Kind Human Creates ‘Starnuts’ for Squirrels in Her Backyard to Enjoy Pumpkin Spice Season

It's fall again, which means that another important season is back in full swing: pumpkin spice season. For all the jokes we love to make about pumpkin spice lattes and the like being "basic," it's hard to resist the sweet and spicy allure of a freshly-made PSL once autumn is in the air again.

But one thing weighed heavily on the mind of self-proclaimed PSL lover Brooke Walding: the squirrels and chipmunks in her backyard had never gotten the chance to experience the pure deliciousness of a pumpkin spice latte. This fall, she decided to change that by opening up the world's first-ever "Starnuts" coffee shop in her backyard!

It's official: Brooke (@brookewalding on TikTok) is a saint to pumpkin spice lovers everywhere, across all species. Crafting her own squirrel-friendly PSL recipe (which used pumpkin puree, coconut chunks, nut butter, spices, water, ice, and a homemade plant-based whipped cream), Brooke lovingly prepared a few squirrel-sized "lattes," set them up in a fancy arrangement outside with an assortment of nuts, and officially opened "Starnuts" for business. Now all she had to do was watch and wait.

Related: Dog-Friendly Pumpkin Spice Latte Lets Pooches Join in on the Fall Fun

Boy, did her efforts pay off! While it took the squirrels a little while to warm up to the new "coffee shop" in their neighborhood, they were hooked the moment they got their first taste. I don't think I've ever seen a squirrel as blissed out as "Frank" was lying back on his tail in the grass, two hands wrapped around a big (for him) pumpkin spice latte. The power of pumpkin spice reigned supreme yet again! As for the chipmunks... well, they seemed more interested in the nuts. Nevertheless, Brooke's 'Starnuts" venture proved a smashing success!

How To Help Your Backyard Squirrels Prep for Winter

Brooke did a very simple yet very cute act of kindness for her backyard squirrel population by introducing them to the wonders of pumpkin spice lattes. Some people see small animals like squirrels and chipmunks as nuisances, even pests, so it's always heartwarming to see someone treat these animals with warmth and affection.

And if Brooke keeps up this habit of treating her backyard animals throughout fall and the winter season, she might end up doing them a great courtesy. Famously, animals like squirrels and chipmunks try to hoard as much food as possible to keep them sustained through the winter, since they don't hibernate. However, if they're not able to stock up enough food in the fall, or if something happens to their stores, that can put them in a pretty dire place, as squirrels can't survive long without food.

That's when supplemental feeding, the practice of supplying extra food for small native wildlife throughout the winter, can be helpful! Wild Care Oklahoma recommends leaving out bird feeders and platform feeders with sunflower seeds, suet, peanuts, and even chopped fruit for birds and small mammals to eat so they always have a supply of essential calories and macronutrients, no matter what happens.

Feeding your native wildlife throughout the harsh winter is a simple yet softhearted way to look after your furry friends in the neighborhood and do your part to help your local ecosystem thrive. Making mini pumpkin spice lattes is optional, of course, but clearly the squirrels will appreciate them!

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