see many Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) scrounging around looking for something to eat, I seldom see them eating the seedheads that I’ve deemed for the birds of my woods.

These are the seedheads of Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia fulgida) that this Squirrel is gobbling down. Quite unexpected to see it eating them. They usually go after the peanut butter or sunflower seeds that I put out.

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Hardly Any Squirrels

January 14, 2025

After more than a week with an abundance of snow on the ground thanks to frigid temperatures, with many, many birds enjoying what I’ve put out for them, I have to stop and think at least for a very brief moment, “Where are the squirrels?”

Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) stash away many nuts in autumn, in anticipation of winter. Acorns, beechnuts, butternuts, hickory nuts and more put away for extremely cold days. Eating extras as the days go by to add a layer of fat to help protect against the cold.

When the cold weather arrives the squirrels will spend very cold days in their dens – a tree cavity or a nest made of leaves high up in a tree. Several squirrels may share a den for warmth in those cold months. Only venturing out to their stash when hunger strikes.

So that’s where the squirrels are. They staying home all snug and warm. Mighty smart.

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