Where Are the Acorns?

Wildlife depend on acorns and will struggle to survive this winter

Oak trees are a keystone species and the acorns they produce are packed with nutrition. They are an important food source for many wild creatures: deer; bears; squirrels; chipmunks; opossums; woodpeckers; crows; and other birds. Acorns that remain uneaten can grow into new trees and after reading “The Nature of Oaks,” by Douglas W. Tallamy, a book I wrote about in a post last May, we need oak trees more than ever.

Drought and spongy moth caterpillars have contributed to the low acorn yield in New England this year. Now, just after Thanksgiving and in what should be a time of plenty, wildlife will have a hard winter ahead.

To help them through we will be providing a steady supply of seed, suet, cracked corn and fresh water in a heated bird bath. Fresh water is essential in every season, especially in winter when freezing conditions make it difficult to find.