A Squirrel's Winter Stash
A squirrel's winter stash is the food it hides away so it has something to eat when it is cold and snowy. Squirrels hide nuts and seeds so they won’t go hungry.
How it works — step by step
- Find food in the fall. Squirrels look for nuts and seeds like acorns, walnuts, and sunflower seeds when lots are ready.
- Hide the food. They bury some nuts in the ground or tuck them into tree holes and leaf piles. They make lots of little hiding places.
- Cover and remember. Squirrels cover the spot with leaves or dirt. They remember many hiding places using smell and landmarks (like a big rock or tree).
- Eat in winter. When food is hard to find in winter, the squirrel digs up the hidden nuts and seeds to eat.
Fun fact: Squirrels sometimes forget some of their hidden nuts. Those forgotten nuts can grow into new trees!
Imagine you are a squirrel: you find a crunchy nut, hide it under a bunch of leaves, and come back later when it is cold to nibble it. That is a squirrel's winter stash!