Holy crap the squirrels are working like crazy.

[RandySF]

Last edited Fri Oct 9, 2015, 02:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Almost ten years living in NorCal and I've never seen the squirrels work in October with the same urgency that I see now. Could that mean we have a tough winter ahead of us?

[PasadenaTrudy]

1. I noticed this too

Lots of busy scrambling and nut hoarding. They must have inside information!

[hollysmom]

2. it might mean this drought produced a bumper crop of nuts (stressed trees do that)

and it is keeping the squirrels busy.

[lunatica]

3. I hope it means a wet Winter

I live in the Bay Area too.

[Suich]

4. I've noticed the same thing in Seattle.

I thought that meant it was going to be a harsh winter, but that's not what's predicted.

[Enthusiast]

5. The same is true of Ohio.

[PADemD]

6. Same in PA for the past several weeks.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. In my yard, there seems to be a severe lack of acorns

Oak trees seem to produce acorns in boom-or-bust year cycles. Very few this year, so the squirrels have to look for alternatives. Like the Geraniums on my porch.

[NutmegYankee]

9. Yeah, oaks do that.

The squirrel population often goes along with that boom or bust cycle. Prior to 1900, the American Chestnut was the main food source for squirrels because it produced a steady number of nuts. When the chestnut was nearly exterminated, the squirrel population crashed for a few decades.

[NutmegYankee]

8. There was an acorn bonanza this year in CT.

Many of the Oaks just produced massive numbers this year.

[Arugula Latte]

10. I don't like to brag, but our Oregon squirrels are always very industrious in October.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

12. Type A personalities I guess

[LWolf]

11. I wish.

If by "tough" it means enough snow to rebuild the missing snowpack in the local mountains.

The forecast doesn't look that way.

[mike dub]

13. Tell my hound dogs here in North Carolina about it!

Squirrels have been extra sneaking into our backyard the past few weeks, and our pups are loving running them off. Seems like the squirrels are even more brazen these past few weeks !

[KentuckyWoman]

14. in Kentucky too.

Winter might go until June this time.