Whether you’re looking to help a local squirrel or you just want to find out how squirrels get water, it’s important to know where they drink from.
In the wild, they’ll use rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, and standing water to get their daily hydration needs. Urban squirrels can also access a variety of sources in their area, including bird feeders, water taps, and a garden bowl.
Up to four weeks of age, baby squirrels don’t need water but they do still need to be fed and they won’t go outside to hunt until they are about 12 weeks old. After that, they will search for food and water on their own.
Squirrels consume water by shooting out their tongue to capture drops of liquid and curling them back into their waiting mouth. This process happens over and over again until they’ve hydrated themselves.
They can drink water from the puddles left behind by rain, or from any other source that is moist and easy to reach. They can also use their front teeth to strip bark off trees and branches, opening them up to the sweet, sugary sap running underneath.
They also drink dew that forms on the leaves every morning, as well as from plants and fruits that are filled with water. They will also drink snow and water that has accumulated on trees or holes in the ground. Streams are another great source of water for squirrels in the winter, since they remain unfrozen during that time.
