Originally Posted by
Spanky
Grasses and hays ("forage") is generally eaten by "hind-gut fermenters" which means they have very specialized digestive systems able to break down the complex carbohydrates in grasses. Like a cow and it's four-stomachs. Horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters are all hind gut fermenters... but not squirrels.
This is why we are constantly telling folks the rabbit/hamster/gerbil foods sold in pet stores is not appropriate for squirrels.
Squirrels *might* eat some tender new shoots or roots if they don't have a lot of other choices, but grass is not routine in their diets. This is tree squirrels... grounds squirrels may include more grasses in their diet than tree squirrels, but again it typically is not a first choice or a large part of their diet.
And dried out grass can be hard on their system if they eat it..