Squirrels and acorns seem to be a natural match, but how much do you actually know about acorns? These nuts are good for squirrels, and there are some reasons they like them.

Both red and gray squirrels can benefit from acorns as a source of nutrients. Many squirrels love white oak acorns, and will eat them right away while red oak acorns are buried. Red oak acorns have a slightly bitter taste due to their higher tannin content than white oaks.

We’ll be diving into important facts about acorns and how squirrels eat them. Are you curious about the differences between acorn varieties or why squirrels bury nuts in acorns? We’ll get there if you stay awhile.

What is an Acorn?

What exactly is an acorn?

This nut is also known as an oak nut or an acorn. It contains one seed and is kept safe by a shell. Acorns are most commonly associated with an acorn.

The cap-like top makes acorns easily identifiable and is a common food source for many woodland animals. This food source is not only for squirrels. Acorns can be eaten by humans, provided they are properly processed.

We’ll get to that more later.

Let’s start with the tannins in acorns. We will discuss what they are as well as their implications.

What Are Tannins in Acorns?

You may have heard the term ‘tannin,’ or ‘tannic’ before. However, it is not always used in connection with acorns. These terms are often used when referring to wine and tastings.

Tannins are actually found in many plants and nuts. A grape that was bitter has probably been eaten. It was likely that the skin contained more tannin than average.

Acorns are the same, but at a much larger scale and could prove to be deadly. While tannins can make wine unpleasantly strong in flavor, they help preserve alcohol over time. Acorns don’t have the same boozy benefit as wine, so too many tannins can lead to poor flavor.

These nuts can be unpredictable so why would squirrels want them to eat?

Why Do Squirrels Eat Acorns?

There are many kinds of nuts, fruits, and other food on trees in the same areas where squirrels are most common, so why not acorns!

* Nutrition. * Nutrition. Acorns are rich in nutrients, including potassium, vitamin A, iron, and magnesium. Acorns are a good source of food for animals who don’t eat large amounts.

* Abundance. Oak trees are extremely widespread in many environments. This makes acorns abundant through association. An oak is always a good source of food.

* Easy to Purchase. Because acorns are small nuts it is easy to collect them and then transport them among the branches. Squirrels, on the other hand may wait until they fall from the tree to make it even easier.

* Relatively safe. Acorns contain tannins. However, squirrels are very familiar with this food source. Because of their familiarity, acorns can be a safe food source.

Do Squirrels Eat The Top of Acorns?

The cap of an acorn is not something that squirrels will eat. The shell of an acorn isn’t used much. The shell and cap of an Acorn are not used for much.

If a squirrel were only to eat the outer shell and cap first, before it can get to the actual food source, it would fill up with plant material that doesn’t provide the nutrients it needs.

How Many Acorns Does a Squirrel Eat Per Day?

This one is quite a surprise. How many acorns do squirrels consume per day?

These acorns are a difficult thing for squirrels to eat. They will still eat acorns, but they can also eat nuts, mushrooms and berries.

While berries and mushrooms can be easily eaten, squirrels must break open the shell and remove the cap before they can eat the acorn. This is a time-consuming task for squirrels due to the high nutritional value of acorns.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission explains how more young people will be born when there are plenty of acorns and other tree nuts in winter.

These years will have fewer food resources, which will result in fewer young being born. This is because the female squirrels won’t be as strong. Smaller litters are often produced by those who survive winter.

This is why squirrels like to bury nuts in order to keep warm during the cold winter months.

Why Do Squirrels Bury Nuts?

If the squirrels are not able to make new litter, then why do they bury nuts?

Acorns are in high demand and can be difficult to find.

They not only bury the acorns for other animals, but also for their own personal memories.

It’s great to have a well-hidden stash of nuts, but if they don’t shift places frequently, a squirrel might forget where itsstash and the stash of another squirrel.

Don’t worry! The oak tree seeds are still available for new growth if a squirrel has to throw away its stash. If you like, the circle of life.

What Kind of Acorns Do Squirrels Eat?

Squirrels are often heard to eat acorns. But they must prefer acorns.

Right! There are many acorns available for squirrels to eat, and they come from various oak trees. What types of acorns do squirrels like to eat?

Squirrels Prefer White Oak Acorns

Different species of squirrels might prefer different types of acorns, but red oak and white oak are the most popular.

Research from the University of Maine has shown that squirrels will eat white oak acorns immediately and bury red oak acorns they find in the same areas. Red oaks have a higher level of tannin than white oaks, which results in slightly bitter tastes.

Red oak acorns can be stored for later use by squirrels. This allows them to still get the nutrients from the large red oak oak acorns, but also lets some of the tannin acid dissipate before eating them.

White oak acorns germinate quicker, so squirrels have less time to consume them before they turn bad.

This suggests that white acorns may not be the preferred choice, but rather the maximization of food resources.

