Dried fruits, brazil nuts? Again - peanuts, dried chestnuts?Wilds' food?

[astra]

A few questions, please:


Can wild squirrels be given dried fruits?... All or some? ( if only some, which ones are good, and which ones aren't?)
Are brazil nuts ok?
I have read many times in various sources that peanuts ( even the roasted ones) are not good, but then I read that people give them to squirrels anyway. So, can they be given or should they not be given? {in-shell roasted peanuts do not get exposed to enough temp through the shell as the shelled ones would do, and therefore, the possible mold does not get exposed to the temp. needed for its destruction.
Also, I read that it's not just about the mold but the actual substances in peanuts that are harmful to squirrels and even humans, that do not completely disappear even after roasting. And I love PB myself.}
How about dried chestnuts?
How hard a shell can squirrels crack? - I am concerned that I would give them walnuts or something so hard that they will end up hurting their teeth.

What can the wilds be missing in their food (e.g., what can be hard to get by for them) and how can I supplement their nutrition (e.g., what are some things that are especially good to give the wilds)?


Thanks!!!:)

[CritterMom]

Dried fruits are really high in sugar. But with the wilds, it usually comprises a pretty small overall ratio of their diet, whereas if you are talking about a squirrel you have confined, you can get into problems. Cut up very small, in moderation. I bet they would love dried blueberries - my squirrel, Mister P, adores blueberries over all fruit.

Brazil nuts fall into the same category as dried fruit. They have a REALLY, REALLY high potassium to calcium ratio so you would not want to give a captive squirrel a lot of them, but for a wild to have a few, along with their normal wild diet would be OK. I would crack them first - in fact crack them so you can break the nut in two, or they will likely just stash them. The shells are very hard.

And believe it or not, peanuts are like the other two, probably not TOO bad because they are not a complete diet for the wilds. I buy human quality unsalted roasted in the shell peanuts for my wilds. Aflatoxin is the big issue with peanuts...human quality is better than animal quality, but it is always an issue. Also, peanuts are NOT NUTS. They are legumes, like lima beans. They grow underground, in the root system, like potatoes; hence the mold related issues.

I don't know about dried chestnuts. There is a member here, Jackie in Tampa, who had a terrible problem that MAY have been caused by FRESH Italian chestnuts, but these are two very different things, so no answer there.

They can crack ANYTHING (though I don't think they will mess with hickory nuts) you can hand them, trust me. They need to wear their teeth down constantly so drilling through nut shells is good for them.

Well, hazelnuts (filberts) are very healthy nuts. I make peanut butter sandwiches for mine. I buy the VAT-O-PEANUT BUTTER at Walmart and the mile long loaf of $1.99 whole wheat bread. Smear PB on bread fairly thick, and sprinkle with vitamin powder (4skwerlz sells it) and/or powdered calcium (4skwerlz again or some health food stores), then kind of smear the knife around on it to mix the powder into the PB. Put on a cookie sheet in the freezer for half an hour or so and chop into little squares. Watching them learn to deal with peanut butter covered hands is worth the price of admission believe me - at first they sit on their haunches gazing in horror at their paws all Lady Macbeth-like, then they discover how FABULOUS their paws taste. :rotfl :rotfl :rotfl

Even with me stealing his avocado - every time I chop a slice for P, Mama gets one, too - they are always getting a little soft before I finish the avocado, These get cut up and put out, too.

[Anne]

Mine buzz through hazel nuts, takes them a little time but they get them open, same with the Brazil nuts. I don't crack either nut first. Dried fruits outsiders love. It is best if the fruit and nuts can be offered some how that protects them from the weather, rain especially :D Peanut butter spread all over a pine cone is good too. Same thing with the paws too,

[tomcics]

I usually always give shelled nuts, mainly hazelnuts, followed by walnuts (sometimes in shells) and brazil nuts. Squirrels around are very odd in their taste, once they refused everything but brazil nuts for about a week, after that they would not take another brazil nut, only hazelnuts and walnuts. Once in a while, I will also give them chestnuts (usually not real interested in them though). Even acorns, they turn their little noses up at. Forget about peanuts here, these are Troy squirrels.

[mugzeezma]

Nuts for a captive squirrel are given in moderation .
Believe it or not they get 'Nut Aggressive' .
I have not seen any problem with Mugzi or Chucky gnawing into brazil nuts.
For awhile I wondered if Chucky had a slight malocclusion because his teeth were wearing unevenly. Giving him nuts in the shell straitened him out nicely and got his teeth down to a better length.
The wild squirrels around here have a plentiful supply of black walnuts and hickory. They leave all kinds of evidence that nutcracking is a valuable skill.

It's best to feed "ratblock' for their main course supplemented with fresh greens and produce.That way you know they are getting all the trace Vitamins and minerals they need in the right amounts.

Molds can produce toxins on food stores are harmful to all.
Ergot on Rye creates a hallucinogen that some think spurred the Salem Witch insanity.
Then again there is penicillin.

[astra]

Thank you all the responses - very helpful. I've noticed that they don't seem to care for cashews that much - they sniff them and move one to walnuts, almonds and pecans.
CritterMOm - I will definitely try the PB with powdered calcium suggestion and watch for the PB little fingers.:) :crazy

[astra]

Is cheese ok for squirrels? ( I assume yes, since they are given yogurt and other dairy, but just would like to check).