Stop Giving Squirrels Peanuts: Protecting Your Home and Health from Allergen Contamination
When it comes to managing allergies, especially food allergies like peanuts, wheat, corn, and tree nuts, it can feel like an uphill battle—especially when the very air around you can be a potential threat. As someone living with a life-threatening peanut allergy, one of the most unexpected and troublesome sources of contamination comes from a rather unlikely and cute culprit: squirrels. And it’s not their fault, it’s just from what people are feeding them.
Many people feed squirrels peanuts or put birdseed that contains peanuts in their yards. While this might be harmless to many, it’s an issue that can have serious consequences for those of us with life-threatening allergies. And as I discuss more below, peanuts and corn aren’t beneficial for the squirrel’s health, either.
In fact, Dr. Zachary Rubin just posted a video on this exact topic and how one of his patients had an allergic reaction from cross-contact related to people feeding squirrels peanuts:
Over the years, I’ve endlessly encountered peanuts scattered around my front and back yard, on sidewalks, porches, and even planted by squirrels in my garden. While I can’t control the behavior of others across the board, there are still steps I can take to minimize the risk and educate my neighbors about the dangers and hazards of feeding squirrels peanuts.
The Hidden Danger of Peanuts in Your Yard
One of the more subtle ways that squirrels spread peanuts—and in turn, peanut allergens—is through their foraging behavior. They love to hide food, including peanuts, in various places around your property, such as garden beds, porches, and hanging planters. Since I often come into contact with these places, I have to remain cautious at all times. Plus, peanuts that fall to the ground can easily get tracked around and inside my house and car, putting me at risk, which I talk about in-depth in my how to keep your home allergen-free article.
It’s an ongoing issue, and one that’s exacerbated by the well-meaning people in the neighborhood who continue feeding the squirrels and birds peanuts. Truth is, many people don’t realize that this seemingly innocent act could be putting someone’s health in jeopardy. Which is fair, as if no one around has an allergy to these ingredients, it’s not a concern. But with 1 in 10 adults having a food allergy, and 1 in 13 children, it’s something to be aware of.
There are many articles online dedicated to how peanuts, though commonly used, are actually not nutritionally beneficial to squirrels. Shelled tree nuts are really the best things to feed squirrels, (if safe for your allergies and people around you) and acorns! I’ve actually collected acorns before in parks and around my area, and then given them to squirrels, even!
Taking Action: Educating Your Neighbors
One of the most proactive steps I’ve taken re: birdseed and feeding squirrels is to educate my neighbors about the potential dangers of cross-contact due to my food allergy. I’ve printed letters explaining that I live with a life-threatening peanut allergy and kindly asked them to consider feeding wildlife with alternative products, like sunflower seeds or safe birdseed such as Wallis Johns Peanut and Tree Nut Free Bird Seed. Here’s an example of the letter I distribute:
“Hello, I live nearby in the neighborhood and have a life-threatening peanut allergy. I’ve come across peanuts in our yard, and on sidewalks during our walks, from bird feeders or people feeding squirrels. If you don’t mind, please feed the birds and animals something else other than peanuts such as sunflower seeds. I would greatly appreciate it for my own safety. Thank you!”
It’s not always easy, and I can’t control how people respond. But by sharing the facts and making a simple request, I hope to raise awareness and create a safer environment for myself and others who might be impacted by peanut allergens. However, it’s important to understand that not everyone will listen, and that’s something we are used to accepting in the allergy community. If certain neighbors continue feeding squirrels peanuts despite the request, my only option is to stay vigilant and take precautions.
Practical Steps You Can Take to Protect Yourself
If you, too, are concerned about allergens from squirrels, whether near your home or just out and about, there are several things you can do:
- Wipe Your Shoes: It may seem like a small thing, but wiping your shoes before entering your home can help minimize the risk of tracking in allergens. I have mats by both my front and back doors, and I use them each time I enter my home. It’s a simple but effective measure to help reduce the presence of peanuts inside.
- Inspect Your Outdoor Spaces: Regularly check your garden, yard, and outdoor planters for peanuts that may have been left behind or hidden by squirrels. By staying vigilant and actively removing peanuts, you can minimize the risk of accidental exposure. Wearing gloves while doing this can be helpful, or asking someone else to remove your allergens for you if you do find them, can be key.
- Keep Your Home Allergen-Free: In addition to dealing with outdoor contamination, it’s essential to keep your home and car as allergen-free as possible. Regularly clean and sanitize commonly touched surfaces, especially those that may come into contact with common allergens. You can also look into HEPA air purifiers to use at home, in addition to replacing your filters in your home HVAC unit regularly.
- Linking to Safe Birdseed Choices: If you’re a bird lover, you might also be concerned about the types of birdseed that can doubly attract and feed squirrels. Just like peanuts, some birdseeds can contain common allergens and often actual peanuts or traces of peanuts, which can pose a risk. Check out my Guide to Allergy-Safe Bird Feeders and Bird Seed to find bird-friendly options that don’t put anyone at risk of exposure.
- Because I’m such a fan of their products, I asked for a code to give 10% off your entire birdseed order: just use the code “INVISIBLYALLERGIC” for 10% off or follow this link:
wallisjohns.com/INVISIBLYALLERGIC
- Because I’m such a fan of their products, I asked for a code to give 10% off your entire birdseed order: just use the code “INVISIBLYALLERGIC” for 10% off or follow this link:
A Word of Caution
While educating your neighbors and taking practical steps to protect your home are important, the reality is that some things are out of your control. Squirrels will continue to forage, and unfortunately, some people will keep feeding them peanuts despite requests to stop. It’s all about managing the risk as best as possible. Plus, there will be outdoor environments such as parks and playgrounds, and people’s homes or daycares where you may need to continue to be cautious even if your house feels fairly safe from the risk.
Whether it’s being cautious of peanuts and your food allergens on sidewalks or checking your garden for allergens planted by squirrels, keeping a watchful eye (as we likely already do!) on your environment can make all the difference in preventing accidental exposures. If you have a pet, this topic can be relevant as they may be eating off sidewalks, and also getting contaminated and bringing the ingredients into your home.
If you’re struggling with outdoor allergens, I encourage you to reach out to your neighbors and politely educate them about the risks. And as always, check out my article on making your home allergen-free for more tips on creating a safe environment for those with food allergies.
Conclusion
The simple act of feeding squirrels peanuts may seem harmless, but for those of us with food allergies, it can be a matter of life and death. By educating those around you about being aware of common allergens they’re providing to wildlife, taking steps to keep your yard and home safe, and pointing out situations you come across where you can raise allergy awareness and educate others to prevent cross-contact, you can significantly reduce the risk of someone having an exposure. Remember, it’s important to advocate for your own safety and needs. We’re in this together!
Stay safe, and always be mindful of the allergens that may be unexpecdedly lurking in your environment.
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