Mysterious Acorn Shortage Baffles Scientists

by Amy Judd | December 12, 2008 at 01:40 pm

830 views | 21 Recommendations | 13 comments

Along the East Coast of the United States, strange events have been taking place; there are no acorns on the ground this year, even though the Oak trees have shed their leaves already.

Areas like Northern Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and others, have seen no acorns at all this year.

"I can't think of any other year like this," said Alonso Abugattas, director of the Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington, Virginia.

Louise Garris, who lives in the Oakcrest neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, first noticed the mysterious phenomenon early this fall when doing yardwork beneath a canopy of large oak trees.

"I have lived in the area my entire life and have never not seen any acorns!" she said. Garris checked with some local plant nurseries and they confirmed her observation.

It is not known whether this should be a cause for concern yet or not, as last year there were a lot of acorns on the ground, so it could run in cycles. Scientists say that the trees could be 'exhausted' from last year.
It could be an increase in rain that added to the problem, but it is something that will need to be watched closely in the next few years as it could be an indication of a deeper problem.
It could also affect the squirrel population, as acorns are their favourite food.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

accent on eclectic

at 15:10 on December 12th, 2008

I happened on the scene by accident, visiting what I'd thought was a vacant house. The shame is that I can't say what happened after I took the photo, since, sensing that the acorn wanted me to take care of myself, I left as quickly as I could.

accent on eclectic has contributed a photo to this story.

D. Stephenson

at 16:01 on December 12th, 2008

Hmmm, well those are my photos. I took them because we had an abundance of acorns this year in NC. But we also came out of our drought with surplus rain. So maybe the oak trees tried to make up for lost time. Maybe those other states have some drought issues?

dianabog

at 16:24 on December 12th, 2008

We also had an abundance of acorns this year in southwest MO.
Could send some east....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2956476262_1b90e7a338_b.jpg

dianabog has contributed a photo to this story.

crowlegz52

at 16:41 on December 12th, 2008

I didn't notice. Seemed we had plenty in Upstate South Carolina. This was dispite a very dry Summer. The Whitetail Deer also love acorns. The Squirrels and Blue Jays have really been working the Beech Trees this year. They seem to be bearing heavy.

dfaugust2k (not verified)

at 16:37 on December 12th, 2008

-because they were all out falsifying ballots for barak Hussian obama, LOLOL.

wmspics

at 17:18 on December 12th, 2008

plenty of acorns in north east georgia this year.
pecans are heavy too !

wmspics has contributed a photo to this story.

Jawa Lunk

at 17:32 on December 12th, 2008

Hmm... I wonder if this has anything to do with the weather we've had here in the East this year?

It was a cool summer, I think it was only hot 2 or 3 days all summer, and we had a very long fall, and BAM we got hit early and hard with winter?

Maybe the weather has caused the squirrels to store more than usual? Sensing a long hard winter, they may have grabbed more up than usual?

I have approximately 20 squirrels that frequent my front yard...I'll ask them what's up next time I see them.

genadfemale40

at 18:42 on December 12th, 2008

This is a pile of acorns made by my son from my one young oak tree in the front yard (Minnesota). This is only the second year of acorn production from the tree. The pile brought a bumper crop of squirrels too. The pile was gone in a matter of a couple of weeks.

genadfemale40 has contributed a photo to this story.

bitzcelt

at 19:47 on December 12th, 2008

Acorns, acorns, acorns everywhere in NC. Happy to report a lot of fat happy squirrels.

Pythiian1

at 08:19 on December 13th, 2008

There's a big oak tree in my neighborhood with plenty of acorns for the local hearty squirrels.

Jawa Lunk

at 09:49 on December 13th, 2008

Yeah, after conferring with the local residents of the tree in my yeard here in Michigan, there doesn't seem to be any complaints, other than something about the neighbors dog and a prestone gainsburger, whatever that is?

Everything seems fine here too?

perhaps this is an undergrad study who is seeking funding to find out why this shortage (which apparently doesn't exist) exists? So he can later claim that with the right funding he can eradicate the problem...

donegal16125

at 11:01 on December 13th, 2008

Well these are from a very large oak tree in my back yard. I did have to hunt around around to get more than a hand full.

donegal16125 has contributed a photo to this story.

Maireid Sullivan

at 18:46 on December 13th, 2008

I hope the squirrels and deer will be okay!

Jawa Lunk

at 03:05 on December 14th, 2008

The weather did a number on them last year, and the food was really scarce for the deer.

We know this because their appearance in town becomes more frequent near the end of the season when they can't find food in the forests.

I had a family of deer living in my backyard for months because of this, I will add a few picks to this story.

They stayed there for months...I started feeding them while they were there, and once spring came they left.

I will keep an eye out and see if the kids from last year come back...they may have started a trend in their family.

vicki sparks (not verified)

at 10:07 on December 14th, 2008

I live in Kansas just outside of Kansas City and the street that I live on has a mature oak in every front yard- about 55 years old. NOT A SINGLE ACORN. I then saw the article on my CNN homepage about the shortage of acorns along the east coast. Kinda scary.

Jawa Lunk

at 12:30 on December 14th, 2008

Hmm... I wonder if it really matters if it's only for a year or two? I mean, squirrels eat more than just acorns.

And we don't really need them for replenishing the oak tree population...so maybe it's not a big deal?

Now if it goes on for a couple years, then maybe we should worry.

Mattie (not verified)

at 20:26 on December 17th, 2008

In the 30+ years I have lived under my 3 oak trees I have never had the abundance of acorns that I have had this year. Sacramento CA. has been in a drought but it did not hurt our supply. My lawn was dark brown from the sea of acorns covering it. Needless to say our squirrels are very busy; now if they would just remember where they buried them. I gathered up 10 two gallon buckets of acorns but couldn't find any takers. What a shame.