02/14/2025
PLEASE Avoid Corn and Peanuts if you’re feeding the local squirrel population
I know it’s hard to imagine that peanuts and corn could be bad for squirrels; after all, they do LOVE them soo much how could they be? Well firstly our squirrel buddies are essentially lifelong toddlers and will definitely exclusively eat junk foods that will kill them …but this situation is exacerbated if they are able to rely on their human friends to provide more than they could ever need of these junk foods.
While most nuts are fine for squirrels peanuts are not really a type of nut at all. In fact, they are legumes. Most people do not realize that peanuts are a type of food that has incredibly poor nutritional content…It’s acceptable to feed them a unsalted and roasted peanut occasionally, but it’s crucial to make sure the outside shell isn’t growing toxic mold and it must be in extremely limited quantities if you care about your yard visitor’s and resident’s health.
Squirrels (like many small mammals and avian species) are very prone to a disorder called Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD). The effects of MBD are ultimately fatal and cause some horrible symptoms including partial or full paralysis and seizures. Squirrels (and other animals) get MBD when they have too much phosphorus and not enough calcium in their diet. Squirrels specifically require their overall daily diet to ultimately result in a total of twice as much calcium as phosphorus in order to prevent them from being susceptible to MBD. Without at least two parts of calcium to every part of phosphorus in their diet then the body will get the additional required calcium to process that phosphorus from within the body… which ultimately means that the feeding of anything that does not have a 2:1 calcium:phosphorus ratio will result in that required calcium coming from the squirrel’s bones (where the body has the most calcium stored) which weakens the bones. Over time this weakening can result in bones breaking and the high phosphorus of the body (prior that calcium being collected from the squirrel’s bones) leads to problems with other systems of the body, but especially the metabolism and brain.
Peanuts have 6 times as much phosphorus as calcium… so if you give a squirrel one every single day then in the tiny amount of food they will still consume for that day it would need to all have essentially a bare minimum of 2:0.5 ca to phosphorus ratios (which barely exists… essentially it would need to be fed with beet greens exclusively for the rest of the day because they have a 3:1 ca:p…. And obviously that’s not available in every yard, all year round unfortunately) in order not to ultimately cause long term damage to the animal
You should also know that corn isn’t healthy for squirrels. It can grow the same type of toxic mold as peanuts (which can kill our little friends quickly) and approximately has only one part of calcium to 45 parts of phosphorus (meaning it’s 1:45 when the health requirements of a squirrel are 2:1) so it will kill them, less than slowly, even if it isn’t contaminated with mold.
*Some healthy options instead
Easiest is to offer nuts whole roasted pumpkin seeds-unsalted, and almonds are the healthiest, followed by hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, English walnuts, pecans, pistachios- in that order of best to least good and best to give the nuts while with in tact shells (where applicable)
SPECIFICALLY AVOID: Cashews, sunflower seeds, dried corn, Brazil nuts, pine nuts, peanuts* (will cause severe calcium loss).
They also love Tulips (flower and bulbs), Hydrangeas (flower & bulb), Hibiscus (flower & leaves), Roses, Daisy, Marigold, Dandelion (whole plant), Petunias, Carnations, Sunflower (petals are good but should cut down or remove before going to seed), Impatients (flower & bulb), Honey Suckle, Primrose, Wild Clover (whole plant, any variety), and Jarcarandas
Also Sorrel, Hosta, Monkey Grass, Magnolia or Pine Cones (green), Broadleaf Plantain, Lamb’s Quarters, and most herbs are healthy (and popular usually too) So planting or putting out any of those as long as they are NOT treated with pesticides or fertilizers are awesome And a way to contribute to their diet and your yards aesthetic appeal at the same time
Wild squirrels are usually more picky about fruit and vegetables options so likely would reject most veggies and some fruits from the following lists but they are more healthy food ideas for squirrels
Best category (high calcium vegetables) Arugula, beet greens, Belgian endive, chicory, chinese cabbage (bok choy), cilantro (fresh), collard greens, dandelion greens, escarole, fennel, kale, mustard spinach, parsley (fresh), purslane, radicchio, radishes, romaine lettuce, squash (butternut; raw or cooked), swiss chard, turnip greens, watercress.
2nd best category of veg (not necessarily high calcium but also not high in phosphorus -Think of them as your 1:1s instead of ideal of 2:1s)
Asparagus, artichokes, avocado**, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carnations, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, green beans, mushrooms (1 per week), okra, pumpkin, squash (all types; raw or cooked), sugar snap peas, sweet potato (raw or cooked), zucchini. **High in fat; with TOXIC peel and pit- do not ever give peel or pit
Avoid: Anything Dried & fresh corn, garlic, onion, palm hearts, potatoes, sprouts, peppers
Best Fruit options Apple, apricot, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, raspberries, strawberries, watermelon, cranberries, navel oranges, nectarines, papaya, grapefruit, cherries (sour), honeydew, peaches, pears, pineapple, kiwi, kumquats, lemon, lime, cherries* (sweet), crabapples,* grapes,, mangos, passion fruit,* pomegranates,* bananas* *Somewhat higher in sugars/starches so less frequently than daily (2-3 times a week types foods)
Note: Pits and seeds can be toxic, except for the berries so always remove ideally
Avoid: dried fruit of any kind (does include raisins), Dates, figs, fruit juice, persimmons, plums, prunes, kiwi, star fruit, or Asian Pears
