Why do squirrels pick up small rocks and run off with them?

Question

i have placed decor rocks in my garden for a border. a brown squirrel keeps running off with my rocks in the border. what does the squirrels do with them

Answer 1

Squirrels do not eat rocks.  Chickens do eat small rocks to store in their "crop", which is part of their esophagus.  The small rocks help digest the food that the chickens eat.  Squirrels, however, do not have crops.

Ground squirrels can use rocks on top of their burrows.  If these are tree squirrels, they may think the rocks are edibles such as peanuts.

One other really interesting possibility?  A crack squirrel.  Sometimes users, and dealers, hide their stash in a front garden amongst the rocks.  It's true!  (I'm not going to ask if you have crack hidden in your garden, though...)http://hightimes.com/news/ht_admin/2478

Answer 2

I believe they eat them to help digest their foods, the same thing chickens do.