Compost-how could walnuts appear?

Question

I have a vermicompost bin in a covered plastic rubbermaid container in my backyard. There appears to be walnuts in it. At first I thought maybe they were worm cacoons, but I googled photos of them and they do not look anything like that. Any ideas how walnuts could have gotten in a covered compost bin? People said squirrels or chipmunks, but the wholes are only 1/4 inch big, and the lid is on tight.

Answer 1

A squirrel can get into a pretty small hole but how would he get a walnut through a quarter inch opening.  Are you sure the walnuts aren't some other fruit or vegetable pit (avocado maybe?) that went into the bin with other kitchen scraps?  

Answer 2

I would still say squirrels!  They're crafty little buggers and they can fit in under the lid of a rubbermaid tote.  They get in, they get out and it wouldn't be that difficult.

I also wanted to mention that a couple of walnut are not going to ruin your compost!  That's rediculouse!  Walnut trees would have crept over the Earth and poisoned all of the soil by now if that were true.  The roots of the tree makes it very difficult for anything to grow in, but a sprouted nut... give me a freaking break!