I just saw this squirrel sitting in a tree by the house. It was eating something, but I wasn't sure what It was. Then I noticed feathers falling to the ground. Then I could see it was eating one of those English sparrows. I don't know if it caught the bird or found it dead.
I had no Idea squirrels ate meat.

I've seen it a couple times. Always seems to be late winter early spring.

Red squirrel or gray or fox? I know reds eat meat but have never seen grays or fox squirrels eating meat

That is how they get calcium by eating bone / antler. Any critter will eat any fat for calories I would imagine. Flesh wouldn't surprise me either. Especially when cold.

Reds will eat birds eggs and baby birds so doesn't surprise me any. I had a Muscovy duck that ate an English sparrow once.

I have never seen or thought about it but am not surprised after watching a video od whitetail eating bab birds out of a nest. Everything needs protein I suppose

Here they carry away bones and eat the scraps if they can

I've seen all three squirrel species eat meat, especially reds. Also observed a beaver nibbling on a dead sucker once.

Our local deer will eat those ckn jerky treats for dogs.

and they love dried dog food, chicken, beef, whatever....

I have a suet feeder which I put venison fat and blood shot meat into for the birds. There are fox squirrels eating it quite often.

This was a grey squirrel. It ate the meat and ate the skull like it was eating a nut.

Geeze Beav...I find that hard to believe.
I've seen squirrels grab baby birds carry them off. First time was the robins making big fuss like they do caught my attention. Big old Grey squirrel running up the limb with little one. Adults chasing and fussing. Have also seen them stealing eggs out of nests few times.

Mac

Almost all rodents will eat meat given the opportunity. Grey squirrels are somewhat known for eating birds and robbing nests.

they are just tree rats so why wouldn't they eat meat they love suet and gas can filler necks

I caught a couple pine squirrels on marten running pole sets in Idaho. Using only beaver for attractant. Now, were they just using the running pole, or were they intending on eating the bait. I can't be sure.

And I do know that a chunk of muskrat meat will catch you some more muskrats. So, I guess a squirrel is no different.
Who said an old dog couldn't learn something new. LOl

OMG!!! And we've got this in writing!!!

I catch Red Squirrel in my weasel boxes quite often.

LOl

But Muskrat was the one who coined the phrase THE FOURM KNOW IT ALL