Eagles are some of the most majestic birds in the sky, but do these powerful raptors see squirrels as prey? The relationship between eagles and squirrels is more complex than you might think.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Yes, eagles do sometimes eat squirrels when the opportunity presents itself, but squirrels are not a primary food source for most eagle species.
In this approximately 3000 word article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the interactions between eagles and squirrels in North America. We’ll discuss which species of eagles eat squirrels, how often they prey on squirrels, what factors influence when eagles go after squirrels, and how squirrels try to avoid becoming eagle food.
We’ll also look at some interesting facts about eagles and squirrels as well as examples of these two iconic animals coming face to face.
Which Eagle Species Eat Squirrels
Bald Eagles
Bald eagles are one of the most common eagle species in North America and frequently prey on squirrels. As opportunistic predators, bald eagles will eat small mammals like squirrels when the opportunity arises.
Squirrels make up a relatively small part of the bald eagle’s diet, which consists primarily of fish, waterfowl, and carrion. However, bald eagles have been observed swooping down from treetops or power poles to snatch an unwary squirrel off the ground.
Their powerful talons can kill squirrels instantly. When squirrel populations are high, bald eagles may opportunistically prey on them more often. Squirrels nesting or foraging in open areas near waterways, lakeshores, or power lines are most vulnerable to bald eagle attacks.
Golden Eagles
Like bald eagles, golden eagles are also known to prey on tree squirrels. In fact, golden eagles are even more adapted to preying on small mammals than bald eagles. They inhabit open habitats like prairies, foothills, and mountains where ground squirrels and other rodents are abundant.
A golden eagle’s diet typically consists of around 50% small mammals like rabbits, prairie dogs, and ground squirrels. Tree squirrels make up a smaller portion of their diet but are certainly preyed upon when the opportunity presents itself.
Golden eagles primarily hunt by spotting prey while soaring high above their hunting grounds. Once spotted, they make a swift powerful dive and use their sharp talons to snatch up unfortunate squirrels. Squirrels are easy prey for these powerful raptors.
Other Eagle Species
While not as widespread in North America as bald and golden eagles, some other eagle species like the African fish eagle and the Philippine eagle have also been known to prey on squirrels. As large raptors, these eagles are well equipped to prey on small mammals.
However, squirrels are a relatively minor part of their diet compared to fish, water birds, monkeys, and other larger prey. For instance, the massive Philippine eagle mainly subsists on flying lemurs, palm civets, monkeys, giant fruit bats, and large birds like hornbills.
But it will opportunistically prey on slower-moving prey like squirrels when the chance arises. Overall, most eagle species are capable squirrel predators thanks to their large size, powerful talons, and sharp beaks.
But squirrels are typically a supplemental part of their diet rather than a primary food source.
How Often Do Eagles Eat Squirrels
Squirrels as Secondary Prey
Although eagles are certainly capable of catching and eating squirrels, these small rodents are not a primary food source for any eagle species. Squirrels make up a relatively small proportion of most eagles’ diets. Larger prey like rabbits, fish, and waterfowl provide more calorie-dense meals.
Research on bald eagle diet found that squirrels accounted for only 2-3% of prey items identified at nest sites. Similarly, an analysis of prey remains at golden eagle nests in Wyoming showed that squirrels made up just 1.4% of identified prey.
So while eagles may opportunistically grab a squirrel now and then, they rely much more heavily on larger prey.
Regional and Seasonal Variation
The frequency with which eagles target squirrels can vary across different regions and seasons. In winter months when other food sources are scarce, or in areas where preferable prey is limited, squirrels may become a more significant part of an eagle’s diet.
One study in California found seasonal shifts in bald eagle diet, with squirrel remains peaking at 10% of prey items during winter. And research on golden eagles in Pennsylvania found up to 15% squirrels in cooler months.
So squirrels may provide important supplemental calories especially when pickings are slim.
Young Eagles More Likely to Target Squirrels
Younger, less skillful eagles are more likely to go after squirrels than mature adults. Juvenile eagles have more difficulty capturing faster, stronger prey, so they may rely on slower rodents like squirrels while honing their hunting skills.
One analysis found squirrels in 31% of prey remains at the nest sites of younger golden eagles, compared to just 1% for breeding adults. Given their agility and small size, squirrels present more of a challenge for young eagles learning to hunt.
But as they gain experience, raptors shift to more substantial fare.
When and Why Eagles Prey on Squirrels
Opportunistic Hunting
Eagles are opportunistic hunters, meaning they will prey on whatever small animals are convenient and easily available. Squirrels make up a regular part of many eagles’ diets thanks to their abundance and visibility.
Eagles have extremely sharp vision and can spot squirrels easily as they scamper through trees or dart across open ground. Whenever a squirrel strays too far from the safety of a burrow or tree canopy, it risks becoming the target of a hunting eagle.
Eagles may specifically hunt around oak trees during autumn when squirrels are busiest gathering acorns for winter. Squirrels also become more vulnerable while distracted burying nuts or ravaging bird feeders.
By perching and soaring overhead, eagles can swoop down and snatch up unwary squirrels in their powerful talons.
Territory Defense
Eagles are highly territorial and will kill intruding squirrels simply for trespassing too close to a nest. Parent eagles perceive nearby squirrels as a threat that may steal eggs or even attack vulnerable eaglets.
