Diggie's Bites - collection of database sources on food

[Diggie's Friend]

In the wild gray and fox squirrels most heavily rely upon nuts, tree pod seeds, fungi, tree buds and the inner layer of bark from specific food trees for their diets, which provide them high amounts of plant protein. Animal protein sources, that they are known to also consume, are relied upon to a far lesser extent; these include: insects, insect larva, carrion, bird eggs, and most rarely birds. In captivity, ground grains, including corn, are used primarily for reason that they are lower in fat than tree grains for captive care diets; yet they are higher in carbs proportionally that the natural grain sources in the tree squirrel wild diet. Using a high amount of animal protein in the diet can work for rehabbing, but isn't an optimal main source of protein to use for use in NR diets. Hulled Oats (no bran) are a good secondary source in place of wheat.

[Diggie's Friend]

FDA Database:

List and names of various leafy greens found to not supply calcium in rats; a must read.

https://www.cfsanappsexternal.fda.go...l.cfm?id=15228

Since the referenced research journal was published, that shows that vegetatables then tested at this time were found to have positive Calcium to oxalate acid ratios; this is of relavence because when the level of oxalic acid that bonds readily with calcium carbonate found in vegetation sources noted in Kohmans 1939 research study, still provided calcium to rats. Yet since this time our cultivate soils have dropped and oxalic acid levels have risen as a result of various changes in farming practices, includingn the use of nitrogen based fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide use, and GMO that were since introduced to farming. As a result, most of the vegetation sources listed in the Kohman study then tested in 1930, no longer have a positive Calcum to oxalic acid ratio. And though they are not a hazard to health as those noted in the list above, they all the same no longer provide calcium for the most part to the body of rodents, even so they are higher in calcium than phosphorus. This confirmed in many research studies in both these vegetables sources since the tiem of Kohman's research was done.

http://www.guinealynx.info/diet_oxalic.html

[Diggie's Friend]

Save for organic produced with no pesticides or fungicides, all USDA grade nuts are required to be fumigated with pesticides and fungicides to kill the nut worms and their eggs and fungus.

Specific fumigants effect charts:

Specific effects of pesticides and fungicides. To view the next chart, click on the forwards arrow.

Considering the toxic effects of pesticides and fungicides; unfumigated organic produced shelled nuts are the safest sources to include in the diet of both wild and captive tree squirrels.

Trader Joe's offers organic English Walnut pieces that are lower in price than the halves.