What Animals Eat Walnuts

Several animals have different ways of accessing walnuts, whether by climbing trees, using their strong jaws, or foraging on the ground. Walnuts provide essential nutrients and fats, making them an attractive food source for various wildlife species.

Squirrel eating walnut image by pexels.com

These animals may include walnuts as part of their diet:

1. Squirrels: These small rodents are known for their love of nuts, including walnuts. They often collect and store walnuts to eat during the winter months.
2. Raccoons: Omnivorous animals like raccoons are opportunistic feeders and can consume walnuts if they come across them. They have strong jaws capable of cracking open the tough outer shell.
3. Bears: In areas where walnuts grow naturally, bears might forage for them as part of their diet, especially during the fall when these nuts are ripe and readily available. Walnuts provide several nutrients that are beneficial for those animals that hibernate.
4. Birds: Some bird species, like crows and jays, have been observed eating walnuts. They might carry them away or break them open to access the nutmeat inside.
5. Deer: While not a primary part of their diet, deer have been known to consume walnuts when they are easily accessible. In some cases, deer may eat fallen walnuts, especially during times of scarcity when other food sources are limited. Our deer enjoy eating walnuts when offered and may occasionally eat walnut tree foliage.
6. Chipmunks: Chipmunks are similar to squirrels and also have the ability to crack open walnuts to eat the nut inside. They may store the nuts in their burrows or cheek pouches for later consumption.

How Do Wild Animals Crack Open Walnuts?

Wild animals that eat walnuts have different methods of cracking them open to access the nutritious nut inside. 

Squirrels have strong jaws and sharp teeth that allow them to crack open the hard shell of walnuts. They typically hold the walnut between their front paws and use their teeth to apply pressure and break open the shell.

Chipmunks have similar methods to squirrels. They hold the walnut between their front paws and use their teeth to crack open the shell. Chipmunks may also store the nuts in their burrows or cheek pouches for later consumption.

Some bird species, such as crows and jays, are known to eat walnuts. They have beaks that are strong enough to crack open the shell. Birds may either hold the walnut in their beak and peck at it until it cracks or carry the nut to a hard surface and drop it from a height to break it open.

Raccoons are opportunistic feeders and have dexterous paws that allow them to manipulate objects. They may use their front paws to hold the walnut and apply pressure to crack open the shell. Raccoons may also use rocks or other hard surfaces to help break open the nuts.

Bears have strong jaws and teeth that can easily crack open the shells of walnuts. They may use their teeth to apply pressure and break open the shell. Bears may also use their paws to hold the walnut while they crack it open.

Deer may not actively seek walnuts out due to the difficulty in accessing the nutmeat inside the hard shell. But if some walnuts have fallen to the ground and the outer shell has weakened or partially cracked open due to weather or other factors, deer might nibble on the exposed nutmeat and even attempt to crack open the remaining shell.

The abovementioned methods may vary slightly depending on the species and the size of the walnut. Some animals may have adaptations or behaviors specific to cracking open nuts, while others may rely on their general feeding abilities to access the nut inside the shell.