Do squirrels eat pine cones?

There are a few species of squirrels, including the Chickaree, that eat pine cones. American Reds and Mearn's squirrels also eat pine cones.

All three species of squirrels live in pine forests and they use the habitat to their benefit. While the squirrels feed on a variety of foods including nuts, plants and berries, they also eat pine seeds that are obtained from the cones. It is common for these squirrels to gather a bunch of pine cones during the fall months and bury them close to their nest to have a readily available food source throughout the winter months.