I have two ( Chinese , I think ) chestnut trees in my backyard that I recently actuate into in Indiana .
Its around harvest time and the squirrel are go sick . When I went outside not long ago , I learn a lot of chestnuts that had already been pick . The squirrel must have dropped them on accident . I retrieve this because some descend while I was picking up the others , and I could see squirrel running above me .
Are these safe to wipe out since clear a squirrel ’s paws ( and maybe even mouth , though I did n’t see any bite gull ) have been on them ? If not , will roasting / cooking them make them safe ? .
They were still in the husks when I picked them up , but I project to get them out . I ’m just curious about the others .
Horse chestnuts are quite uncouth in many orbit , with their large , shiny brownish seminal fluid littering the ground in fall . squirrel are often view collect and eating these nuts , so it ’s natural to wonder – can squirrels eat horse chestnuts safely ?
An Overview of Horse Chestnuts
The horse chestnut ( Aesculus hippocastanum ) is a large deciduous tree native to the Balkan Peninsula It is common in park , gardens , and along street in temperate climates worldwide The tree grow tumid , horse chestnut - like come that are contained in a spiny unripe husk . When the husk splits clear in fall , the shiny brown bollock is display .
Equus caballus chestnuts are not the same as edible sugared chestnut . While sweet chestnut seeds are an comestible addict , horse chestnuts are mildly toxic to humans and can not be eaten raw . They contain alkaloid saponins , such as aesculin , as well as glucoside . When eat raw , these compound can cause digestive issues , brawn earth tremor , and paralysis .
However , horse chestnuts have been used historically as a source of amylum once the toxins are removed through processing . Native Americans would drench and boil the nut repeatedly to leach out the toxin , leaving behind an edible starch . The nut can also be work on to extract aescin , a chemical compound with anti - inflammatory effects .
Are Horse Chestnuts Toxic to Squirrels?
While horse chestnuts contain toxins that make them dangerous for human consumption , squirrel are able to eat horse cavalry chestnuts with no ill personal effects .
Squirrels have evolved resistance to the alkaloid saponins found in knight chestnut . This provide them to consume the in the raw nuts safely . In fact , squirrels readily look for out and eat fallen horse chestnuts in autumn .
Grey and dodger squirrel are oft observed eat up horse cavalry chestnuts for caching . They return to stab up and eat these crank throughout fall and winter . Consuming gymnastic horse chestnuts provides squirrel with food to help them flesh out up for winter .
In gain to the seeds , squirrels may feed other parts of the horse chestnut tree Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree such as the flowers , bud , and twigs . While the bark , leave of absence , and twig contain the toxic compound aesculin , squirrels seem capable to eat up these tree parts without consequence .
So in brusk , yes , squirrel can safely eat horse chestnuts due to their natural resistance to the alkaloid toxin .
Benefits of Horse Chestnuts for Squirrels
knight chestnuts provide some important nutritionary and survival benefits for squirrels :
high-pitched in carbohydrates – Horse chestnuts are very buckram , providing squirrels with an splendid source of saccharide for vim .
fat in vitamin B-complex vitamin – Horse chestnut contain meaning sum of antiberiberi factor ( vitamin B1 ) , which help squirrels metabolize carbohydrates .
High in protein – compare to many nuts , horse chestnuts have a comparatively gamey protein capacity .
Source of winter food – Horse chestnuts extend squirrels ’ food supplying into late fall and winter after other natural foods become scarce .
Aid pre - hibernation fattening – Eating sawbuck chestnuts helps squirrels put on juicy reserves to survive wintertime hibernation .
Contain antioxidant – chemical compound like flavonoids and tannin roleplay as antioxidant to reduce squirrel ’ oxidative stress .
So knight chestnuts are not just an emergency intellectual nourishment source , but provide genuine nutritional benefit to squirrels . Their immunity to the toxins allows them to take advantage of this freehanded fall food .
Risks of Horse Chestnuts for Other Animals
While squirrels have an congenital tolerance to the compounds in horse chestnuts , they can pose risk to other animals if consumed .
Horses – Horse chestnuts are called such for a intellect – they can be quite toxic and even living - jeopardize to horses if eaten . All parts of the tree contain the toxin esculin .
dog – Dogs can lose soft to hard poisoning if they consume horse chestnuts . symptom may admit vomiting , diarrhea , failing , and even palsy in dangerous case .
Cattle – kine tend to avoid eat knight chestnut , but poisoning can occur if cattle are feed in branches or leave as fodder .
hog – Pigs refuse to eat raw sawbuck chestnut tree and do not appear vulnerable to their toxins .
cervid – Like squirrel , cervid also seek out and exhaust fallen horse chestnut with no ill effects . However , cervid have also died after eat buds , shoot and leaves from the horse chestnut tree diagram .
Overall , it is clear that squirrel have co - evolved with Equus caballus chestnut trees , developing underground to the alkaloid chemical compound that can sicken other animate being . This allow squirrels to enjoy the bountifulness of buck chestnut as a good part of their autumn diet .
Do squirrels eat horse chestnuts?
FAQ
Are horse chestnuts safe for squirrels ?
What animal eat horse chestnuts ?
Can you do anything with horse cavalry chestnut tree ?
Why ca n’t you consume horse chestnuts ?
Yes , squirrels rust gymnastic horse chestnut tree . It ’s that time of year again when the squirrels come out to roleplay and one of their preferred game is gathering and eating horse chestnut . Some people may be surprised that squirrels eat buck chestnuts , but they are a vital part of their dieting in certain area .
Are horse cavalry chestnut vicious to squirrel ?
While squirrels are cognise for their making love of nuts , horse chestnuts are toxic to them . These nuts turn back a chemical called aesculin , which can cause digestive issues , dizziness , and even palsy in squirrels . Therefore , it is important to keep horse chestnuts away from squirrel to ensure their well - being and prophylactic .
Can squirrels corrode nut ?
There is no vegetable that a squirrel can not or will not eat ! Squirrels go nuts over freak , which are a good origin of fat and protein for them . They can rust walnut tree , pecans , hazelnut tree , pistachios , cashews , hickory egg , pine nuts , macadamia freak , and even almond and acorns . They can also eat chestnuts – just verify they are not buck chestnuts !
How do squirrels get chestnuts ?
Squirrels utilize their front paws to grip the chestnuts and their abrupt teeth to crack them open . They have a alone method acting of extract the seed from the shield , using their dextrous paws to separate the seminal fluid from the outer stalk . They take over this process until they have gather a sufficient amount of horse cavalry chestnut tree . See also Are Giraffes horse ?
How do squirrels computer storage buck chestnut ?
After pick up the horse chestnuts , squirrels put in them in various locations to ensure a steady food supply during the wintertime . They use their sharp claws to dig pocket-sized hole in the ground , which are do it as cache . These stash serve as hidden storage for the nuts . squirrel are highly intelligent creatures and have an impressive retention .
What insects eat horse cavalry chestnut leave ?
Various beetle such as the buprestid , longhorn mallet , and leaf - mining weevil feast on cavalry chestnut leaves . sawhorse chestnut are also an important food for several species of tent flap larvae , including the insects that squirrels run through and insect larvae found in soil .
