Squirrel Apocalypse or Helpful Pruning
Posted: December 12, 2022 Filed under: Gardening | Tags: Backyard Critters, Gulf Coast gardening, oak tree, squirrels 12 Comments
The oak tree planted twenty years ago has been prolific this fall in producing acorns. I am not the only one that noticed. The squirrels have been gathering acorns for weeks.
I can put up with the squirrels taking the acorns and digging holes all over my yard and garden beds, but to get the acorns they have been cutting off branches and covering the bed under the tree and front yard with them. I am not sure if all of this pruning will be helpful to my oak tree.
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I have mixed feelings about squirrels. They usually leave things alone until one of my snowbird neighbors feeds them peanuts – then they dig up pots and leave me peanuts in the cushions on my porch. That drives the dog crazy. ugh..
I did listen to a podcast about them and fall is about the only time they have to find nuts to eat for the year. It did make me feel sorry for them…a little bit.
A little bit, they eat my mangoes for the seeds!
Your situation brought me to this really interesting article. I’d assumed that they were gathering nesting material, since this has been happening with our cypress trees for the past weeks. It seems there may be other reasons, too, including some nutritional reasons.
I think they were cutting the ends of branches off to get the acorns. They left all the leaves and twigs behind.
Oh dear! Hopefully they’ll finish the harvesting soon and move on! 😉
I think they have gotten most of the acorns.
Since they evolved together, I’d guess the tree can take it, maybe it even helps. 🙂
The tree could use some heavier pruning, but I don’t think I can talk the squirrels into it.
The squirrels have been pruning our hickories this year, too! Interesting to hear you had a good acorn year as it seems some trees around me also did too.
Does that mean a cold winter?
I didn’t know squirrels would “prune” like that. It probably won’t mess your tree up , sure did your yard.