Pros of White Oak Acorns For Squirrels

* Less bitter tasting due to low levels of tannins

* Easy to find and widely spread

* Peanuts and other tree nuts are more nutritious

Cons of White Oak Acorns For Squirrels

* A little smaller than red oak corns

* White oak acorns can be safely eaten if they are quickly germinated

Squirrels Bury Red Oak Acorns

Squirrels do have tastebuds.

Red oak acorns are preferred by squirrels over white oak acorns. They tend to have less tannins and are larger than other varieties. This means they have less bitter taste than some other acorns.

These are second-choice white oak acorns but they still rank high on the list.

It might be more about survival instincts, as we have already mentioned. This means that it will eat the species that are more rapidly dying and save the ones that can survive the winter.

For more information, visit our 29 Amazing Facts about Red Oak Tree here

Pros of Red Oak Acorns For Squirrels

* Larger acorns require less de-shelling

* Easy to find and widely spread

* Peanuts and other tree nuts are more nutritious

Cons of Red Oak Acorns For Squirrels

* Tannins at higher levels create a bitterer taste

* Red oak acorns are larger in size than other species

All Other Acorns

All acorns can be classified into one of two types, red oak or white oak. However, there are many species that fall within each of these categories.

When they are hungry, different species of squirrels might prefer different acorn species that belong to the white oak group.

Different species of squirrels might choose to bury red oak acorns for winter to get their preferred food source.

Squirrels and their acorns can be compared to humans who enjoy tea.

One person may prefer green tea to black tea. However, another might find green tea too bitter. Despite being very similar in taste, both teas have their own preferences.

Are Green Acorns Bad For Squirrels?

For squirrels who are looking to bulk up, green acorns can be a great source for extra tannins. Although the taste may not be as great as acorns made from other tree species, such as red oak, they can still do the job.

The green acorns are not poisonous for squirrels. Due to their extra tannins, they can cause a shift in the mood of squirrels who consume large amounts.

4 Reasons Why Squirrels Eat Acorns

There are many reasons squirrels will eat acorns. Here are four main reasons.

Acorns Provide Squirrels With Nutrition

Acorns have more nutrients than other nuts: acorns contain vitamins A and E, iron, and potassium.

These oak tree nuts are rich in vitamin and mineral content and a good source of fats and protein. Tree nuts are generally larger than Acorns, so they have more nutrients.

Acorns Are In Abundance For Squirrels

Oak trees are not only the most famous deciduous tree in the world, but also the most common. Oak trees are the most common deciduous tree in an area with many.

Take a moment and imagine yourself as a squirrel. Acorns are a good choice if you need to eat in a forest of trees.

Acorns Are Easy To Procure For Squirrels

Squirrels are known for their ability to find these nuts quickly, despite not having to do much.

Although other animals may be more difficult to find, acorns are very easy to find.

The squirrel can easily pick up acorns from tree branches, or from the ground.

Acorns Are Relatively Safe For Squirrels

Although acorns can contain tannins, they pose a greater threat to humans than to animals.

Squirrels might experience the discomfort of a bitter taste, or the unpleasantness associated with a negative mood swing. But that’s not the end of it for these furry creatures.

Acorns are really a good choice for squirrels, from the fact that they provide a food source of security to the ease of obtaining them and the benefits of their nutrients.

Can Humans Eat Acorns?

Acorns can be eaten by humans if they are prepared properly.

Take a look at this guide to 9 Amazing Fallen Acorn Uses.

Archeological research, historical records and the continued practice of eating acorns show that acorns can be a valuable resource.

It is not surprising that acorns are used throughout history, given how widely spread oak trees are in North America and other continents.

You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to prepare acorns for safe consumption.

Before you start the process, take a look at Harvard Crimson to conduct a “float test”. Acorns that float or sink indicate that they are either hollow due to decay or disease.

To find the nut, first remove the shell.

After shelling the nut you will need to cut the acorn into pieces.

The tannins in the nut will be easier to release once they are broken down . These bitter plant compounds, or tannins, can be released by soaking the acorn pieces in water for a few minutes until they turn a dark brown color.

This process will take about a week. You’ll need to change the water several times so that as much tannic acid can be released.

Soaking the acorns in water helps to get rid of the tannin acid. This acid can be bitter and even harmful.

Boiling is a common practice, but it can trap bitter flavors. It is better to soak the acorns in water lower than boiling, and even hot water at its boiling point. )

After your acorns have been processed, you can make flour from them, roast them as a snack or grind them into mush for oil production.

You can even find recipes!

This Acorn Starch powder can be found in place of acorn flour, proving that this is not an exclusive practice for people in difficult or remote locations.

Acorns are rich in nutrients and have a great flavor.

Hooray for Acorns!

These oak tree nuts are a favorite of squirrels because they provide them with a variety of food that is more than just acorns.

This article will help you understand why squirrels love acorns and how they choose them.

Thank you for reading!