Nuts have always been one of the preferred snacks for many people.

Well, it turns out that not only people are attracted to the incredible varieties of nuts, but animals too! There are many animals that eat nuts out there, and today we will delve a bit deeper into the subject.

So, without further ado, let’s meet some animals that love eating nuts

• Jays
• Squirrels
• Woodpeckers
• Foxes
• Deer
• Chickadees
• Raccoons
• Nuthatches

List of Animals That Eat Nuts

Jays 

Scientific Name: Cyanocitta cristata
Type of Animal: Bird
Diet: Omnivore

We are starting our list of animals that eat nuts with the incredible jays! They are lovely little birds and believe it or not, nuts are one of their favorite food sources. 

If we had to choose, we would say that nuts are by far the best option for foods that they should consume – and the best thing about them is that they love them! 

In case you have been noticing jays in your backyard and want to give them a little snack, reach out for that bag of healthy treats and pick out a few nuts. 

However, be mindful that they should be in their natural state, without adding flavor or coating, and without being roasted.

Squirrels 

Scientific Name: Sciuridae
Type of Animal: Mammal
Diet: Omnivore

Many people assume that squirrels only eat nuts; however, these fluffy creatures are actually omnivores. 

Besides nuts, seeds, and flowers, they eat meat. Such as small animals, insects, and even snakes! 

Still, if they could pick their favorite lunch, they would probably choose nuts every time!

Nuts are part of their regular diet, and they try to grab as much as possible at any given time! The most popular nut with them is the acorn. 

Additionally, squirrels can eat almonds, walnuts, macadamia, pecans, and hazelnuts.

They are also very fond of peanuts – even though they are not technically a nut, they are legumes.

Read Also: Animals That Eat a Lot of Food

Woodpeckers 

Scientific Name: Picidae
Type of Animal: Bird
Diet: Omnivore

These intelligent birds alter their diet to have a greater advantage as the season changes. 

In other words, they are after more nutritious foods which are available at the moment. 

The needs of woodpeckers may vary depending on the specific species. Still, some of the things that they enjoy eating the most include insects, ants, spiders, and grubs.

In addition, woodpeckers eat nuts and seeds and any fruit they can suck the juice out of, such as berries. 

When it comes to nuts, woodpeckers don’t have a preference since they love all of them! They mostly look for nuts, seeds, and fruits in autumn, the best time for a nutritious snack!

Foxes 

Scientific Name: Vulpes
Type of Animal: Mammal
Diet: Omnivore

Foxes are omnivore animals; however, their preferred food includes meat, more precisely, rodents, birds, rabbits, and other smaller animals. 

Since they are opportunistic predators, foxes primarily hunt and eat all kinds of smaller creatures available in their habitat.

Yet, foxes are not limited to meat; they get their nutrients from various types of food. In this entire spectrum of nutrition, one can easily find grains and nuts. 

Suppose you happen to come across a fox and want to leave out some snacks for it. They will go for almost anything – acorns, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts, cashews, brazil nuts, and many more. 

The only thing you should be careful about is the shells – you would need to remove any shells since they are unable to and will most likely damage their teeth.

Deer 

Scientific Name: Cervidae
Type of Animal: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore

The deer has always been thought of as a fascinating and majestic creature. This animal eats grass, in addition to different kinds of crops, and vegetation.

But, if we take a closer look, we will discover that there is so much more to that. Deer are also animals that eat nuts, flowers, fruits, and mushrooms too! 

Some of their favorite nuts include beechnuts, hickory nuts, acorns, and pecans! With or without shells, you name it. Deer adore any type of nuts!

As a matter of fact, nuts are a significant part of their diets during the colder months when there are few leaves they can snack on.

Chickadees 

Scientific Name: Paridae
Type of Animal: Bird
Diet: Omnivore

You can easily spot a chickadee because it has such a distinguished look. The black and white mix ideally and make up for an incredible look! 

In addition, chickadees can also be easily spotted around nuts since they love them so much! They will eat almost any type of seed or nut, especially sunflower seeds, and walnuts. 

So, yes, you have guessed it, foods high in protein and fats are their go-to source of nutrients. 

Next time you notice chickadees flying about and want to leave some food out for them, take a tray on your window and add some crushed walnuts and sunflower seeds. 

If you do so, chickadees will come to you immediately, and perhaps you’ll have a new friend!

Related: What Animals Eat Pumpkins?

Raccoons 

Scientific Name: Procyon lotor
Type of Animal: Mammal
Diet: Omnivore

Nuts so far have been proven to be an excellent addition to the diet of the raccoons. As winter approaches, it is an essential element they rely on heavily. 

In the autumn months, you can frequently spot raccoons looking for their favorite nuts, which include acorns, walnuts, and beechnuts. 

Gathering food is a survival technique for an animal such as the raccoon, so this is why when autumn comes, they make sure to have all kinds of foods that are rich in nutrients. 

In addition, raccoons in their diet may also add seeds and grains.

One fun fact about raccoons is that they also include corn in their diet, but only if they stumble across it (they don’t specifically search for it).

Nuthatches 

Scientific Name: Sitta
Type of Animal: Bird
Diet: Omnivore

If you know a thing or two about nuthatches, you’ll know that they are primarily insectivorous. So, you may wonder, what do they do on a list of animals that eat nuts?

Well, believe it or not, nuthatches are very easily attracted to nuts and seeds, and they also adore peanut butter! 

People have been known to spread a bit of peanut butter on the bark of a tree and give them a little treat. 

You can also try using a tube feeder for seeds and peanuts or just leave some shelled peanuts around. Since they love them, they will right away come around. 

The winter months are the toughest for them, so if you want to help them out, you can do that in any of the colder months.

Conclusion

And there you have it, with this, we conclude our article on nuts-eating animals.

Examples of animals that eat nuts include deer, squirrels, raccoons, chickadees, foxes, jays, woodpeckers, and nuthatches, among others.

If you want to befriend some of these creatures, offer them some nuts in your yard, and after a few occasions, you may gain their trust!

Thank you for reading. If you liked this article, here’s another recommended article on animal diet: What Type of Animals Eat Bamboo?

Further Reading:

https://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-birds/feeding-birds/what-foods-do-blue-jays-eat/

https://extension.umn.edu/my-minnesota-woods/how-identify-deer-browse-woods

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2019/08/what-foxes-eat/

https://www.thespruce.com/what-do-woodpeckers-eat-386554

https://animals.mom.com/kinds-nuts-squirrels-eat-10580.html

https://morebirds.com/blogs/news/how-to-attract-nuthatches

https://www.wideopenpets.com/what-food-do-raccoons-eat/

https://a-z-animals.com/blog/what-do-chickadees-eat/