If you have oak trees in your neighborhood, you’ve probably noticed that there’s a bumper crop of acorns this year.
And I mean LOTS of acorns!!!
To satisfy my curiosity as to why this is occurring, I did a little research. 😉
There seem to be several theories, including:
1. It will be a very snowy winter, so squirrels will need extra food.
2. It will be a mild winter, so squirrels are not gathering with any sense of urgency. If they were worried about food, they’d be snagging the acorns even before they fell to the ground.
3. The trees are in stress from drought, insects, or disease and are producing more acorns to ensure their eventual replacement.
4. It’s a repeating cycle – oaks periodically have years with plentiful acorn production to keep the animal population in balance.
The 4th one is complicated because, according to what I’ve read, it takes a few years for the cycle to unfold.
First year: Lots of acorns, so squirrels have plenty of food and thus have more offspring the next year.
That next year: There are more squirrels, so their predators have more food (poor squirrels!) and the predators multiply.
The year after that: There are less squirrels and so the predator population decreases too – part of nature’s plan.
After reading all of this, I’m still not sure which theory is correct.
I do know one thing – the acorns are taking over our yard!
What about in your neck of the woods?
Hope your weekend is full of sunshine, crisp autumn air, and things you like to do!
See ya Monday 🙂
