Bizarre absence of acorns in parts of the United States

**RaVen Blackehart** · December 2nd, 2008, 11:27 PM

"In some parts of the US, there's been reports that trees aren't bearing acorns this year. "We're talking zero. Not a single acorn. It's really bizarre," said Greg Zell, a naturalist at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington.

Then calls started coming in about crazy squirrels. Starving, skinny squirrels eating garbage, inhaling bird feed, greedily demolishing pumpkins. Squirrels boldly scampering into the road. And a lot more calls about squirrel roadkill.

But [field botanist Rod] Simmons really got spooked when he was teaching a class on identifying oak and hickory trees late last month. For 2 1/2 miles, Simmons and other naturalists hiked through Northern Virginia oak and hickory forests. They sifted through leaves on the ground, dug in the dirt and peered into the tree canopies. Nothing."

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/12/01...ence-of-a.html

**Dakota Valkyrie** · December 2nd, 2008, 11:35 PM

The culprit caught in the act!

OK, I stole it from your other post... but hey! Black squirrels gotta eat too.

**RaVen Blackehart** · December 2nd, 2008, 11:36 PM

Goth squirrels, I love it.

**SoUncool** · December 3rd, 2008, 11:48 AM

I had TOO many acorns last year from my one oak tree. It was crazy and the squirrels NEVER touched them. They prefer the hickory tree. I'll have to check if there are any acorns on the tree this year.

**Just my luck sucks** · December 3rd, 2008, 04:58 PM

I have a small Maple tree in my back yard. For the first time in my life I saw (a few weeks ago) that tree literally filled with squirrels hanging upside down on the branches and eating the "whirly" seed pods of the tree. Almost frenzy-was bizarre to watch.

They didn't touch any on the bigger Maples.

**Athena** · December 3rd, 2008, 05:05 PM

Why couldn't it be pine cones? What the hell do those do for us, anyway?

Off topic: I almost bought a box of decorative pine cones the other day while at Pier 1...Pine cones covered in sparkles and scented. When I snapped out of it, I smacked my forehead.

**penelopejo** · December 3rd, 2008, 05:07 PM

Oh god!!! It's the happening!!!! The trees are killing us!!!ahhhhhhh!!!!

**jenthgr8** · December 3rd, 2008, 05:12 PM

Well, that's just nuts.

**RaVen Blackehart** · December 3rd, 2008, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by Athena

Why couldn't it be pine cones? What the hell do those do for us, anyway?

Off topic: I almost bought a box of decorative pine cones the other day while at Pier 1...Pine cones covered in sparkles and scented. When I snapped out of it, I smacked my forehead.

Wouldn't it be much more fun to decorate them yourself?

**Dakota Valkyrie** · December 3rd, 2008, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by Athena

Off topic: I almost bought a box of decorative pine cones the other day while at Pier 1...Pine cones covered in sparkles and scented. When I snapped out of it, I smacked my forehead.

Off topic topic: Stinky pretty pine cones in a clear bowl with a few colored glass balls tossed in make a festive centerpiece.

**Kitty** · December 3rd, 2008, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by RaVen Blackehart

"In some parts of the US, there's been reports that trees aren't bearing acorns this year. "We're talking zero. Not a single acorn. It's really bizarre," said Greg Zell, a naturalist at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington.

Then calls started coming in about crazy squirrels. Starving, skinny squirrels eating garbage, inhaling bird feed, greedily demolishing pumpkins. Squirrels boldly scampering into the road. And a lot more calls about squirrel roadkill.

But [field botanist Rod] Simmons really got spooked when he was teaching a class on identifying oak and hickory trees late last month. For 2 1/2 miles, Simmons and other naturalists hiked through Northern Virginia oak and hickory forests. They sifted through leaves on the ground, dug in the dirt and peered into the tree canopies. Nothing."

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/12/01...ence-of-a.html

I live in town-- in the tidewater region of Virginia.. and there is NO shortage of acorns here.. just try walking on my campus.. you're sliding all over on acorns.. and heaven forbid it be windy.. you're pelted half to death.. Picture the squirrels vs the bear in Open Season..