Does anyone know about Monkey Puzzle Tree pine cones?

[Kelly Brady]

I mentioned that my squirrels love pine cones. A friend brought in a bowling ball size pine cone that falls from what is called a Monkey Puzzle tree. It is the size of a bowling ball.:multi I have never seen anything like this.
I googled and it says they harvest its seeds in chile and it they are wonderful. I cannot find where it would be toxic but would love to let my squirrels go at it. Can't until at least see if anyone has seen or heard of.

[4skwerlz]

I mentioned that my squirrels love pine cones. A friend brought in a bowling ball size pine cone that falls from what is called a Monkey Puzzle tree. It is the size of a bowling ball.:multi I have never seen anything like this.
I googled and it says they harvest its seeds in chile and it they are wonderful. I cannot find where it would be toxic but would love to let my squirrels go at it. Can't until at least see if anyone has seen or heard of.

I haven't heard of anyone feeding it to squirrels, but you know the drill.... :D

1. Find out if humans can eat it;
2. Google the name of plant + "toxic" and see what comes up;
3. Find out if certain parts of the plant might be toxic;
4. Ask TSB :) ;
5. Feed only a teeny, teeny amount at first and watch for a reaction.

[wheezer]

I had a monkey puzzle tree in my yard when I lived in Florida. I loved it because one, it had an animal name:D and two, it was so unusual. But I eventually had to cut it down because I feared neighborhood kids would get injured by it. It has razor sharpe leaves and the cones can kill a person if dropped from high heights and fall on their heads!!

The pine nuts are edible by humans and would be a great food crop if it didn't take so long for the trees to mature:)

We have a grey pine around here that has a similar cone with HUGE pine nuts that my squirrels love!

[Kelly Brady]

That is funny wheezer. This man who brought it in said one fell on top of his van and he showed me the dent it left on a vehicle. You are correct because he said it almost hit his wife in the head. He also showed me the branches. Ouch.
I am fascinated this thing. In my google search it said nuts are wonderful but that it takes 30 to 40 years for one tree to produce. Wow.

Thanks 4S
I figure a lot of the time that if squirrels were meant to eat it in the wild they would if not they know better but I worry about my NR do that have that sense of the wild squirrel?

[4skwerlz]

Thanks 4S
I figure a lot of the time that if squirrels were meant to eat it in the wild they would if not they know better but I worry about my NR do that have that sense of the wild squirrel?

I agree; I think some NRs don't have as good instincts as a wild, plus they missed the training momma squirrel would have given them.