Do you have a pet chipmunk? Or maybe you’re trying to encourage some wild chipmunks into your garden? In either instance, one question you may have asked yourself at some point is “Can chipmunks eat peanuts?”
The answer to this question is yes. In fact, they can eat almost anything. They are omnivores and their diet consists of insects, fruits, nuts, seeds, vegetables, and meat.
Below, we’ll take a deeper look at feeding peanuts to a chipmunk. We’ll explore the benefits and we’ll talk about the safest way to give a chipmunk peanuts. We’ll also look at how to attract these cute little critters into your backyard using peanuts as their reward!
The Nutritional Benefits of Feeding Peanuts to a Chipmunk
Let’s start by talking about the nutritional benefits that chipmunks get from eating peanuts.
First of all, peanuts are an excellent source of protein. In fact, each tiny peanut packs a real protein-packed punch despite its small size. A 3-ounce serving contains around 10 grams of protein. This makes it a great addition to any healthy diet, fuelling and feeding the muscles and giving a chipmunk the energy needed to get through the day.
Peanut butter also contains healthy, natural fats that have been shown to be beneficial for heart health. It’s high in monounsaturated fats which help lower cholesterol levels. As such, it’s great for keeping a chipmunk’s heart beating strong and healthily.
Peanuts are a great source of fiber, too. This means that eating peanuts can help keep a chipmunk’s digestive system healthy by promoting regular bowel movements. This also reduces the risk of intestinal issues.
As well as all of the benefits mentioned above, peanuts are also rich in several vitamins and minerals. These include:
- Vitamin B6
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Copper
- Manganese
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Selenium
How to Give Chips to a Chipmunk Safely
Now let’s move on to discussing the safe ways to feed chips to a chipmunk safely. When it comes to feeding peanuts to a chipmunk, there are three main ways to do so.
Whole Peanuts
The first way is to give them whole peanuts. This is also the easiest way to feed peanuts to a chipmunk. Simply place the peanuts in a container or bowl that has holes in the bottom. This will allow for drainage, which is incredibly important as wet peanuts can start to grow mold. Then place the container somewhere where the chipmunk can reach it easily. This will allow them to grab the peanuts whenever they want them.
Peanut Mixes
You can also buy pre-packaged peanut mixes for chipmunks. For example, there are nut mixes, seed mixes, and even fruit mixes. It is important, however, that if you choose this option you make sure that the mix is made specifically for chipmunks. There are different kinds of mixes designed for human consumption that may not be suitable for chipmunks.
Peanut Butter
Another way of feeding your chipmunk peanuts is to give them a dollop of peanut butter. That’s right – chipmunks can eat peanut butter! You can even slather a slice of apple or celery with some peanut butter as an extra special treat.
How Many Peanuts is it Safe to Feed a Chipmunk
If you’re wondering how many peanuts it’s okay to give a chipmunk, then here’s what you need to know. The USDA recommends that humans should only consume a small number of peanuts every seven days. However, when it comes to feeding peanuts directly to a chipmunk it’s fine to give them a few peanuts up to four times per week.
That said, it’s important not to overdo it. Feeding too many peanuts to a chipmunk could result in rapid weight gain which, ultimately, will impact their quality of life.
How to Encourage Chipmunks into Your Garden Using Peanuts
So now that we’ve covered how to feed peanuts to a chipmunk safely, let’s talk about how to encourage chipmunks into your garden using peanuts.
There are two ways to go about doing this. First, you can plant peanut plants in your garden. If you live in a cold climate, you’ll probably want to wait until springtime before planting peanuts. Once spring arrives, you can simply sow the seeds in the ground. If you live in warmer climates, you can plant the seeds in pots during the winter months.
Once the seeds have germinated, you can either transplant them into the ground or leave them in the pots. Either way, you’ll want to water the plants regularly. As soon as the plants begin to sprout leaves, you can remove the pots and plant them in the ground.
As soon as the peanuts start to form, you should find a flurry of hungry chipmunks visiting your garden!
As mentioned above, you can also purchase peanut mixes for chipmunks. These mixes come in various sizes and shapes. They usually include a variety of nuts such as almonds, pecans, walnuts, and more. Some mixes even contain fruits like apples and pears.
The best thing about these mixes is that they provide an excellent source of nutrition for wild chipmunks that they may not be able to find when foraging in their natural habitats. This is especially true as winter approaches and the need to start filling their underground food stores becomes urgent.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has helped answer any questions as to whether or not chipmunks can eat peanuts. You should now also know how to feed peanuts to chipmunks safely and how to encourage them into your garden.
Just remember, as with all types of food that chipmunks can eat, peanuts should be fed in moderation. Give them a few peanuts up to four times a week and you’ll have a happy, healthy chipmunk!
