Squirrels and Acorns: Which Acorns are Best for these Critters?

Welcome to the woodland! This page will tell us all about squirrels and their relationship with the forests. You have likely seen squirrels in your yard or in a park. We all know that squirrels' favorite nutrient is acorns. But, you likely did not recognize all the choices involved with how squirrels select which acorns to consume, avert and conceal for later. Well, today we'll hear all about it! Put on your thinking caps and prepare to inspect the reality of crimson oaks, light-colored oaks, acorns, and, of course, the gray squirrel.

Did you know that some acorns are better for squirrels than others?

What acorn do you believe might be better or terrible for a squirrel to consume?

Squirrels expect vitality to sustain themselves throughout their workaday activities. The principal origin of vitality establish in acorns is fat. Red oak acorns are 18% to 25% fat. White oak acorns are only 5% to 10% fat. Humans may not care much for fat, but squirrels need the fat in acorns to survive. So,which acorn would squirrels need? Red acorns, because it has more fat. But if fat was the only thing that was important, they would always choose red acorns. By eating high fat acorns, squirrels don't have to work as hard for their vitality. They would have more time to do more things, like build nests.

Acorns contain a substance called tannin. (Tannin is a bitter tasting substance produced by plants.) With it's bitter taste, it makes it hard for the squirrel to digest. Red acorns are 6-10% tannin. White acorns are less than 2% tannin. So in this case it would be better for the squirrel to choose the white acorn. By eating acorns with low tannin , squirrels do not have to waste their vitality on digesting food.

Which acorn do you believe squirrels like most? Well you could do an experiment. You or your kids could collect some red acorns and some white acorns, then find an area where squirrels are most active. Put the red acorns in a patch and the white acorns in a patch. Then observe them for a few days and see which goes the fastest.

One more thing. Did you know that squirrels help the oak trees just as much as the oak trees help the squirrels. Well, the oak trees produce the acorns for the squirrels to consume. So you ask, how does the squirrels help the oak trees. Well, they will carry a acorn to a different part of the woods and bury it for later. Sometimes the squirrel will forget to go back and get the acorn, which that forgotten acorn will grow into a new oak tree.

I'm sure there is a lot more to know about squirrels. This was just some infomation about squirrels and acorns.

References:

www.squirrels.org/faq.html#Q13