10 neat things about squirrels in the garden

Have you ever watched a squirrel darting around your garden, burying treasures with a sense of urgency or leaping gracefully from branch to branch? These energetic little mammals are more than just entertaining visitors; they play an important role in your garden’s ecosystem. Whether they’re planting trees, safeguarding your garden from other pests, or farming fungi in nearby forests, squirrels are full of surprising behaviours and fascinating quirks. Here are 10 neat things about squirrels that might make you see them in a whole new light!

1. Masters of stash management

Squirrels, such as red and eastern grey squirrels, are experts at caching food. They bury nuts, seeds, and even fungi in gardens, using their exceptional spatial memory and keen sense of smell to locate their stashes later. Some estimates suggest they recover up to 80 percent of the food they store.

2. Accidental gardeners.

By burying tree nuts like acorns or hickory nuts and sometimes failing to dig them up, squirrels contribute to reforestation and the spread of shrubs. While some of these caches are genuinely forgotten, others may be decoys meant to mislead potential thieves. Either way, squirrels’ caching habits play a key role in supporting the growth of gardens and natural landscapes.

3. Mushroom farmers.

Red squirrels in Canada exhibit a remarkable behaviour: they dry mushrooms by hanging them in trees or spreading them on logs to prevent rot. Once dried, the mushrooms are stored in middens, serving as a winter food source. Gardeners near forests may notice this quirky habit in action, highlighting the resourcefulness of these little creatures.

4. Squirrels in winter.

Squirrels don’t hibernate, but they reduce their activity in cold weather, conserving energy. In autumn, they fatten up on calorie-rich foods to prepare for winter. During the snowy months, they rely on stored food and may forage for bark, buds, or other available sustenance.

5. Red or eastern grey: what’s the difference?

Eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) are larger, urban-adapted, and less territorial, making them a common sight in cities and gardens. Red squirrels (Tamiasciurushudsonicus), on the other hand, are smaller, forest-dwelling, and fiercely territorial, preferring conifer seeds. While both play important ecological roles, they behave differently in gardens and natural environments.

6. Shades of grey.

Oddly enough, eastern grey squirrels come in different colours. Melanistic squirrels, with their black fur, have an excess of melanin, which may provide advantages like better heat retention in colder climates. Leucistic squirrels, on the other hand, have a partial loss of pigmentation, resulting in white or pale fur while retaining normal eye and skin colour, making them distinct from true albino squirrels.

7. Seasonal feeders.

Squirrels adapt their diets to the seasons, munching on flowers, bulbs, and even tomatoes in summer, then relying on nuts, seeds, and stored food in winter. Their ability to adjust their eating habits helps them survive throughout the year.

8. An afternoon’s entertainment.

Whether raiding bird feeders or performing acrobatic feats in your trees, squirrels are endlessly entertaining. Their intelligence and persistence often lead them to outwit squirrel-proof bird feeders, much to the amusement (or frustration) of gardeners.

9. Protective behaviour.

Squirrels’ territorial nature and frequent activity can inadvertently deter garden pests, such as rodents or birds, that might otherwise feast on tender shoots or ripening fruits. While they aren’t actively protecting your garden, their presence can be beneficial.

10. What do they sound like?

Red squirrels are vocal and aggressive, using sharp “chuk-chuk-chuk” calls, high-pitched trills, and rattling buzzes to defend their territory. They even emit piercing screams when distressed. Eastern grey squirrels, by contrast, are quieter, using soft “kuk-kuk” barks and gentle “muk-muk” sounds for communication. Both species signal danger with alarm calls, but red squirrels are louder and more persistent.