Acorns

[Newbiesaukee]

There seem to be no acorns on Long Island( Moultonborough). Is this the case elsewhere in the region this year? Supposedly this is related to the dry summer conditions. Does anyone have any insight into this as well as the potential effect on deer and other wildlife dependent on acorns to get through the winter.

[Argie's Wife]

Plenty here.

Been thinkin' of making some acorn cake with 'em...

I've seen lots of those big-tailed rodents scoopin' 'em up, tho...

But I'm not too worried 'bout 'em getting 'nuff acorns or not... they can take care of themselves pretty well... :D

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5118/gren2120548ra2.jpg

[idigtractors]

I made the same comment to the wife this weekend while I was cleaning up leaves. There is hardly a one from the 5 oak trees that I have just in the immediate yard. Lot's of crab apples though.:)

[PennyPenny]

My husband says that acorns come and go in cycles. I tend to agree. We have a large Oak tree in our front yard that has no acorns to speak of this year or last. Two years ago I couldn't rake them up fast enough to save my life. Squirlles and chipmunks are always abundent though. They live in the yard and move in to our house,barn and chickenhouse this time of year with or without acorns!

[rander7823]

Just commented to my wife that walking in the backyard was like trying to walk on marbles. Last year our trees were eaten alive by the gypsy moth caterpillars and we had no acorns, this year no moths, but lots of acorns.
Could it be a harbinger of a snowy winter? Mother Nature providing food for the critters to get thorugh the winter.

[chattypatty]

We have a black walnut tree in the backyard next to us & it is loaded with nuts. They are encased in a big green husk that looks like a green tennis ball. When they drop off the tree, they roll into the street where as the cars go over them they sound like gunshots. I have never seen so many as I have this year, the squirrels will be all set for the next few winters or else they will be so fat they won't be able to get out of their own way. If this is a harbinger of a bad winter, we're in for it!!

[chipj29]

I have never seen so many acorns as I have this year. And the furry critters are going crazy trying to hoard them all. I have seen a lot of chipmunks and squirrels so far this fall.

[LIforrelaxin]

There seem to be no acorns on Long Island( Moultonborough). Is this the case elsewhere in the region this year?.

Hummmn...... I can honestly say I hadn't paid much attention to the lack of acorns but now that you bring it up, I haven't seen any in my yard on LI either. Not sure what would cause it but I would imagine it is just some cycle of natural life. You also brought up concern over deer and other wildlife, and I don't think there is anything to worry about for that angle. The rodants are will find plenty of other sources, and I am not sure that (but not postive either) that deer want anything to do with acorns. What I will say is that if you know of anyone with a Mouse, Chipmunk, or squirel problem, that they should be advised this year to make sure all food sources are either completely sealed air tight, or removed from there homes, if they aren't going to be around in the winter. The lack of the acorns will more then likely make some of these critters a little more adventurous over the winter months....