So many dead squirrels

[The Night Stalker]

Two weeks ago, we made a trip to Maryland , Delaware, northern  Virginia. I noticed so many dead squirrels in the road, crossing the road. It was one of those obvious things. Today, I found out by a tree scientist that there is a nut mast problem and the squirrels are going to great lengths to find  enough to eat and store. He predicted that there would be many that do not survive the winter. Has anyone heard of this?

[Matty]

Well strangely enough. I live NOWHERE near you. But. My girlfriend said the same thing just the other day. After paying much more attention. I have been seeing dead squirrels. On almost every road I drive on. Wow. Makes ya think

[The Vanilla Gorilla]

Lotta easy money laying in the road.

[RedShaft]

I have heard back in the day some have seen squirrel migrations due to no feed like thousands of squirrels migrating. I like to see that

[Pointer]

Now that they've wiped out my fig tree...again...we'll see if they leave in search of food

[A.S.]

Yep, I was just talking about it yesterday to a friend. I think it's nature's way of thinning the heard.

[olddogrib]

Tim,
I've noticed an uptick in "frisbees" here in piedmont NC. Mast is pretty spotty here, maybe less so in Ashe Co.  From what I can tell the "monsoon" you had up there this year didn't improve the mast any, maybe the opposite.  I never have been able to figure out the cycle of whites and reds and it seeems to vary quite a bit by geography.  I've heard reds bear every year and whites have "off" years.

[kbetts]

I've not noticed dead squirrels, but I've come across a few dead raccoons lately.  Don't usually find them dead in the woods or corn fields.

[The Night Stalker]

I have seen a bunch of dead raccoons locally, they might be affected. While sitting last week, I noticed a young squirrel with a broke leg and a few with bare spots on them.  I never seen that before. I sat that same set up Friday night and did not see any of the hurt squirrels.

[Brianlocal3]

Here in the Midwest we are having a bumper crop. I mean just TONS of nuts from hickory to pecan to oak and so on. Sorry to hear of y'all's issues.

[Bud B.]

Mast crop is good here in Asheboro so far. Acorns are starting to fall. Willow Oaks are covered up!! I've seen squirrel in places I have not seen them before. Just waiting for the season to start here, which is tomorrow.  

[reddogge]

I live in MD and there is little acorn drop this year according to my freind who lives among oaks.

[Kudu Kid]

Bumper crop here in Minnesota too.

[KentuckyTJ]

I counted six different ones yesterday morning. Since no kids squirrel hunt anymore they are thick around here. Our mast crop is terrible this year also. I think there will be less of the little buggers next season hopefully.

[coryd]

Acorns are non-existent where I hunt, at least white oaks, which is what is mostly on this property.

[TC in Spfld]

Not enough folks braking for squirrels.

[Stump73]

We are having the biggest crop of them this year. It's literally raining acorns and they hurt when they bomb you.

[red hill]

Yes. Squirrels, and other animals, will migrate from area to area in search of food. Here in south Arkansas I've heard of squirrels swimming creeks and small rivers to leave a area that doesn't have much food.

[Duncan]

I noticed a bunch of squirrels dead on the road last week around here. Squirrels will migrate during low mast years but mass migration can happen but is less common.

[GWV]

They need to head to DC.  Lots of nuts there.