Why Squirrels Chew Tree Bark (and How to Stop It)

Squirrels chew on tree bark because they need access to the cambium layer under the bark, which is soft, moist, and packed with nutrients. If you have noticed striping on trunks, girdling near branches, or shredded bark at the base of a tree, the damage is not random, and it can spread fast once a squirrel starts working the same tree again and again. The fix is part exclusion, part habitat cleanup, and part making your yard less attractive in the first place.

Why squirrels chew bark in the first place

Squirrels eat bark because it gives them energy, fiber, and water, especially in late winter and early spring when other food is scarce. They do not chew wood for the wood itself, they strip bark to reach the living tissue underneath. That is why you see damage on thin branches, young trees, and trunks where the bark peels easiest. In some cases, squirrels also chew bark to sharpen teeth, since their incisors grow continuously.

Why they target certain trees

When people ask why do squirrels eat bark off oak trees, the answer is that oak trees are abundant, sturdy, and full of accessible cambium under thicker bark. Squirrels eat bark off trees with flexible outer bark, easy climbing access, and nearby cover. If one tree sits near a fence, roofline, bird feeder, or dense limb network, it becomes an easy target. Squirrels do not eat trees in the way insects do, but repeated bark removal can kill a tree by girdling it and cutting off nutrient flow.

What bark chewing looks like

Fresh squirrel damage shows clean tooth marks, narrow strips removed from one side of a branch, and missing bark in a patchy, peeled pattern. Heavy damage can circle a branch or trunk. If you see the bark torn away in small flakes near the top of a tree, birds or rodents are less likely to be the cause. Squirrels work fast, and once they establish a routine, they return to the same feeding route.

Do squirrels eat bark, tree bark, and other plant foods?

Yes, squirrels eat bark, and they also eat buds, seeds, nuts, fruit, fungi, and tender shoots. Their diet changes with season and availability, which is why people ask why do squirrels eat so much. They spend a lot of time foraging because they burn energy quickly and store food behaviorally, not by eating one giant meal. Bark is one piece of a broader diet, not the entire menu.

Do squirrels eat bark off trees or only specific parts?

Squirrels eat bark off trees where the bark separates cleanly from the cambium. They do not prefer dried dead bark with no nutritional value. Fresh bark, sap-rich bark, and new growth are the targets. If a squirrel starts on one tree, it can move to nearby branches and repeat the same stripping pattern across several plants in the same yard.

Do squirrels eat orange peels and other strange foods?

Do squirrels like orange peels? Most do not, and orange peel scent does not stop an active bark-chewing squirrel. Do squirrels eat orange peels? Some will nibble them out of curiosity, but peels are not a dependable food source or deterrent. The same goes for strong smells in general. If a squirrel has access to bark, seed, or a feeder, odors will not compete with real food.

What to do first when squirrels are stripping bark

Start by protecting the tree itself, then remove the things that keep squirrels coming back. If bark loss is small and the tree is still healthy, wrap the trunk with a physical barrier and reduce nearby food sources. If the bark is stripped all the way around, the tree may need professional arborist care because girdling can kill it.

1. Wrap the trunk with hardware cloth. Use 1/4 inch galvanized hardware cloth around young trunks and vulnerable lower branches. Leave 2 to 4 inches of space between the bark and the wire, and secure it so raccoons cannot pull it loose.
2. Trim access points. Cut branches at least 6 to 8 feet away from roofs, gutters, fences, and utility lines where legal and safe.
3. Remove food attractants. Bring bird feeders in at night, use squirrel-resistant feeders, and clean up dropped seed daily.
4. Reduce climbable cover. Thin dense shrubs and prune limbs that create an easy route to the tree.
5. Check damage depth. If the bark loss circles more than half the trunk, call an arborist quickly.

Keeping squirrels out of yards, feeders, and trees

The best squirrel control is making the yard less profitable. If your goal is to stop bark chewing, focus on food, access, and shelter. Squirrels that can hop from a feeder to a tree trunk to a roofline will keep working the same area. Squirrels that must cross open space, face barriers, and find less food move on faster.

Do squirrels like safflower seed?

