Exotic Fruit?

[Nikkixxx]

Hi! I have a bunch of Jackfruit I got on a trip and am having trouble with google telling me if they can have some or not? I have fruit scraps and also the seeds. Humans can eat the seeds once cooked but I can’t find much info on squirrels. I see the ones native to where the fruit grows will eat the fruit and I found a squirrel guy’s youtube video where he gives them the fruit and the seeds but again, they look like squirrels native to that region. They have stripes. Are all squirrels the same? If they can eat it can Gray squirrels and chipmunks here eat it? Or does it not work that way? Asking about wilds, not domesticated.

[Diggie's Friend]

The main reason the Giant Asian tree squirrels favor the Jack fruit is for its large seeds that contribute phosphorus to the diet. The lack of data alone would discount this source to be added to the N.A. tree squirrel diet on that account alone. Another reason to consider, is that when it comes to fruits native to N.A. do not included high amounts of latex compounds.

This article mentions that in the analysis of Jack Fruit, a number of volatile compounds were found.
Since as you say there is little data on it, when it doubt....!

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S092552140600041X

[Diggie's Friend]

Though latex protein may be something that Asian squirrels are adapted to; as this Abstract (introduction only) to a study done on latex protein allergy in mice explains, it resulted in negatively impacting the health of the lungs. This by itself, doesn't engender confidence that this fruit is a safe choice to feed to N.A. tree squirrels, let alone to mice!

https://karger.com/iaa/article-abstract/103/4/370/163084/Latex-Antigens-Induce-IgE-and-Eosinophils-in-Mice?redirectedFrom=fulltext

[Charley Chuckles]

I've always gone by this when introducing a new food but being unsure 🤔
"WHEN IN DOUBT GO WITHOUT"

[Nikkixxx]

Though latex protein may be something that Asian squirrels are adapted to; as this Abstract (introduction only) to a study done on latex protein allergy in mice explains, it resulted in negatively impacting the health of the lungs. This by itself, doesn't engender confidence that this fruit is a safe choice to feed to N.A. tree squirrels, let alone to mice!

https://karger.com/iaa/article-abstract/103/4/370/163084/Latex-Antigens-Induce-IgE-and-Eosinophils-in-Mice?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Thank you so much for the info! Took me ages to find very little useful bits here and there so I’m sure that took you a bit of time to do as well. I appreciate the help! I probably would not have given it to them in the end out of an abundance of caution but this makes me feel better about tossing it knowing I’m not tossing perfectly good squirrel food or anything. The squirrel facebook group was curious what I found on it so I’ll pass that info along and add it to my reddit post as well for anyone trying to look it up in the future. Will make things easier for them. Thanks again!

[mmikos]

Though latex protein may be something that Asian squirrels are adapted to; as this Abstract (introduction only) to a study done on latex protein allergy in mice explains, it resulted in negatively impacting the health of the lungs. This by itself, doesn't engender confidence that this fruit is a safe choice to feed to N.A. tree squirrels, let alone to mice!

https://karger.com/iaa/article-abstract/103/4/370/163084/Latex-Antigens-Induce-IgE-and-Eosinophils-in-Mice?redirectedFrom=fulltext spacebar clicker (https://spacebar-clicker.net/)

Abstract from a study on latex protein allergy in mice indicates that, although Asian squirrels may be adapted to latex protein, it had a negative impact on lung health.