23 Animals That Eat Squirrels: From Backyard Hawks to Bobcats and Snakes
October 26, 2026
A gray squirrel darting across a backyard fence is rarely alone in the eyes of nature. Animals that eat squirrels range from silent owls overhead to bass lurking beneath the water’s surface, and the list is longer than most homeowners realize. Because gray squirrels are at the bottom of the food chain, predators abound, turning every dash across open ground into a small act of survival.
Gray squirrels are notorious for raiding birdfeeders and gorging themselves, which is part of why they thrive in neighborhoods with plenty of natural cover and easy food. That same abundance keeps a wide cast of hunters interested, from four-legged mammals to birds of prey and even reptiles. Homeowners looking to make their property less attractive to both squirrels and the animals that hunt them can start with plants that repel squirrels before turning to more active wildlife management. The 23 squirrel predators below cover the full range found across the United States, from familiar backyard visitors to specialists most people never notice.
| Predator Category | Hunting Style | Example Species |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Mammals | Chase, ambush, or dig | Coyotes, foxes, bobcats, weasels |
| Birds of Prey | Aerial dive or perch-and-pounce | Red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, goshawks |
| Reptiles | Ambush near nests or burrows | Rattlesnakes, gray rat snakes, alligators |
| Aquatic Predators | Opportunistic strikes at the water’s edge | Largemouth bass |
1. Coyotes
The coyote (Canis latrans) is one of the most consistent squirrel predators in North America, equally comfortable hunting in rural woodlots and suburban parks. According to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the animals that feed on gray squirrels include coyotes, foxes, dogs, cats, rattlesnakes, gray rat snakes, bobcats, weasels, raccoons, red-tailed hawks, both barred and great horned owls, and even largemouth bass, though most predators take adult and young squirrels while raccoons and gray rat snakes prefer nestlings.
Coyotes rely on patience rather than speed, freezing at the base of a tree until a squirrel forgets it is being watched. Their diet overlaps heavily with other animals that eat rats, since both rodents make up a large share of a coyote’s calorie intake during lean winter months.
2. Foxes
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and gray foxes hunt squirrels with a quick pounce technique borrowed from their canine cousins, leaping onto prey from a crouched stalk. Gray foxes have an added advantage: they can climb trees, letting them reach squirrel nests that would stop most other mammals cold.
Foxes tend to target young, inexperienced squirrels in spring when kits first leave the nest. Their broader appetite for small mammals puts them in the same category as many animals that eat bunnies, since both prey species share the same brushy edge habitat foxes prefer.
Pro Tip: Dense ground cover near a yard invites both squirrels and the foxes and coyotes that hunt them. Trimming brush piles close to the house reduces ambush spots for ground predators.
3. Dogs
Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) retain enough of their wild ancestry to chase and, occasionally, catch a careless squirrel. Terriers and hounds bred for small-game work are especially driven by the instinct, even when well-fed and thoroughly domesticated.
Free-roaming farm dogs and feral dog packs pose a more consistent threat than a single family pet, since group hunting mimics the cooperative strategies used by other animals that eat other animals in the wild. Most squirrel encounters with dogs end in a chase rather than a kill, but the pressure still shapes how squirrels use open lawns.
4. Cats
Both house cats and feral colonies show up on wildlife lists of squirrel predators, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources names cats, hawks, coyotes, foxes, weasels, and bobcats among the species that hunt gray squirrels. The domestic cat (Felis catus) is a stalking ambush predator, relying on stillness and a final short burst of speed.
Young squirrels that have just left the nest are far more vulnerable to cats than adults, which have learned to recognize a crouching feline as a threat. Outdoor and feral cat populations in suburban areas can place real pressure on local squirrel numbers, particularly where natural predator populations have been reduced.
5. Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes in the genus Crotalus hunt squirrels using heat-sensing pits that detect body warmth even in complete darkness. Rather than chasing prey, a rattlesnake coils near a burrow entrance or well-used trail and waits for a squirrel to pass within striking range.
Ground squirrels face the heaviest rattlesnake pressure since they nest below ground where snakes can easily corner them. Squirrels themselves are not defenseless against the threat, and the relationship works both ways on our list of animals that eat snakes, since some larger predators on this list will just as readily eat a rattlesnake as a squirrel.
6. Gray rat snakes
The gray rat snake (Pantherophis spiloides) is a skilled climber that reaches squirrel nests other ground predators cannot access. Its body shape and strong belly scales let it scale rough tree bark with surprising speed, arriving at a nest cavity while the mother squirrel is away foraging.
As noted above, gray rat snakes show a strong preference for nestlings over adult squirrels, since young squirrels cannot yet flee a cornered nest hollow. Readers curious about other reptiles that share this letter can browse more animals that start with G.
7. Bobcats
The bobcat (Lynx rufus) hunts squirrels through a mix of stealth and short, explosive sprints, closing the final few feet of distance before a squirrel can reach a tree trunk. Dawn and dusk are prime bobcat hunting hours, matching the times squirrels are most active on the ground.
