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Thread: frozen acorns kill squirrels

  1. #1
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    Default frozen acorns kill squirrels

    Unikorngirl from Squirrel Nation fed some almost ready for release squirrels some frozen acorns she had. Within 48 hours, 6 of her squirrels were dead. She broke up 4 acorns and found some type of mold growing in 2 of them.

    I bring this up not as recrimination since Unikorngirl is as dedicated to and loving of squirrels as anyone but rather as a warning for all to keep in mind. Six healthy, happy babies dead in a manner of hours. What a tragic and sad accident.
    See my wild squirrel adventures in the thread "Squirtle's yard!":
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  2. 2 TSBers pass along the fuzzy thanks to TubeDriver:

    Diggie's Friend (12-27-2023), squirrelgirl30 (05-06-2017)

  3. #2
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    How terribly sad. We have always been told to freeze nuts,
    but this has nothing to do with freezing them, right?
    Do you know if she put them in water first to check if they sink or float.
    How tragic, this is just heartbreaking!

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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    Thank-you TD. You letting us know this may save one of our babies and it gave me the chance to give my sympathies to Uni. As I said to her, though we may not have always agreed, all of us can empathize with this terrible tragedy.
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    How awful. Please give Uni my deepest, deepest sympathy.

    It is possible that we should begin slicing frozen acorns the same way we slice frozen chestnuts, to ensure that they have not molded inside.

    Losing pre-release or just-released babies this way is a tragedy that no rehabber will ever forget; all one's successes and joys are forever diminished by this one sadness. I once lost five at once to mycotoxins in their nest box; I feel Uni's pain so much...
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  6. Serious fuzzy thank you's to island rehabber from:

    squirrelgirl30 (05-06-2017)

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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    Such incredibly sad news, I'm so, so sorry

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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    Quote Originally Posted by Nancy in New York View Post
    How terribly sad. We have always been told to freeze nuts,
    but this has nothing to do with freezing them, right?
    Do you know if she put them in water first to check if they sink or float.
    How tragic, this is just heartbreaking!
    Unikorngirl did freeze the acorns. They were fairly old (almost a year?) but had been frozen the whole time. I dont know if she tested them in water.

    This mold killed them in hours, it must be very toxic and deadly.
    See my wild squirrel adventures in the thread "Squirtle's yard!":
    https://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/...quirtle-s-Yard!

    Loving dad to Sir Max, 2017-2018. There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world.

    "Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right."
    -Grateful Dead

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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    Uni is very glad that this was shared here. She just hopes that sharing it prevents anyone else from ever having this terrible tragedy happen to their loved littles. I told her she has many prayers from TSB tonight.
    Squirrels, squirrels and more squirrels....
    Prayers for the people who make this a better world...
    savesquirrels@sbcglobal.net



  10. Serious fuzzy thank you's to SammysMom from:

    squirrelgirl30 (05-06-2017)

  11. #8
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    Quote Originally Posted by SammysMom View Post
    Uni is very glad that this was shared here. She just hopes that sharing it prevents anyone else from ever having this terrible tragedy happen to their loved littles. I told her she has many prayers from TSB tonight.

    Uni is still a member here!
    I'm glad that somebody shared this information.
    Did we share this with the rest of the board?
    I would like to think when we are saving squirrels lives
    anything we find out here could and would be shared on the other board as
    well.
    And I for one would really appreciate anything there be shared here too!
    Thank You Tube Driver.
    Now lets alert the board, shall we?

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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    OMG! It never occurred to me that this was Triage! It should definitely be on the open board. Good catch Nancy!
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  13. #10
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    Oh my God , no, this is horrible, poor Uni.... poor Uni's baby's .... I know how much she loves them all...

    I've fed frozen acorns and never had this happen.... I'm.. just at a loss.... this is tragic

  14. #11
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    Do you think it would be okay to move this thread into the open in its entirety? If so, where to?
    Squirrels, squirrels and more squirrels....
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  15. #12
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    I would put it in Emergency, and then stick the thread.
    Island Rehabber
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    "Ancora Imparo" (I am still learning)
    Michelangelo


    *
    If you can't afford the vet,
    You can't afford a pet.
    NEGLECT IS ABUSE.

    "Better one day in the trees, than a lifetime in a cage."

    '...and the greatest of these, is Love. '

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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    OMG!!! I feed frozen acorns all the time. I will definitely be cutting them open from now on.

