No Acorns, No Explanation

I have mentioned that my oak trees produced no acorns again this year. I wondered if I could get an explanation from the State agricultural extension service as to why this has happened a lot recently, but never before. So I searched for an email address and sent off this inquiry.

For, I believe, the third time in four years, my oak trees have produced NO ACORNS this year. The first occurrence of this phenomenon was 2008, when there was a widespread failure of oaks in the Eastern United States to produce acorns for the first time anyone could remember. The next year, however, acorns were back. But I don't think there were any last year and I have seen none in my neighborhood (the Vailsburg section of western Newark) this year. I have a number of oaks, including at least one that is about 70 feet tall. I'm worried about the squirrels. Do you know what is going on, and whether there is anything to be done about this? Please advise.

In a normal year, this closer view should have revealed at least some acorns. Not a one.

I received a reply, but it wasn't very helpful.

Most current research into “mast” production (tree seeds such as acorns, samara from maples, and various nuts) shows a correlation between environmental conditions and the volume of seed produced, but the specific causal agent (heat, water, light, etc.) has not been identified. Most likely seed production is influenced by a mix of these factors. During the past 10 years we have experience[d] extemes in temperature and water (i.e. droughts and flooding.) Trees do not always respond immediately to the weather but can lag 2 to 3 years behind an event. The most important point is that lack of acorn production is not a reliable indicator of overall tree health.

While acorns are an important food source for squirrels, squirrels are adaptable scavengers and will survive the winter.

Jan Zientek
Senior Program Coordinator
Agriculture and Resource Management
Cooperative Extension of Essex County

Last year, I broke up and tossed out some carrots for the squirrels, but they didn't seem to like them very well. They, or possums or raccoons (Vailsburg is semi-surburban and thus, nowadays, semi-wild for some hardy species that have moved back into areas they had evacuated decades ago), did eat some of the carrot chunks, but not all. Since Mr. (Ms.?) Zientek said the squirrels should survive this acornless winter, I won't try that again. Perhaps the squirrel population adjusts well to the availability of food, so doesn't produce many babies in lean years. I hope.