Tempting but unhealthy: don't feed squirrels peanuts
Created: 11/26/2022, 5:00 p.m
By: Ines Alms
Many want to lure the cute squirrels into the garden or onto the balcony with food.
This works quite well, but peanuts and almonds are harmful.
There are now even special feed mixtures on the market that can be used to attract squirrels and feed them, especially in winter.
That in itself is a good thing, but you should take a look at the ingredients list as peanuts and almonds often do more harm than good to animals.
Feeding the squirrels: the animals cannot eat peanuts
Well intentioned, but peanuts are not a suitable food for squirrels.
© Metodi Popov/Imago
As early as fall, squirrels start stocking up for the winter.
This is also necessary, as the females often carry young in January and have to acquire a food cushion for this.
The supply of berries and seeds is quite sparse in winter for natural reasons.
As the
NDR television
explains, peanuts and almonds are not species-appropriate food.
The latter contain poisonous hydrocyanic acid, which is dangerous to squirrels in large quantities.
Peanuts are often contaminated with mold or other fungi due to long transport routes.
In principle, nuts should always be examined before they are offered to the animals.
For this reason, the Eichhörnchen-Notruf eV
advises against
other exotic nuts.
Instead, the following food offer is helpful:
Local nuts such as walnuts and hazelnuts
sunflower seeds
chestnuts
dried corn
raisins
Pieces of apple, pear and carrot, grapes
You can find even more exciting garden topics in the regular newsletter of our partner 24garten.de.
The best way to buy squirrel food is at a pet store.
According to
Spiegel.de
, the mass collection of beechnuts, cones and wild fruits in nature should be avoided, as this takes away food from other wild animals that also depend on it.
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If the squirrel mothers survive the winter well, their offspring will be born in the spring.
If you then find an orphaned squirrel cub, quick first aid measures are necessary, as with the dormouse baby.