Food & Nutrition

Many ground squirrels shift foods with the season. California ground squirrels feed heavily on green grasses and herbaceous plants after emergence, then shift toward seeds, grains and nuts as plants dry. Other species also take insects, eggs or other animal foods, so no single ground-squirrel menu fits every species.

Use a suitable balanced pellet as the nutrient anchor, with hay and leafy greens where appropriate for the species. Add seasonally varied seeds or other natural foods in controlled amounts instead of using a rich seed mix as free-choice food.

• Species-appropriate rodent or herbivore pellet
• Grass hay for fiber and foraging where the species accepts it
• Leafy greens, grasses and safe herbaceous plants
• Measured seeds/grains during seasons or for species that naturally rely on them
• Occasional invertebrate protein only for species known to use animal foods

Avoid assuming every ground squirrel is a seed-eater or every ground squirrel is a grazer. Avoid unlimited sunflower seed/nuts, sudden high-sugar produce, moldy grain, pesticide-treated vegetation and foods that cause selective feeding.

• Fresh water: keep clean water available unless an exotics veterinarian has directed otherwise for a medical reason.
• Produce: wash fresh foods and remove uneaten perishable items before they spoil.
• Wild foods: collect only positively identified foods from areas free of pesticides, road contamination and obvious wildlife feces.
• Caches: respect normal caching behavior but inspect hidden food for moisture, mold, insects or rancidity.
• Change slowly: major diet corrections are usually safer when transitioned deliberately while weight and stool are monitored.