Eating food found in animal feces is generally not recommended from a health and safety perspective. However, in certain survival situations, people may consider eating nuts and seeds that have passed through an animal’s digestive system if no other food sources are available. This article examines the risks, potential benefits, and precautions regarding eating nuts recovered from bear droppings.
Quick Answers
Here are quick answers to some common questions about eating nuts from bear poo:
- It is possible to safely eat nuts and seeds extracted from bear feces in a survival situation, but there are risks involved.
- Nuts from poo may be contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites, which could cause illness if consumed raw.
- Proper cleaning, boiling, roasting or charring of the nuts can help reduce potential pathogens.
- Hard nuts like acorns are more likely to survive intact through a bear’s digestive system compared to softer nuts.
- Nuts recovered from feces should never be eaten raw. Always cook or treat them before consuming.
- Eating any animal feces should only be considered in life or death situations with no other food sources available.
Evaluating the Risks of Eating Nuts from Bear Scat
Bears are omnivorous scavengers and opportunistic feeders. Their diverse plant-based diet includes nuts, berries, roots, and grains. Hard mast foods like acorns, hickory nuts, and walnuts comprise a significant part of a bear’s diet in autumn. Bears ingest these nuts whole, then excrete them partially digested within their droppings.
While intact nuts may pass through a bear’s digestive tract, they can become contaminated with microbes from the gut. Potential pathogens found in bear feces include:
- Bacteria like Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter
- Parasites including roundworms, threadworms, tapeworms and protozoa
- Viruses such as hepatitis A
Consuming nuts contaminated with these organisms can lead to adverse effects on human health:
- Gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps
- Foodborne illnesses
- Infections
However, the level of risk depends on several factors, including:
- The health and diet of the bear
- Environmental conditions
- How well cooked or processed the nuts are before eating
- The freshness of the scat – older feces allows more pathogen die-off
Overall, while eating nuts straight from bear droppings poses health risks, the risks can be mitigated with proper preparation.
Potential Benefits of Eating Bear Poop Nuts
Though unappetizing, there may be some potential nutritional benefits to consuming nuts recovered from bear scat in survival situations when no other food is available, including:
- Protein – nuts can be an essential source of energy and protein for survival
- Fat – high fat content in nuts provides calories and energy
- Fiber – promotes digestion and gut health
- Vitamins and minerals – nuts contain beneficial vitamins like Vitamin E, and minerals like magnesium, zinc, iron, and selenium
- Carbohydrates – nuts supply carbs for energy
- Intact calories and nutrients – digestion does not fully break down nuts, leaving calories and nutrients intact
If faced with starvation, the nutritional value of nuts may outweigh the risks of potential contamination. However, safely preparing the nuts is vital to reducing the chance of foodborne illness.
Safely Preparing Nuts from Scat
To safely consume nuts extracted from bear droppings:
- Select only intact, solid nuts – avoid any that are cracked or mushy
- Clean the nuts thoroughly by boiling, washing, and scrubbing to remove any feces
- Roast or char the shells at high heat (over 200°F) to kill pathogens
- Crack shells open and remove nutmeats
- Boil nutmeats for at least 10 minutes to kill any remaining bacteria
- Roast, char or cook boiled nuts again before eating
- Discard any nuts that smell bad or appear spoiled
Proper cleaning and cooking should allow the nuts to be eaten without causing illness. However, when in doubt, remember the saying “When in the woods, don’t eat the poop.”
Comparison of Nuts and their Survival Rate Through Digestion
Not all nuts have an equal chance of emerging intact through a bear’s digestive system. Properties like hardness and shell toughness determine how well different nuts hold up. Here is a comparison of common bear food nuts and their survival rates:
| Nut | Shell Hardness | Survival Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Acorns | Very hard | High |
| Walnuts | Hard | High |
| Pecans | Hard | Moderate |
| Hazelnuts | Moderately hard | Moderate |
| Pine nuts | Soft | Low |
| Pistachios | Soft | Low |
As seen, hard nuts with tough shells like acorns are more likely to pass through undamaged compared to softer shelled nuts like pine nuts. When scavenging bear droppings, target intact acorns or walnuts for the best chance of recovery.