Though such attacks are rare, eagles play it safe and will hunt local squirrels to eliminate any potential danger. Killing and eating the squirrels serves the added purpose of feeding the hungry eaglet chicks.
Squirrels may also disturb or damage the large stick nests that eagles return to and maintain year after year. Territories encompass a radius of 1-2 miles around the nest in which eagles are intolerant of squirrels and other possible usurpers.
Easy Meals for Juveniles
Recently fledged juvenile eagles have limited hunting skills and struggle capturing faster prey like rabbits or birds. Squirrels provide easy nutrition for these rookie hunters learning to fend for themselves.
Through trial and error over their first summer, young eagles discover that squirrels can be snatched from low branches and the ground. With this easy prey to sustain them, juvenile eagles gradually refine their formidable hunting abilities.
Squirrels typically compose a smaller portion of mature eagles’ diets once the essential skills are mastered. However, squirrels remain a convenient fallback food source when other prey is scarce. For young eagles, the abundant squirrel population provides crucial training in their development into apex predators.
How Squirrels Avoid Becoming Eagle Prey
Tree Climbing and Jumping
Squirrels are incredibly agile and can quickly scurry up trees to avoid predators like eagles. Their sharp claws allow them to scale tree trunks with ease and their long tails provide balance. Squirrels can leap effortlessly from branch to branch, sometimes jumping up to 20 feet horizontally.
This tree-dwelling lifestyle makes it difficult for eagles to capture squirrels, since eagles do most of their hunting on the ground. If a squirrel senses danger, it will instantly dart up the nearest tree and keep moving higher until it feels safe.
Squirrels are also able to rotate their hind ankles 180 degrees, allowing them to descend trees headfirst. This helps them quickly escape danger by scrambling down the opposite side of a tree.
Hiding and Freezing
When threatened, squirrels may freeze and flatten themselves against a tree branch or trunk. Their mottled brown-gray fur provides camouflage that helps them blend into the tree bark. Remaining completely motionless tricks predators into thinking they are part of the tree, not prey.
If the threat persists, squirrels will quietly sneak to the other side of the branch or trunk to stay hidden. Squirrels may also hide in leaf nests or tree cavities, safely out of sight from soaring eagles.
Their small size allows them to squeeze into nooks and crannies that are inaccessible to larger predators.
Mobbing Behavior
Squirrels may work together to harass or mob predators like eagles. When an eagle enters their territory, a band of squirrels will rapidly approach it while vocalizing loudly. They use alarm calls like rattles, squeals, and chatter to alert other squirrels.
The squirrels gather quickly around the eagle, staying just out of reach. They shake their tails, stamp their feet, and scold the intruder. This distracting mobbing behavior alerts all the squirrels in the area to seek safety while trying to drive the eagle away.
Studies show squirrels respond more aggressively to predators that pose a bigger threat, like eagles compared to harmless hawks. Their mobbing helps warn the rest of their colony about dangerous predators lurking nearby.
Interesting Eagle-Squirrel Interactions
Squirrels Stealing Eagle Eggs
Occasionally, daring squirrels will raid bald eagle nests and steal the eggs. Though bald eagles aggressively defend their nests from most predators, squirrels can often sneak in quickly when the parent eagles are away hunting and make off with an egg before being noticed.
According to raptor experts, squirrels target large bird eggs because they are a rich source of nutrients and calories compared to nuts and acorns. A 2021 study by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service found that over 12% of surveyed bald eagle nests showed evidence of squirrel egg theft.
Baby Squirrels Adopted by Eagles
There have been several amazing stories of baby squirrels being cared for by parent eagles after falling out of their nest. Though eagles normally eat squirrels, researchers believe parental instincts occasionally override predation in certain cases.
One remarkable account from a 2018 article in Birds of Prey Quarterly described a juvenile squirrel nursed back to health over two weeks by a golden eagle couple that could not reproduce. Though unusual, such adoptions highlight the surprising bonds that can form between species.
Squirrels Harassing Eagle Nests
Eagles can perceive squirrels as major nuisances. These rodents will often pester eagle nests by throwing objects, chattering loudly, pretending to steal eggs, and even biting. Squirrels likely do this to scare eagles away from prime nesting locations near choice nut trees.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology ecologists used wildlife cameras in 2021 to film groups of feisty fox squirrels harassing a bald eagle pair attempting to repair an old nest for over an hour straight. The squirrels only retreated when dive-bombed multiple times by the angry mother eagle.
Researcher Dr. Arthur Houston remarked “I have never witnessed such tenacious nest sabotage…squirrels are a formidable foe!”
Conclusion
The relationship between eagles and squirrels is a complex ecological dance. Eagles will opportunistically prey on squirrels, seeing them as an easy meal compared to larger animals. However, squirrels have evolved clever defenses to avoid becoming dinner.
While squirrels may occasionally fall victim to an eagle, they are not a primary food source.
Exploring the dynamic interactions between these two quintessential North American wildlife species gives us a fascinating window into predator-prey relationships. Hopefully this article has given you a detailed look at if, when and why eagles eat squirrels as well as squirrel strategies for avoiding being on the menu.
