Butternuts?

[rottilvr79]

http://www.nativenuts.com/butternuts-in-shell
Found these while I was browsing around looking for nuts to buy. Does anyone know what they are, and if they're good to feed squirrels? What about Buckeyes? They have those also.

[SammysMom]

Butternuts are very similar to black walnuts and are okay to feed. Not sure on the others.

[Rhapsody]

Very Interesting...... :grin2

[FourWands]

Butternuts are so hard to find. (Yes, I did see rottilvr's link.)
They are sometimes called "white walnuts" and are native to the Northeast. Unfortunately, Butternut Canker has killed of a very large percentage of the trees that once covered the forests here. Now, you can occasionally come across one that is a hybrid with the Japanese Heartnut but true butternuts are becoming increasingly rare.

I've been trying to find someone locally who has a canker-free tree with the hopes that I can plant some that might be resistant. The University of Vermont has been actively researching Butternut Canker and looking for those rare trees that seem to be unaffected. Occasionally, in the fall, there are some ads on Ebay for them but most are for just a few nuts for planting. I would absolutely LOVE to plant some in our woods!

[CritterMom]

Buckeyes are horse chestnuts, and while there are people who have seen squirrels eating them, they are technically considered toxic. They are usually sold more for crafting, because they are shiny and beautiful.

[farrelli]

I don't think they are the same:

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5523161_difference-buckeye-nut-horse-chestnut.html

I've long had an interest in Buckeyes and did a bit of research on them some time ago. I grew up with them everywhere, but in Boston there are but a few, and where I want to move, they apparently can't grow - too far north.

In any event, yes, they are a bit toxic and taste horrible. They seen to be eaten by animals in hard times. The Native Americans did similarly but had a cooking process that destroyed the toxin. It would then be made into a flour of some sort.

[rottilvr79]

I remember Buckeyes from when I was a kid running around in the woods. We would pick them up because they were supposed to be good luck. I never thought of eating or feeding them until I saw them for sale on the nut site. I'll just avoid those. LOL I may order some of the butternuts and hickory nuts tho.