That Handful Of Peanuts Could Be Hurting Local Squirrels

While tossing a handful of peanuts to the squirrels in your yard may feel like a harmless act of kindness, wildlife experts say it can actually cause serious and sometimes fatal health problems.

Urban Wildlife Rehabilitation Inc., a nonprofit that treats injured and orphaned wildlife, is warning the public that peanuts are one of the worst foods squirrels can regularly consume.

Why Peanuts Are Not Actually Nuts

Contrary to what you may think, peanuts are not nuts at all. Botanically speaking, peanuts are legumes that grow underground, not tree nuts. While squirrels love them, peanuts lack the nutritional balance squirrels need to stay healthy.

How Calcium Imbalance Leads To Metabolic Bone Disease

The biggest danger comes from an imbalance of calcium and phosphorus. Peanuts are very high in phosphorus and very low in calcium. When squirrels consume too much phosphorus without enough calcium, their bodies pull calcium from their bones to keep blood chemistry stable. Over time, this leads to a painful condition called Metabolic Bone Disease, or MBD.

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Signs Of Metabolic Bone Disease In Squirrels

MBD causes bones to become weak, brittle, and prone to fractures. Squirrels suffering from the disease may develop bowed legs, spinal deformities, or paralysis. Other signs of the disease include hair loss, patchy or dull fur, lethargy, and difficulty moving. If left untreated, the condition often leads to severe pain and death for the animal.

Read More: Is It Legal to Keep a Squirrel as a Pet in Indiana?

Why Peanuts Act Like Junk Food For Wildlife

Peanuts are also essentially empty calories for squirrels. Like junk food for humans, peanuts are easy, high in fat, and filling, which means squirrels will seek them out instead of foraging for nutritionally balanced foods. This can quickly turn into dependency and worsen the risk of disease.

What To Feed Squirrels Instead Of Peanuts

Urban Wildlife Rehabilitation Inc. says the safest option is to let squirrels forage naturally. Their wild diet includes tree nuts, seeds, fungi, and insects. If you do choose to feed squirrels, offer unsalted tree nuts such as acorns, walnuts, hazelnuts, or pecans, preferably in the shell. Small amounts of fruits, vegetables, or specially formulated squirrel food blocks are also appropriate.

Wildlife rehabilitators all agree. What feels kind to us is not always kind to wildlife. Feeding peanuts to squirrels may be doing them far more harm than good.