    This is so sad. So sorry this happened


    What about other nuts that have been frozen? Do we need to check all nuts?
    What about black walnuts or hickory nuts? you know sometimes how they are all dired up inside? Could this hurt the squirrels? Do I need to crack all nuts before giving them?
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  17. #14
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    There is a name for the Disease that a bad nut has...but I can't remember it right now ....I was always very leery to give CC any acorns because of it
    Charley Chuckles gone from my arms FOREVER in my heart 8/14/04-3/7/13
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  18. #15
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    Wow. This is just so terrible! Poor Uni...she must be absolutely beside herself! I will pray for comfort and peace for her. This kind of thing just makes me wonder though... How would a wild know which are safe to eat? If they can't tell, then wouldn't we have crazy unexplained deaths occurring fairly regularly? And if they can, why do they eat the bad ones in captivity? I am surrounded by oak trees. My local squirrels eat jillions of them. Geez...I am going to start worrying about them eating acorns in my yard... RIP little squirrelies. No question in my mind that in Uni's care, you were surrounded by love.
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  19. #16
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    Still can't remeber what it is called (a rotten nut) but here is a point to ponder....
    Have you ever felt sick after eating nuts that looked and tasted seemingly OK? Chances are that the nuts you ate were contaminated even before signs of spoilage were evident. The health effects of eating rotten nuts can be avoided by practicing good food safety methods. These will not only help to prevent spoilage but will also ensure you to enjoy the protein rich nuts cat all times. Let's do our bit and learn about the food safety of nuts by reading the blog below.






    Causes Of Spoilage

    Mold growth due to improper storage is a big concern.

    Contamination by salmonella bacteria which makes the fatty acids rancid, is also a common cause.


    Health Problems Caused By Rotten Nuts

    If the nuts crack during processing, it can cause seepage of water which results in growth of salmonella bacteria. It causes nausea, vomiting, pain in the abdomen and fever. It can get quite severe in the case of children and the elderly who do not have a very strong immune system.

    Aspergillus mold grows on nuts like peanuts and pistachios. Lung infection, tuberculosis and liver damage can occur by the growth of toxins that this mold produces. It grows best in warm temperatures, so temperature control is an important factor.

    E coli can contaminate pecans on the field, as it is present in impure and feces infested water. Severe diarrhea, vomiting and nausea is the result.


    Tips To Identify Rotten Nuts

    Look for best before dates on the package.

    Chipped and brittle nuts indicate spoilage.

    A foul smell means the fats have turned rancid.

    Visible mold growth shows infestation and is a sure sign of rotting.




    Delicious nuts can be enjoyed by taking a little care. Practicing food safety certainly has its benefits. Don't you agree?

    Read more at http://www.ifood.tv/blog/health-effe...eL6zG8lBYC0.99
    Charley Chuckles gone from my arms FOREVER in my heart 8/14/04-3/7/13
    Simon, our time was too short together, but you gave us so much love, be with CC now 3/7/14


    The "CHARLEY CHUCKLES MEMORIAL RAIL TOUR" leaves the station choo chooo
    *Deland,FL. *Washington DC *Boston (Back Bay) *Boston (North Station) *Wells,Maine *Albany,NY *New York (Penn Station) *Back to Deland FL. "July 1- July 22" 2013

    http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...RIAL-RAIL-TOUR Check it out here
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    I'm not poof reading any of this

  20. #17
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    Is it mycotoxins Abby?
    Squirrels, squirrels and more squirrels....
    Prayers for the people who make this a better world...
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  21. #18
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    Quote Originally Posted by SammysMom View Post
    Is it mycotoxins Abby?
    Sorry that doesn't ring a bell. it like starts with a "F" but with my mind that could easily be a "C"
    Charley Chuckles gone from my arms FOREVER in my heart 8/14/04-3/7/13
    Simon, our time was too short together, but you gave us so much love, be with CC now 3/7/14


    The "CHARLEY CHUCKLES MEMORIAL RAIL TOUR" leaves the station choo chooo
    *Deland,FL. *Washington DC *Boston (Back Bay) *Boston (North Station) *Wells,Maine *Albany,NY *New York (Penn Station) *Back to Deland FL. "July 1- July 22" 2013

    http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...RIAL-RAIL-TOUR Check it out here
    http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...OW-A-NEW-MOMMY!!!!!
    http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...RAINBOW-BRIDGE
    http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...e-called-Simon
    charleychuckles1@gmail.com

    I'm not poof reading any of this

  22. #19
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    I have bags of frozen acorns from last year ...I put them out for the wilds and give them to Baby, Nougie and Sweet P ....if you cut them in two and they are ok ...use them? Or should I just toss them out? Uni must be devastated Uni
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  23. #20
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    Default Re: frozen acorns kill squirrels

    OK this is not the word, but rancid is as close as I can get to it right now
    Charley Chuckles gone from my arms FOREVER in my heart 8/14/04-3/7/13
    Simon, our time was too short together, but you gave us so much love, be with CC now 3/7/14


    The "CHARLEY CHUCKLES MEMORIAL RAIL TOUR" leaves the station choo chooo
    *Deland,FL. *Washington DC *Boston (Back Bay) *Boston (North Station) *Wells,Maine *Albany,NY *New York (Penn Station) *Back to Deland FL. "July 1- July 22" 2013

    http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...RIAL-RAIL-TOUR Check it out here
    http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...OW-A-NEW-MOMMY!!!!!
    http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...RAINBOW-BRIDGE
    http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/s...e-called-Simon
    charleychuckles1@gmail.com

    I'm not poof reading any of this

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