Stressing out over nuts (Q for Island Rehabber)

[Nevara]

I read this a few moments ago...
It was by Island Rehabber in reference to the difficulty of squirrels' diets.
"It's difficult, it's expensive, and it's hard to get the squirrels to eat it because once they've tasted nuts, it's all over."

Ok, I just fed my beloved wild Curla peanuts (shelled), and I've given her probably 10 or so over the last few days. Of which I've seen her eat three, and stash a few others. Is she going to be ok?????

[island rehabber]

Nevar fear, Nevara.....(sorry, couldn't resist)
a few peanuts won't hurt her, but I would not give her any more. First, they are not nuts they are just legumes, and in that family snow pea pods and green beans are better for squirrels than peanuts. Also, peanuts tend to be high in phosphorous which sets the squirrel's calcium/phosphorous ratio off kilter.

[4skwerlz]

I just want to add to what Island Rehabber said. When feeding wild squirrels you don't want to unbalance their wild diet, just supplement it. She's right, a few peanuts won't hurt; just don't go overboard. Peanuts are nutritious, but they do have a bad calcium/phosphorus ratio. So if overfed this could cause a problem with calcium absorption. For a healthy wild squirrel, 2 or 3 nuts or whatever per day is enough IMO. If they're sick or thin, of course, they need more. Peanut butter sandwiches are good for skinny wild squirrels. This is just my opinion. Many people feed their wilds tons of nuts with no APPARENT ill effects... I just like to be extra cautious.

[Nevara]

:thankyou
phew!
I was sooo nervous that I'd done something to hurt her. Is there anything I can put at the base of the tree to balance the nuts I gave her?

[Nevara]

ok, here is the real concern. I just lost my own baby to a miscarriage not long ago. I think Curla has helped me focus and love on something else while I've been getting through it. I just get so scared that I'm going to hurt her or lose her. I realize because she's wild that I may lose her to any of the variety of things around here.... but I couldn't stand it if it was my fault she was sick for any reason. So I'm scared that she ate all ten peanuts at once, and now she's sick. I haven't seen her for a day and a half now... I'm probably freaking out a little much because of my emotional state I suppose. But someone PLEASE tell me that if she ate all ten peanuts, she'd still be ok.... or if she wouldn't be... what do I need to do? I'd do anything to help her. Thanks for listening.

[4skwerlz]

ok, here is the real concern. I just lost my own baby to a miscarriage not long ago. I think Curla has helped me focus and love on something else while I've been getting through it. I just get so scared that I'm going to hurt her or lose her. I realize because she's wild that I may lose her to any of the variety of things around here.... but I couldn't stand it if it was my fault she was sick for any reason. So I'm scared that she ate all ten peanuts at once, and now she's sick. I haven't seen her for a day and a half now... I'm probably freaking out a little much because of my emotional state I suppose. But someone PLEASE tell me that if she ate all ten peanuts, she'd still be ok.... or if she wouldn't be... what do I need to do? I'd do anything to help her. Thanks for listening.
She will be absolutely fine. Truly. The things I've seen a wild squirrel eat! Dozens of nuts, a whole order of french fries, etc. The only danger is when eating too much "junk" continues for a long period of time. It takes a lot to unbalance a wild squirrel's diet (in fact, I don't believe we have a single confirmed case of MBD in a wild squirrel--at least not to my knowledge). With our pet squirrels, of course, we have to be much more careful.

I'm very sorry about your miscarriage.:grouphug:grouphug:grouphug Observing wild animals can be very comforting at times, but sometimes Mother Nature can be cruel. Her lessons are hard ones.:grouphug

[Nevara]

BIG sigh of relief. Thank you soooo much. Ok, now I can quit stressing out about Curla. Until I find some other reason to flip out. Ha ha. Thanks for being patient with me. :) Nervous Nelly.

[4skwerlz]

BIG sigh of relief. Thank you soooo much. Ok, now I can quit stressing out about Curla. Until I find some other reason to flip out. Ha ha. Thanks for being patient with me. :) Nervous Nelly.

Take care of yourself, dear.:grouphug I pray you will find comfort and healing.

[toni92097]

I'm so sorry, i have been through a miscarriage as well and know the agony you may be feeling!

Peanuts can carry funguses that are harmful to avian respiration as well. I avoid them like the plague for my CAG. My grandpa fed them raw and shelled by the bucket load to his "wilds" for years though, with no obvious ill-effects, except one mama who started eating nothing BUT peanuts and he had to cut her off some, lol...

Of COURSE your baby should be A-okay!

[Nevara]

So now she's been gone... as seems to be usual... but she's leaving leafy twigs in her nest. What on earth is she up to???

[4skwerlz]

So now she's been gone... as seems to be usual... but she's leaving leafy twigs in her nest. What on earth is she up to???

Spring is nest-building time.... How does she seem generally? Good weight, able to run and climb, bright-eyed?

[Nevara]

4S When I FIRST saw her about two weeks ago she would lay in the nest for hours upon hours curled up breathing hard. She just wouldn't move. Then she progressed to laying on her back with her belly exposed. Then suddenly she would be missing from her nest, after having been there for days on end. And now I haven't seen her since yesterday early morning. However, I've seen things coming and going from the nest. The leaves seem to get shifted around... added to... taken away from... just seems like she's been there, though I haven't seen her. But she's been active and bright eyed when I've been able to see her. She runs around and climbs the trees. Although, she seems a tiny bit unsteady on her feet at times... like in this picture she just teetered there in between those two branches for a long time. But honestly, I haven't noticed too much else. I don't think she's very big. To me she seems young. Maybe a year old or so. But I'm seriously not well versed in squirrel knowlegde.
Here's a pic or two.

[Nevara]

Here's how she was when she would lay out on her back.