Acorns – The Best Poop Nut
Of all the nuts bears consume, acorns have the highest survival rate through their digestive systems. Here’s why acorns are the best poop nut in survival situations:
- Hard shell – The acorn’s thick woody shell protects the nut from breaking down during digestion.
- High fat – Acorns contain bitter tannins but are rich in fats and calories needed for energy.
- Plentiful – Oak trees and acorns are abundant in most forests where bears live.
- Recognizable – Acorns have a distinct size and shape that makes them easy to identify.
- Familiar food – Acorns have historically been consumed by humans as well as bears.
Targeting intact, undamaged acorns out of bear scat provides the best chance of recovering edible nuts. Just be sure to treat them with the proper cleaning and cooking before eating.
Cases of People Eating Nuts from Poop
There are a few documented cases of people consuming nuts extracted from animal droppings in survival situations:
Plane Crash Survivor Eats Rats’ Poop Cashews
In 1972, rugby player Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashed in the Andes mountains. Survivors ate rats and recovered cashews from their poop to stave off starvation before rescue.
Man Eats Squirrel Poop Papaya Seeds
In 2009, hiker Donald McGraw became lost for over a month in Utah. He reportedly ate papaya seeds from squirrel scat to survive.
Climber Harvests Acorns from Pika Pellets
In 2015, mountaineer Abby Levene collected and ate partially-digested acorns from American pika scat while climbing in California as her food ran out.
In all cases, the survivors cleaned and cooked the recovered nuts and seeds before eating to avoid illness. While not ideal nutrition sources, the poop nuts helped stave off starvation long enough for rescue.
Expert Opinions on Eating Nuts from Scat
Here are some expert perspectives on safely consuming nuts recovered from animal droppings:
Survival Instructors
“In a truly life or death scenario with no other options, intact nuts harvested from feces can be made safe to eat through proper cleaning and preparation. However, they should be seen as a last resort when all other sources of food are exhausted.”
Wilderness Guides
“It’s ill-advised to eat any feces, but nuts and seeds are one of your best bets for finding something edible. Focus efforts on hard, intact nuts like walnuts and acorns. With enough cooking, their shells protect the nutmeat from contamination.”
Naturalists
“From a biological perspective, nuts evolve tough shells to survive digestion by bears, allowing seed dispersal. Intact nuts demonstrate this adaptation. Still, expect gut bacteria and approach with caution by thoroughly cleaning and heating them before consumption.”
In general, experts recognize the risks of consuming any fecal matter, but acknowledge that properly handled nuts and seeds may provide life-saving calories when no other options exist.
Precautions When Harvesting and Consuming Bear Poop Nuts
If considering eating nuts sourced from bear feces, keep these precautions in mind:
- Only do this in a truly dire, life-or-death survival situation
- Target only intact, solid, undamaged nuts for the best chance of being edible
- Wear gloves when handling and wash hands thoroughly afterwards
- Clean, cook, and prepare nuts extensively before consuming to reduce contagion risk
- Cook nuts into the hundreds of degrees Fahrenheit to ensure any pathogens are neutralized
- Discard any questionable or foul-smelling nuts
- Do not eat nuts raw under any circumstances
- Keep an eye out for allergic reactions or symptoms of foodborne illness
- Drink lots of clean water to help digestion and flush out toxins
While not recommended under normal circumstances, nuts sourced from animal feces may provide life-saving nourishment if no other food is available. But care must be taken to avoid potential contamination and illnesses.
Can You Really Survive Eating Nuts from Poop?
In conclusion, is it truly viable to eat nuts sourced from bear or other animal feces in a wilderness survival situation? Here is a summary:
- It is possible to safely consume nuts from poop with substantial cleaning and preparation.
- The risks can be mitigated but not fully eliminated. Proceed with ample caution.
- Prioritize hard-shelled nuts like acorns and walnuts that better survive digestion.
- Always cook or treat nuts before eating to reduce pathogen risk.
- Eating poop nuts should only be a desperation move when all other options fail.
- Have an emergency exit plan in case of illness from contamination.
- While not recommended, nuts from scat can provide life-saving calories and nutrition when no other food sources exist.
In the most dire of survival circumstances, intact nuts harvested from feces and properly cleaned and prepared may just sustain you long enough to be rescued. Still, consuming poop nuts comes with real risks and should only be attempted with great caution as an absolute last resort.