Where Have All the Acorns Gone?
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Yesterday’s Washington Post explained why I am not ankle-deep in acorns as I walk down my driveway. It also proclaimed an acorn famine that will severely affect squirrels and many other animals who rely on acorns for their existence.
Every Fall I marvel at just how many acorns there are and I curse the squirrels who sit up in the trees in my yard and drop acorn bits on my head. But this year the driveway is fairly uncluttered and there is no sound of squirrel munching.
Apparently the absence of acorns has been noted as far away as Kansas and Long Island. Take a look at these comments.
Oak trees can live for hundreds of years, with most having a cycle of acorn abundance that varies but is seldom non-existent. It is actually stressed trees that tend to overproduce acorns. Although botanists are somewhat concerned and have no convincing explanation for the total lack of acorns, they seem to be saying to wait a few years before attributing this to global warming or some other gloom and doom phenomenon.
But meanwhile squirrels, deer, and other animals that feed on acorns through the long winter months are foraging hard to find food. Park service employees are putting out nuts and smearing peanut butter on trees, but that will help only a small fraction of those who are hungry. The bottom line is that many animals will either starve or fall victim to roadkill as they scurry around looking for food.
So cut the squirrels a break as they find creative ways to raid your bird feeder. This year they are not just being lazy!
20 Comments:
Man, lately I really feel like the world is going to hell in a handbasket. Even squirrels cannot catch a break.
Lemmonex -- Who ever thought acorns were such an important part of the food chain?
We're extra busy in Nyack , i sense a cold snap is coming. I put extra insulation in my nest a few days ago.
Up in the catskills there are acorns all over the place But then there are acres of northeastern red oaks up there.
In Nyack I see fewer acorns, but then maples, sycamores and Magnolias are more plentiful than oaks here.
I like sunflower seeds best. also tiny peanut butter sandwiches.
Barbara, really?? I was wondering about our German oak tres this year! Is it GLOBAL?? So I will buy bird food and look out for hungry squirrels!
I wrote you an email!
Squirrel -- You are too funny! Maybe our local Virginia squirrels should all just winter in the Catskills.
Angela -- Let me know if you have acorns in Germany!
And I was just observing some very fat squirrels on the Hill. They must have been feeding on something else! I hadn't noticed the lack of acorns. How peculiar.
That's so creepy! I hadn't heard about this problem. My Mom has an oak in her yard in Florida that normally showers acorns -- I'll check with her and get a report!
NO Barbara, NOT THIS YEAR! What is happening??!
poor squirrels
not only their food gone - also their main winter activity of checking and moving around their staches!
:-(
I was up in California's San Gabriel Mountains over the weekend, at 5,000 - 8,000 feet elevation, and we saw many huge, amazing acorns not far from the tree, as they say. They looked so good that I was tempted to crack one open and eat the seed or nut that's inside, but we had sandwiches, so I figured I would give the squirrels a break.
Kristin -- Those Capitol Hill squirrels are probably so smart that they have been stashing acorns to take them through lean years!
Steve -- Be sure to report back on the acorn count in Florida!
Angela -- Yikes! No acorns in northern Germany either.
Lettuce -- Yes, the squirrels that survive are going to be a bored lot!
MC -- Yay for acorns in California! Can you ship some east to our starving squirrels?
There are acorns in Shaw. Squirrels just need to come to the hood.
Mari -- Somebody should try to figure out why Shaw has acorns when the rest of the area doesn't have any. Meanwhile don't be surprised if the squirrel population swells!
Squirrels also eat other nuts and seeds they eat fruit and anything at all snacky (you gonna finish that pizza slice?) if not a squirrel will. Don't want that donut? Squirrel does.
Squirrel -- I will heed your sage advice the next time I consider tossing food into the trash can!
We had heard of this phenomenon on the news! Joe's made friends with a squirrel in the neighborhood and has been feeding him peanuts. Evidently the squirrels also need nuts in shells so that they can keep their gnawing teeth from growing too big! Right, Squirrel??
Bozoette -- OMG! Can you imagine squirrels with vampire fangs by next Halloween? Nuts with shells...
plant black walnut trees. we have one and the squirrels take every last nut.
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