Do squirrels like safflower seed? They dislike it more than sunflower seed, but hunger can override that. Do squirrels eat safflower seed? Some do, especially if the feeder is easy to access and nothing else is available. Safflower helps when you are trying to reduce feeder traffic, but it is not a stand-alone squirrel solution. Use a squirrel-resistant feeder with weight-activated perches and place it 10 feet from launch points.

Use food placement to your advantage

Feed birds away from structures and trees squirrels use as launch pads. Clean under feeders every day so spilled seed does not become a buffet. If you want a stronger barrier, hang feeders on a 5-foot smooth metal pole with a baffle and keep the bottom of the feeder at least 4 feet off the ground. That setup cuts down the climb routes that lead squirrels straight back to tree bark.

Do orange peels deter squirrels?

No reliable evidence shows that orange peels keep squirrels away from bark, feeders, or gardens. Some homeowners try citrus peels, but the smell fades quickly outdoors and the animals ignore it once they find a real food source. Do squirrels like orange peels? Some investigate them, but attraction is not the problem. Access is. A physical barrier and food cleanup work, citrus scraps do not.

What squirrels eat when they are not chewing bark

Squirrels eat a wide range of foods, which is why they adapt so well to suburban yards. They eat nuts, acorns, seeds, berries, mushrooms, buds, and garden crops. Do squirrels eat cooked chicken? They can, and they will eat chicken if it is left out and available. Can squirrels eat chicken? Yes, but that does not mean they should be fed it. Human food creates bold, persistent animals that return to porches, grills, and feeders.

Do squirrels eat other squirrels or other animals?

Do squirrels eat other squirrels? Rarely, but it happens in cases of extreme hunger, scavenging, or opportunistic predation. Do squirrels eat other animals? Yes, they can scavenge insects, eggs, baby birds, and small animal carcasses. Do squirrels eat rodents? They can consume rodents as carrion or in rare predatory events. This behavior is not normal yard food behavior, but it shows how flexible their diet is when resources are scarce.

Why their appetite matters for bark damage

Because squirrels eat so much variety, they do not need bark as a sole food. They chew bark when it is easy, abundant, and close to cover. That is why a yard with feeders, nuts on the ground, fruit trees, and climbable branches creates the perfect setup for bark stripping. Removing just one attractant is not enough if the rest remain in place.

How to protect trees from repeat damage

Once a squirrel has fed on bark, protect the tree before the next feeding cycle starts. Young trees need the most help, and newly planted trees are vulnerable because the bark is thin. Use a wrap or cage on the trunk from ground level up to the first branches, and keep grass, vines, and mulch pulled back from the base so squirrels cannot hide at the trunk line.

Best materials and timing

Install hardware cloth or a rigid trunk guard before cold weather, when bark feeding peaks. For established trees, check the wrap monthly so it does not trap moisture or rub into the bark. Remove guards once the tree trunk is thick enough to resist chewing, then reinstall them if squirrels start fresh damage. For saplings, a 24 to 36 inch tall guard works for most yards, as long as it stays snug but not tight.

When to get help

Call an arborist if the squirrel stripped bark goes all the way around a limb or trunk, if the tree is leaning, or if the canopy starts thinning after damage. That is a tree health problem, not just a nuisance. For ongoing squirrel pressure, wildlife removal services can identify nest sites, roof access, and feeder problems that keep the animals cycling through your yard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do squirrels eat tree bark?

Yes. Squirrels eat tree bark by stripping away the outer layer to reach the cambium underneath. They target living tissue, not dry wood.

Do squirrels eat bark off trees?

Yes. They strip bark off trees, especially young trees, thin branches, and trunks near easy access routes.

Why do squirrels eat bark off oak trees?

Oak bark can be easy to strip, and oak trees are common in many yards. Squirrels use them for food and, in some cases, tooth wear.

Do squirrels eat chicken?

Yes. If chicken is left outside, squirrels will eat it. That includes cooked chicken.

Do squirrels eat safflower seeds?

Some squirrels do, but safflower is less attractive than sunflower seed and works better when paired with a squirrel-resistant feeder.

Do squirrels eat other squirrels or other animals?

They can scavenge or eat other animals in rare cases, including rodents, but that is not their main diet. Their regular food is plant-based.