The Best Nuts for Squirrels: Why Pecans Are the Perfect Backyard Snack

If you’ve ever watched a squirrel carry off a pecan, you already know one thing — they know a good nut when they find one.

Around San Saba, we see it every fall. As soon as pecans begin dropping from the trees, the backyard critters seem to appear out of nowhere. They bury them, stash them, fight over them, and somehow always remember where they hid at least a few.

At Millican Pecan Company, people often ask:

• What are the best nuts for squirrels?

• Do squirrels like pecans?

• What should I feed squirrels in winter?

• Can squirrels eat walnuts or almonds?

The short answer?
They’ll eat a lot of different things — but pecans are one of the very best choices.

Why Squirrels Naturally Prefer Pecans

Pecans check almost every box when it comes to ideal squirrel food.

They’re:

• high in healthy fats

• rich in calories

• naturally found throughout much of the South

• easy to store for winter

• packed with nutrients

Unlike heavily processed snacks or salty peanuts, pecans are part of what many squirrels naturally evolved eating in native environments.

That’s one reason they seem to instinctively seek them out.

If you’ve got a pecan tree nearby, you already know how determined they become during harvest season.

Why Pecans Are Better Than Most Other Nuts

There are plenty of nuts squirrels can eat. But not all of them are equally beneficial.

Pecans

Pecans are one of the best overall choices because they provide:

• long-lasting energy

• healthy oils

• natural nutrition

• easy winter storage

Raw, unsalted pecans are about as close to a perfect squirrel snack as you can get.

Native pecans especially have been feeding wildlife across Texas river bottoms and orchards for generations.

Walnuts

Can squirrels eat walnuts?

Yes.

Walnuts are decent nutritionally and squirrels certainly enjoy them, but they tend to be harder, more bitter, and less naturally available in many southern regions compared to pecans.

They’re fine occasionally, but if given the option between fresh pecans and walnuts, most backyard visitors won’t hesitate very long.

Almonds

Can squirrels eat almonds?

Technically yes — but almonds are more of an occasional treat.

Raw almonds are safer than flavored or roasted varieties, but they’re not nearly as natural to a squirrel’s diet as pecans. They also don’t provide the same balance of oils and nutrients found in fresh tree nuts native to the South.

If you’re feeding wildlife regularly, pecans are a much better long-term option.

Cashews

Cashews are one of those foods squirrels will happily eat if offered… but that doesn’t necessarily make them ideal.

They’re softer, higher in fat, and far more processed by the time they reach store shelves. Most wildlife experts recommend keeping cashews very limited.

Peanuts

This surprises people sometimes.

Do squirrels eat peanuts?

Absolutely.

Are peanuts good for squirrels?

Not really.

Peanuts are cheap and common, which is why many people feed them. But nutritionally, they don’t compare to pecans at all.

In fact, peanuts are legumes — not true tree nuts — and they lack many of the beneficial nutrients found in pecans. Salted peanuts can also create health problems for wildlife.

Think of peanuts as fast food.
Pecans are the farm-to-table version.

The Best Way to Feed Backyard Squirrels

If you’re going to feed wildlife, simple is best.

The ideal option:

Raw, unsalted pecans

That’s it.

No candy coating.
No seasoning.
No flavored snack mixes.

Just natural pecans.

You can offer:

• in-shell pecans

• pecan halves

• native pecans

• cracked pecans

Leaving some shell intact can even encourage natural foraging behavior.

Why We’re Partial to Pecans

We’ll admit it — we’re a little biased.

But after growing pecans in Texas for over a century, we’ve seen firsthand how valuable they are not just for people, but for the wildlife around us too.

Long before pecans showed up in pies, pralines, and holiday tins, native pecan groves were feeding animals along creeks and riverbanks throughout the South.

There’s something fitting about continuing that tradition today.

At Millican Pecan Company, we believe good food starts with quality ingredients — whether you’re baking for family or tossing a few pecans to the backyard visitors gathered under the trees.

Final Thoughts

If you’re wondering what nuts squirrels like best, they’ll certainly eat plenty of options.

But when it comes to:

• natural nutrition

• winter energy

• healthy fats

• regional availability

• overall quality

Pecans are hard to beat.

Fresh, raw, unsalted pecans remain one of the best and most natural foods you can offer your backyard wildlife — especially during colder months when every calorie counts.

And honestly, around here, the squirrels seem to agree.