Unlike some ambush predators, bobcats will follow a fleeing squirrel partway up a tree trunk before giving up the chase. Their varied diet of rodents, rabbits, and birds makes them one of the more adaptable squirrel predators across rural and semi-rural landscapes.
8. Weasels
Weasels are built to follow squirrels into places larger predators cannot fit, including burrows and the tight interior of a leaf nest. Female gray squirrels build leaf nests called dreys and raise litters of young known as kits, which are about the size of a human thumb at birth and don’t open their eyes until roughly four weeks old, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, leaving them almost defenseless if a weasel finds the nest.
Several weasel species share this hunting niche across North America:
- Long-tailed weasel (Mustela frenata) — the most widespread species, found in most US states
- Short-tailed weasel, or ermine — a northern specialist that turns white in winter
- Least weasel — the smallest carnivore in North America, still capable of taking young squirrels
Their slender bodies and relentless hunting drive place weasels alongside other animals that eat rats as some of the most efficient small-mammal hunters in any ecosystem.
9. Raccoons
The raccoon (Procyon lotor) raids squirrel nests at night, using dexterous front paws to pull nestlings from tree cavities and leaf dreys. Because raccoons are largely nocturnal, they target sleeping young squirrels rather than chasing alert adults during the day.
Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores rather than dedicated hunters, and squirrel nestlings are just one item on a diet that also includes fruit, insects, and eggs. Readers interested in that dietary flexibility can compare notes with our list of animals that eat oranges, which includes several of the same opportunistic feeders.
10. Red-tailed hawks
The red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is one of the most recognizable birds of prey in the United States, often seen perched on highway signs and utility poles scanning open fields. Its hunting method relies on a high perch and a steep, fast dive onto prey caught in open ground.
Squirrels make up a meaningful share of red-tailed hawk prey, especially in areas where open lawns border wooded lots. During nesting season, adult hawks increase their hunting pace considerably to keep up with the appetite of growing chicks.
Key Insight: Squirrels have evolved a distinctive alarm call and tail-flagging behavior specifically to warn others when a hawk is circling overhead, a defense that has developed over generations of pressure from aerial predators.
11. Barred owls
The barred owl (Strix varia) hunts squirrels using near-silent flight made possible by specialized feather edges that break up turbulence. This lets the owl glide within feet of a squirrel before it has any warning of an approaching predator.
Barred owls hunt mostly around dusk and into the night, catching squirrels that are still active in the early evening or resting exposed on a branch. Curious readers can find more roosting and resting behavior among animals that sleep a lot, since owls spend most daylight hours tucked into dense foliage.
12. Great horned owls
Few squirrel predators match the raw power of the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), whose grip strength lets it kill and carry prey nearly its own body weight. This owl is large and strong enough to take a full-grown adult squirrel in a single strike, something smaller raptors cannot manage as reliably.
Because great horned owls hunt well after dark, they intercept squirrels that other daytime predators never encounter. Their nighttime habits place them among the true animals that never sleep during active hunting seasons, patrolling territory long after most daytime hunters have bedded down.
13. Largemouth bass
It sounds unlikely, but the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) has earned a spot on wildlife agency predator lists for good reason. Wildlife officials have documented a gray squirrel found in the stomach of a largemouth bass, confirmed by the same Georgia wildlife research cited earlier in this list.
Squirrels occasionally fall into ponds and lakes while crossing overhanging branches or attempting a risky jump between trees near water. Once in the water, a struggling squirrel creates surface vibrations that alert nearby bass, which strike opportunistically rather than as dedicated squirrel hunters.
14. Hawks
Beyond the red-tailed hawk, several smaller hawk species specialize in navigating dense forest canopy to catch squirrels off guard. Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) and the sharp-shinned hawk both have short, rounded wings built for quick turns between branches rather than open-sky soaring.
Common hawk species that prey on squirrels across the US include:
- Cooper’s hawk — a forest specialist that ambushes prey from cover
- Red-shouldered hawk — common in wooded wetlands and river corridors
- Broad-winged hawk — a smaller opportunist during migration season
Readers wanting more raptor profiles can check the full list of animals that start with H for additional species and identification tips.
15. Owls
Owls as a group represent some of the most effective animals that eat squirrels, thanks to a combination of night vision, silent flight, and acute hearing that can pinpoint prey movement under leaf litter. The Eastern screech owl (Megascops asio) is smaller than the barred or great horned owl but still takes young squirrels when the opportunity arises.
Barn owls (Tyto alba) round out the group, though they favor open fields over the forest edges preferred by other owl species. For more nocturnal species worth learning about, the animals that start with O list covers a wide range of owl relatives and other night hunters.
16. Wolves
Wolves (Canis lupus) are built for taking down large hoofed prey, but squirrels still show up in their diet, particularly among younger wolves still developing hunting skills. Pack members sometimes practice on smaller, easier targets like squirrels before joining a coordinated elk or deer hunt.
