The common sight of a squirrel burying a nut often leads people to believe that providing any kind of nut is a healthy gesture for backyard wildlife. This assumption has made almonds a popular offering, as they are a common household snack. It is important to examine whether almonds are truly a safe and beneficial food source for these animals. Understanding the specific nutritional components of almonds compared to a squirrel’s biological needs reveals a complex answer.
Are Almonds Safe to Consume?
Commercially available almonds are generally considered non-toxic to squirrels, provided they are prepared correctly. Any nuts offered must be raw, completely unsalted, and unseasoned to avoid harmful additives like sodium, which squirrels cannot process in large quantities. Salted or flavored varieties can quickly lead to health complications.
A more serious concern involves the distinction between sweet and bitter almonds. The almonds sold for human consumption are sweet almonds, which are safe. Bitter almonds contain a compound called amygdalin, which converts into hydrogen cyanide upon digestion. These bitter varieties must be avoided entirely, as the cyanide content poses a direct toxicity risk.
The Nutritional Drawbacks of Almonds
The primary issue with feeding almonds to squirrels lies in their long-term nutritional profile. While almonds are high in protein and fat, they possess a severely imbalanced ratio of calcium to phosphorus (Ca:P). The ideal ratio for a squirrel’s diet is approximately 2:1, meaning twice as much calcium as phosphorus.
Almonds, like most nuts and seeds, are phosphorus-heavy, with a ratio closer to 1:1.8. This significant imbalance means that the high phosphorus content actively inhibits the absorption of calcium in the squirrel’s digestive system. When a squirrel consumes a diet consistently high in phosphorus and low in calcium, its body attempts to correct the imbalance by drawing calcium reserves directly from its bones.
This chronic depletion of calcium leads to a severe condition known as Metabolic Bone Disease (MBD), which is one of the most common and preventable health problems in squirrels. MBD weakens the skeletal structure, resulting in brittle bones prone to fracture. Symptoms of the disease range from subtle lethargy and a reluctance to climb to more drastic signs like limb paralysis and seizures.
Recommended Foods for Squirrels
Because of the poor Ca:P ratio, almonds and other nuts should never form the foundation of a squirrel’s diet. They are best reserved as an occasional, rare treat, not a primary food source. The focus should instead be on providing foods that offer a better mineral balance to prevent MBD.
Safe alternatives include small amounts of nuts like walnuts and pecans, which are still unbalanced but may be slightly less detrimental than almonds if fed in strict moderation. Far better food options are calcium-rich vegetables such as kale, dandelion greens, and broccoli, which offer a more appropriate nutritional profile. Providing a variety of these foods ensures the animals receive necessary vitamins and minerals without compromising their skeletal health.