Timberbeast
12-02-2019, 07:53 PM
Ok, so I want to tackle the “acorn” controversy as applied to squirrels. Upon reading several articles posted, I have had to scratch my head quite a bit...however I am always willing to learn...so I’ve been doing research. Here is what I have found and I have added to it from personal experience. I can go back and site sources if needed.
Here is how I’m going to start...there are over 31 species of Oak timber that produce acorns, that being given...multiple species absolutely depend on an acorn crop every year. The obvious are turkeys, various small birds, deer, bears, raccoons, wood rats, mice...and our friends “squirrels”. Other animals eat them but can have major problems...is it any shock that they are domesticated animals such as horses and cows? I have personally seen the effects of acorn impaction on horses...it is one of the worst things you have ever seen! A horse impacted on acorns develops a blood toxicity due to the impaction...it directly effects their brains and they begin to walk a tight circle and clip their heels when they walk. It’s such an absolute that anyone with prior knowledge to horses can see what is going on. Generally this leads to death of the horse...pretty much irreversible at the point of the walking the tight circles and clipping of the heels. So...horses...yeh, acorns are a no no...as with actually large quantities of oak leaves. Next is our most popular ruminant, cattle! Same sort of deal as with the horse...cattle gorging on acorns can get impacted to the point of bloating and twisting a gut. However...unlike the horse, cattle can be fed lime mixed in their feed over a period of time and eat all the acorns they want. Some breeds of cattle such as Longhorns and Pineys can handle acorn loads on their own because they are actually considered more foragers and can handle vegetation most cattle aren’t going to eat.
I mentioned cattle as ruminants and having problems...but I also mentioned our “domesticated” animals. Deer, goats and sheep are ruminants but...their systems are different and can manage, handle and sustain on such a diet of a crop of acorns. Bears being omnivores eat pretty much anything they come in contact with and sustain exceptionally well on an acorn diet.
I forgot to mention Native American Indians...studies show that Indians on the “Right Coast” ate a lot of acorns. Studies also show that the life span was only 30 years or so...now personally I think it was because of tooth problem due to grinding seeds and nuts in stones such as sandstone and flattening out their teeth to a point that it affected their lifespan. Not to mention the shrinkage of our appendix and spleen over evolution. We really don’t know what exactly those organs were for. Some scientists have come to the conclusion they were for primitive humanoids eating poisonous berries and nuts as a mainstay. Idk because that’s a study that can’t be proven but seems rational.
Here is the interesting thing with squirrels, ground squirrels, mice and wood rats. There is actually a toxin in acorns called tannic, tanna or tannic acid. Tannic is actually used in curing leather oddly enough. In the 31 species of acorns...levels of tannic vary. Interestingly enough White oak species of acorns sprout in the fall while Red Oak species sprout the n the Spring. Tannic levels are highest in Red Oak species of acorns. According to the research I found, squirrels eat White oak acorns almost immediately when found and eat them to their entirety. Red Oak acorns seem to be stored as food stuffs for over Wintering. It has been determined that high levels of tannic cause a bitterness to acorns. Some studies suggest that squirrels only eat the top portion of red oak acorns leaving the embryo of the acorn (highest level of tannic). Studies also show that even when fed upon, the red oaks still have a chance to sprout.
What does “tannic” do to squirrels? Actually I have read that if green acorns (highest level of tannic) are consumed by starving or hungry squirrels...it’s most likely to be like a person doing speed.
I am still doing research trying to find out why acorns are considered bad for squirrels, but my conclusions based on what I have read and what I already know about nature have made my conclusion based on “I can’t find anything wrong with squirrels eating acorns”.
Here is how I’m going to start...there are over 31 species of Oak timber that produce acorns, that being given...multiple species absolutely depend on an acorn crop every year. The obvious are turkeys, various small birds, deer, bears, raccoons, wood rats, mice...and our friends “squirrels”. Other animals eat them but can have major problems...is it any shock that they are domesticated animals such as horses and cows? I have personally seen the effects of acorn impaction on horses...it is one of the worst things you have ever seen! A horse impacted on acorns develops a blood toxicity due to the impaction...it directly effects their brains and they begin to walk a tight circle and clip their heels when they walk. It’s such an absolute that anyone with prior knowledge to horses can see what is going on. Generally this leads to death of the horse...pretty much irreversible at the point of the walking the tight circles and clipping of the heels. So...horses...yeh, acorns are a no no...as with actually large quantities of oak leaves. Next is our most popular ruminant, cattle! Same sort of deal as with the horse...cattle gorging on acorns can get impacted to the point of bloating and twisting a gut. However...unlike the horse, cattle can be fed lime mixed in their feed over a period of time and eat all the acorns they want. Some breeds of cattle such as Longhorns and Pineys can handle acorn loads on their own because they are actually considered more foragers and can handle vegetation most cattle aren’t going to eat.
I mentioned cattle as ruminants and having problems...but I also mentioned our “domesticated” animals. Deer, goats and sheep are ruminants but...their systems are different and can manage, handle and sustain on such a diet of a crop of acorns. Bears being omnivores eat pretty much anything they come in contact with and sustain exceptionally well on an acorn diet.
I forgot to mention Native American Indians...studies show that Indians on the “Right Coast” ate a lot of acorns. Studies also show that the life span was only 30 years or so...now personally I think it was because of tooth problem due to grinding seeds and nuts in stones such as sandstone and flattening out their teeth to a point that it affected their lifespan. Not to mention the shrinkage of our appendix and spleen over evolution. We really don’t know what exactly those organs were for. Some scientists have come to the conclusion they were for primitive humanoids eating poisonous berries and nuts as a mainstay. Idk because that’s a study that can’t be proven but seems rational.
Here is the interesting thing with squirrels, ground squirrels, mice and wood rats. There is actually a toxin in acorns called tannic, tanna or tannic acid. Tannic is actually used in curing leather oddly enough. In the 31 species of acorns...levels of tannic vary. Interestingly enough White oak species of acorns sprout in the fall while Red Oak species sprout the n the Spring. Tannic levels are highest in Red Oak species of acorns. According to the research I found, squirrels eat White oak acorns almost immediately when found and eat them to their entirety. Red Oak acorns seem to be stored as food stuffs for over Wintering. It has been determined that high levels of tannic cause a bitterness to acorns. Some studies suggest that squirrels only eat the top portion of red oak acorns leaving the embryo of the acorn (highest level of tannic). Studies also show that even when fed upon, the red oaks still have a chance to sprout.
What does “tannic” do to squirrels? Actually I have read that if green acorns (highest level of tannic) are consumed by starving or hungry squirrels...it’s most likely to be like a person doing speed.
I am still doing research trying to find out why acorns are considered bad for squirrels, but my conclusions based on what I have read and what I already know about nature have made my conclusion based on “I can’t find anything wrong with squirrels eating acorns”.