In regions where wolf populations overlap with dense squirrel habitat, rodents can make up a small but consistent part of the overall diet during lean seasons. This flexible feeding strategy places wolves among the broader group of animals that eat other animals across nearly every size class available to them.
17. Snakes
Beyond rattlesnakes and gray rat snakes, several other snake species hunt squirrels using climbing skill and patience rather than speed. The eastern kingsnake and black racer both take advantage of the fact that squirrels build nests from leaves and twigs about 25 feet or more off the ground and also burrow into hollow trees and tree cavities, according to Mississippi State University’s Natural Resource Enterprises program, meaning any snake with strong climbing ability has a clear path to a vulnerable nest.
Additional snake species known to prey on squirrels include:
- Eastern kingsnake — a powerful constrictor that raids tree cavities
- Black racer — fast-moving and an agile climber
- Corn snake — targets nestlings more often than adults
Common Mistake: Many people assume snakes only threaten eggs or newborns. In reality, larger constrictors and pit vipers regularly take half-grown and even adult squirrels when the opportunity presents itself.
18. Alligators
The American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is an opportunistic ambush predator found throughout wetlands and waterways across the southeastern United States. Squirrels rarely make up a significant part of an alligator’s diet, but any squirrel that ventures too close to a shoreline or falls from an overhanging branch risks becoming an easy meal.
Alligators rely almost entirely on surprise, staying motionless at the water’s edge until prey comes within striking distance. For more reptiles and other species that share this first letter, see the full list of animals that start with A.
19. Eagles
Bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden eagles both take squirrels opportunistically, though fish and larger mammals typically make up a bigger share of their diet. Eagles hunt from high soaring flight, using exceptional eyesight to spot movement on the ground from hundreds of feet up.
Golden eagles are more likely than bald eagles to actively pursue squirrels and other ground mammals, since their territory often includes open grassland and scrub habitat where squirrels are easier to spot. A stooping eagle can reach remarkable speed during the final approach, giving a squirrel little time to react once spotted.
20. Goshawks
The northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is a forest raptor built for speed through dense tree cover, and squirrels are a documented staple of its diet in the right habitat. A study of goshawk diet in a boreal forest in central Sweden between 1977 and 1981 found that squirrels dominated prey remains, both in number and weight, during winter, according to research summarized by Wildlife Online.
North American goshawk populations show similar behavior, relying on squirrels and other small mammals heavily when preferred bird prey becomes scarce. Because their name and hunting range share a letter with several other raptors on this list, readers can find related profiles among animals that start with G.
21. Pine martens
The American marten (Martes americana) is a tree-dwelling member of the weasel family that hunts squirrels through the forest canopy rather than from the ground. Its long, slender body and sharp claws let it match a squirrel’s agility branch for branch, something few other mammal predators can do.
Research on squirrel predators has given particular attention to the role of goshawks and pine martens as two of the most specialized natural predators in forest ecosystems, per the same Wildlife Online research summary. In North America, pine martens are most common in the dense conifer forests of the Pacific Northwest and northern New England, and readers can explore more forest specialists among animals that start with P.
Key Insight: Pine martens and squirrels share nearly identical arboreal skills, which means a marten hunt often looks less like a chase and more like a high-speed game of tag through the treetops.
22. Peregrine falcons
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is best known for hunting birds mid-flight during a high-speed stoop, but ground squirrels and flying squirrels occasionally fall victim in open habitats. Its diving speed is among the fastest of any animal on Earth, leaving little chance for evasion once a falcon commits to an attack.
Peregrine falcons are less consistent squirrel hunters than hawks or owls, since their preferred hunting grounds tend to be open cliffs, coastlines, and urban skyscrapers rather than dense forest. Still, in the right setting they round out the list of raptors profiled among animals that start with P.
23. Fish
Largemouth bass are not the only fish that occasionally take a squirrel from the water’s surface. Northern pike and large catfish species have also been documented striking at struggling squirrels that fall into rivers, ponds, or lakes while attempting to cross between trees.
These encounters remain rare compared to a fish’s normal diet of smaller aquatic prey, but they highlight just how wide the range of squirrel predators really is. From forest canopies to open water, animals that eat squirrels occupy nearly every layer of the ecosystem, and that pressure is part of what keeps squirrel populations naturally balanced across the country.
Squirrels survive this gauntlet of hunters through sharp eyesight, quick reflexes, and near-constant vigilance, but no single strategy works against all 23 predators on this list. Understanding which animals hunt squirrels in a specific region, whether that means coyotes and hawks in open suburbs or gray rat snakes and weasels in denser woodland, helps explain the behavior patterns backyard observers see every day. For anyone managing squirrel activity around their own property, pairing this predator knowledge with practical deterrents like plants that repel squirrels offers a more complete picture of how squirrel populations rise, fall, and adapt over time.