Missing Acorns

I haven't noticed many acorns in my part of Northern Ohio. I have seen the squirrels scampering like mad to stock up on what they can an they are looking rather chubby these days also.

Interesting that I came across this thread. I was listing to NPR last night on my way home from work and they were talking about the acorn shortage. I beleive that person they were interviewing about it lived in Washington State. Either way, doesn't sound like it's a localized event.

I've been watching my yard, the squirrels have been storaging the acorns like crazy... that bothers me....

CNN is currently running a story on the shortage of acorns

CNN Link

Looks like it is a definite shortage, as opposed to the squirrels getting to them before we see.

Maybe the acorn shortage will cause the squirrel population to morph into deranged carnivorous mutant cannibals.

Seriously though...

Some things which could cause such a widespread phenomenon are:

Climate change
Widespread chemical contamination
Radiation exposure
Parasite infestation

Radiation and/or chemicals seem (to me) to be the most likely culprits.

Originally posted by jstatz
ive always heard that every 7 years the oaks are bare,no acorns

I've never heard of that before, that's interesting.

I don't know enough about that to make an informed comment about it, but that makes me want to check this out more.

Oh wait, nevermind. I think I found the culprit.



[edit on 13-12-2008 by ashamedamerican]