Squirrels are serial planners, master hoarders who bury nuts and seeds in preparation for the coming days when food is short. Unfortunately, squirrels don’t always remember where they buried their treasure and at times the snow is just too thick for them to get to their buried nuts. This forces hungry squirrels to make do with other food sources to survive. So the question that you may be asking yourself is: do squirrels eat frogs?
Squirrels do eat frogs, these mammals eat a variety of meats and frog is one of them. It’s important to note that squirrels will only eat frogs on occasion, they prefer the meat of other animals like lizards, mice, insects and the occasional snake.
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Do squirrels eat frogs?
When survival is the name of the game, you can’t complain about what’s served on your plate. With a hungry tummy, mouths to feed back at the nest or if faced with a food shortage, squirrels will eat even frogs to get by.
Frogs aren’t the first food source that a squirrel will eat but if push comes to shove then a squirrel will eat a frog. Still, this phenomenon is not common, a frog is one of the last things a squirrel thinks to look for when searching for food, it does happen but they only do so occasionally. Other meats that squirrels will eat include mice, lizards, insects and even a snake.
How do squirrels catch frogs?
Their zig-zag running pattern and nimble speed make squirrels quite capable of getting the jump on a frog. While they aren’t primed for hunting, squirrels do what they must to catch a meal. They will use their quick hands to catch a frog if necessary.
Whether it’s a roadkill frog or a tree frog that happens to climb up the wrong tree, a squirrel with quickly snatch, maim, and eat away at it. It’s not ideal and a squirrel may not like it, but they do what they must, just to survive.
What animals eat poisonous frogs?
While fog meat is a delicacy in some places, it may not sound all that tasty and inviting to others. There are animals whose diets include frogs as the main food source. Even poisonous frogs don’t stand much of a chance against some animals.
Animals that eat poisonous frogs include snakes, birds of prey, fish, herons, otters, and minks. Even large diving beetles, newts, skunks, crayfish, and owls get in on the poisonous frog-eating action.
They are skilled at hunting as well as know what parts of the frog not to eat. For them, frog meat is a staple, but for squirrels, it’s a last-ditch desperate move to survive.
What makes up the most of a squirrel diet?
Squirrels prefer plant-based foods, this makes up most of their diet. Nuts, berries, fruits, vegetables, seeds, edible flowers, and strips of bark from trees are what makes up the most of a squirrel’s diet.
They will supplement their diet with insects, bugs, dead animal carrion, birds, rabbits, snakes, lizards, and fish. Sometimes they will help you reduce your trash levels by raiding your bins or sneaking around inside your home for any snacks they can find. When pushed to the edge the resourceful squirrel will eat a frog or two if they must.
Can squirrel swim?
Squirrels can swim if they need to, and they are quite good at it. But they dislike the wetness of water and avoid it as much as they can. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, they tend to steer clear of water bodies. Water is for drinking not for swimming in a squirrels eyes.
That being said, squirrels will swim to retreat from being eaten, to fetch some fresh readily available food, or to cross over to another side in search for food.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, squirrels do eat frogs. These small mammals will eat frogs if necessary but this amphibian isn’t a squirrels first choice of food, or even first choice of meat. They will use their quick reflexes and hands to catch a live frog or eat a roadkill frog.
Poisonous frogs will be eaten by snakes, birds of prey, fish, herons, otters, large diving beetles, newts, skunks, crayfish, owls and minks. Squirrels prefer to eat plant-based foods like nuts, berries, fruits, vegetables, seeds and edible flowers or meat such as insects, bugs, dead animal carrion, birds, rabbits, snakes, lizards, and fish.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other squirrel related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: Do cats eat squirrels?, Why do squirrels nip off branches?, Are squirrels warm-blooded?, How to entertain squirrels?