13
Dec
Providing access to a healthy diet for squirrels is important for all of us. Peanuts are a treat for the squirrel but peanuts do not have balanced nutrients for squirrels.
But not all nuts.
Are salted peanuts good for squirrels. Can Squirrels Eat Salted Peanuts. When feeding wildlife avoid feeding them salted nuts or food of any kind. While squirrels can tolerate a little bit of salt their tiny kidneys cannot filter out the proportional huge amount of salt that is contained in salted nuts.
Salted peanuts are very high in sodium for squirrels and flavored peanut brands comprise mostly fillers and products that arent healthy for squirrels gut. Too much salt affects their kidney function as well. It is also important to note that peanuts are a common allergen for humans and squirrels.
Peanuts are a treat for the squirrel but peanuts do not have balanced nutrients for squirrels. With a proper diet such as seeds and vegetables peanuts should be provided for a fun treat. You cannot only rely on peanuts for a balanced diet.
Peanuts are equally beneficial for. Before you feed your backyard squirrels peanuts make sure that you know what kind are good for them. Salted peanuts are a big NO NO.
Their little kidneys cannot handle huge amounts of salt. If youve fed them some of your favorite nuts like Squirrel Nut Zippers or Creme Brulee Almonds some of our favorites theyll be fine. Heres why you should NEVER feed peanuts to squirrels.
Unless they are chipmunks or ground squirrels which are immune to the following. I understand your confusion cause most wildlife prepackaged foods contain peanuts both with and without shells. They do this out of the simple fact that peanuts are so inexpensive that they use them to fill up their packages.
So make sure you buy some. Peanuts any type are not good for squirrels or chipmunks. Peanuts are not nuts.
They are legumes beans. Raw sunflower or raw pumpkin seeds are best for summer and walnuts or filberts raw in the shell are good during the fall months. If you are planning to feed the squirrels with any kind of peanuts taste them before giving them to feed.
Since the squirrels can handle a few salted peanuts ensure you have water near the feeder so that the squirrels can drink while eating the little salted peanuts. Similar cautions also apply to the use of sweet potatoes and to other raw legumes such as soybeans which are sometimes recommended as food for squirrels and which contain trypsin inhibitors. Of course salted nuts of any kind should never be fed to wild creatures.
Although squirrels do enjoy peanuts these are legumes and not nuts as most people assume. Peanuts have little nutritional value for squirrels although you may feed occasionally as a snack to vary their diet. Peanuts Roasted or Raw Peanuts are another great choice for feeding squirrels but there are a few things you need to be aware of before you start feeding them.
If you want to feed them roasted peanuts make sure that the peanuts are unsalted. No squirrels shouldnt eat salted peanuts and also we dont have to offer them. As salted peanuts contain a large amount of sodium which their kidneys are unable to handle.
Not only squirrels but we dont have to offer salted food of any kind to any wildlife. Salted peanuts are too high in sodium for squirrels and flavored peanut brands contain fillers and products that arent good for their tiny stomach. Too much sodium affects their kidney function as well.
It is also important to note that peanuts are a common allergen even for squirrels. The best peanuts to feed squirrels are the shelled ones. In-shell peanuts are excellent as they give squirrels something to gnaw on.
Gnawing helps to keep the teeth of squirrels sharp and healthy. Whatever you do never feed squirrels salted peanuts. Despite the name peanuts arent actually nuts they are legumes and not a natural food for tree squirrels Tree nuts like walnuts almonds and cashews are better.
And NEVER feed them salted or sugared snacks. Salt especially can be very harmful to them. While a good source of protein the site discourages feeding raw peanuts to animals because it often contains aflatoxin a fungal toxin.
Aflatoxin is carcinogenic and causes liver damage in birds squirrels and other animals even humans Roasting can. As it turns out peanuts are not really a type of nut. In fact theyre known as legumes.
Most squirrels do not regularly eat peanuts because theyre a type of food that has poor nutritional content. Its acceptable to feed them a peanut or two occasionally but its crucial to make sure the outside shell isnt growing toxic mold. Providing access to a healthy diet for squirrels is important for all of us.
The best foods for them are nuts fruits vegetables and seeds. But not all nuts. Always good to have something in common with another species.
The best way to provide nuts for them is to have naturally growing nut trees in your yard. Peanuts are in fact legumes in the same vein as peas soybeans and lentils. What makes these so appealing for birds is that theyre highly nutritious.
Peanuts are packed with high levels of fat to give birds energy and protein to help them grow. Aside from the fat and protein contents peanuts contain potassium iron fiber and much more.