What food is poisonous to squirrels?

Many human foods are poisonous or harmful to squirrels and should never be fed to them, especially to pet squirrels or when intentionally feeding wild squirrels. Foods poisonous to squirrels include chocolate which contains theobromine that can cause heart failure, seizures, and death, caffeine from coffee, tea, and energy drinks, avocado skin and pit which contain persin that can cause breathing difficulties and heart failure, raw dried beans which contain lectins that are toxic, onions and garlic which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia, alcohol, and highly salty, sugary, or processed foods like chips, candy, and sweetened cereals which cause health problems. Stale or moldy nuts, corn, and seeds can contain aflatoxins from mold that are highly toxic and cause liver damage and cancer in squirrels. Fruit pits and apple seeds contain amygdalin which can release cyanide in large amounts. For pet squirrels, a safe diet is commercial rodent blocks, fresh vegetables like carrots and broccoli, limited unsalted nuts, and fresh fruits. Wild squirrels should ideally forage naturally, but if you feed them, avoid toxic foods and never use rat poison baits around squirrels as these poisons are extremely toxic and cause secondary poisoning in wildlife, pets, and children.