Why animals like squirrels hide food for winter
Hi! Some animals, such as squirrels, hide food so they have something to eat when it is cold and snowy. Let's learn how and why in a few easy steps.
1. Why they hide food
- In winter it can be hard to find food. Snow covers plants and insects.
- So animals hide extra food in safe places. This hiding is called a "cache".
2. How they hide food
- Squirrels often bury nuts or seeds in the ground or tuck them under leaves.
- Some animals hide food in many places (scatter hoarding). Others keep it in one spot (larder hoarding).
3. How they find it again
- Squirrels use their nose and memory to remember where they hid things.
- They also dig where the smell or the memory tells them the food is.
4. Examples
- Squirrels hide nuts and seeds.
- Chipmunks put food in many little holes.
- Some birds, like jays, hide seeds too.
Try this simple activity
Play a little hiding game with an adult:
- Take 3 small cups and a few raisins or small toys.
- Hide a raisin under one cup while your friend watches, then mix the cups.
- Try to find the raisin—this is like how animals remember where they hid food!
Fun facts
- Squirrels sometimes forget about some of the food they hide. Those forgotten seeds can grow into new trees.
- Hiding food helps animals stay healthy when it is cold and there is not much to eat.
Would you like to hear a short story about a squirrel hiding nuts?