How squirrels feel about humans depends on their experience, location, and whether humans have been a source of food or threat, but generally squirrels see humans as large potential predators and are naturally cautious, though they can learn to tolerate or even approach humans. In wild, rural areas where squirrels are hunted or rarely encounter people, they are very afraid of humans, will flee quickly at the sight of a person, and keep a large distance. In urban parks and suburbs where people frequently feed squirrels or ignore them, many Eastern gray squirrels become habituated and show much less fear, learning to associate humans with food, and may approach people, take peanuts from hands, and even stare expectantly. Research shows squirrels can recognize individual humans who feed them versus those who chase them and adjust their behavior accordingly. They do not have emotional feelings about humans like affection in the human sense, but they have learned behavioral responses based on threat assessment, if a human is calm and offers food they show less alarm, if a human chases them they show more alarm behaviors like chattering and tail flicking. Mother squirrels may feel threatened if humans get too close to their nests and will act defensively. Overall, squirrels are neutral to wary of humans but can learn to tolerate them when it benefits them.
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