{"id":135783,"date":"2024-10-19T03:08:45","date_gmt":"2024-10-19T08:08:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=135783"},"modified":"2026-07-04T07:40:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T12:40:44","slug":"fox-squirrel-gnawing-on-an-antler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/10\/19\/fox-squirrel-gnawing-on-an-antler\/","title":{"rendered":"Fox Squirrel Gnawing On An Antler"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the first time, I saw, photographed, and filmed a Fox Squirrel gnawing on a deer antler<\/span><\/a>, and it was pretty exciting. The squirrel seemed to love it.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Fox Squirrel gnawing on an antler \u2013 Canon R7, f8, 1\/200, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Canon 100-400mm at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I knew that squirrels and mice chewed on antlers, but until I researched this behavior, I wasn\u2019t aware that porcupines do as well. Even coyotes, rabbits, foxes, bears, opossums, and otters have been known to eat shed antlers.<\/p>\n

Because antler sheds are important for healthy habitat, antler shed hunting is illegal in many places, and in other locations, it can only be done seasonally.<\/p>\n

I also knew the reason why: it\u2019s for the minerals found in the antlers, including calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.<\/p>\n

In addition, the teeth of mice, porcupines, and squirrels continue to grow throughout their lives, and chewing on antlers helps to wear them down.<\/p>\n

\"FoxFox Squirrel chewing on a deer antler \u2013 Canon R7, f8, 1\/400, ISO 640, +0.3 EV, Canon 100-400mm at 400mm, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

This Fox Squirrel was extremely focused on gnawing on the shed antler, so much so that I was able to take a nice, long series of images of him, along with a couple of videos too.<\/p>\n