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Seeing an abundance of acorns this year? Here's why

By Laurel Stone

Seeing an abundance of acorns this year? Here's why

(WKBN) -- Have you noticed more acorns littered around oak trees than in years past? It's not your imagination. This fall is experiencing what's known as a mast year, meaning oak trees are producing more acorns than average.

Mast refers to fruits, seeds or nuts of trees that serve as food for animals and generally accumulate on the ground, and a mast year is a time when an unusually large amount of mast is produced.

For outdoor enthusiasts, it may mean you're more likely to get bonked on the head by falling nuts, but for wildlife -- and hunters of said wildlife -- the implications are greater.

Geoffrey Westerfield, assistant wildlife supervisor at ODNR, says oak trees are very similar to flowers and other plants when it comes to pollination. The oak flowers are actually the little strands the tree sprouts in springtime, and the more pollination they receive, the more acorns the tree will produce.

As a critical food source for many forest wildlife species, acorn abundance has been linked to body condition, winter survival and reproductive success come springtime. When acorns are more plentiful, it also allows animal populations to spread out rather than cluster around a limited food source, helping to limit the spread of any illness.

"When you have acorns all over the landscape like we do this year, that allows those animals to kind of munch here and there and not have to really compete for those food resources," Westerfield said. "It helps spread out those animals, which then helps, you know, stuff like parasites and ticks and any other disease concerns you would have for that animal."

Every year, ODNR runs a survey in wildlife areas throughout the state to monitor the levels of mast crops, including both red and white oaks, to help give them indications of how wildlife will fare.

"When we see high amounts of acorns out there, it means we're expect to see wildlife doing just fine, not having to fight for resources, for food resources, and we expect to see the animals coming out of the winter in very good health."

Deer hunters can use acorn survey information to improve hunting success. In areas where acorns are an important part of the deer's diet, mast availability can affect deer movements and ultimately hunter success. In poor mast years, deer are forced to use other food sources, and travel distances between feeding and bedding areas may be longer. Hunters may key in on travel corridors and alternate food sources.

Westerfield says it's important to promote native trees, especially oaks, on your own property. If you don't have an oak tree, he recommends reaching out to your local soil and water conservation districts to ask about tree sales -- and then get planting.

"Just like people -- we're all different -- oak trees are different," Westerfield said. "Sometimes having different varieties and different lineages of oak trees out there can sometimes dictate when they're flowering, miss a frost, or do good that next year where others might not. So having diversity out in the woods is definitely a good thing."

When it comes to house pets, like dogs who may be tempted to indulge in the crunchy treat, it's a good idea to limit the number of acorns they consume, as the tannins inside could make them ill if they have too many. While Westerfield said it generally doesn't cause major issues, if you do notice your pets eating acorns in excess, try clearing the acorns from the area or moving the pet to an area free of acorns.

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