Larger animals including horses, cows and deer can become sick or die after eating buckeye nuts. The only wildlife that can truly tolerate ingesting the buckeye nut is the squirrel. On the other end of the spectrum, the fat brown nuts have also been used as good luck charms worn around the neck or on a belt.

Do deer eat Buckeyes?

Do deer eat buckeyes? No, they don't. Buckeyes are poisonous to ruminants like cattle, so deer are not far behind. Buckeyes are also toxic to humans and many other animals, so you need to consider the drawbacks before choosing to cultivate them.

Are Buckeyes good for anything?

Medicinal Uses

Native Americans once used buckeyes for both nutritional and medicinal purposes. These tribes would crush and knead the nuts into a salve for rashes and cuts. Today, some believe that buckeyes can relieve rheumatism and arthritis pain.