Acorns and squirrel?

[BettyB]

For the second year running a growing collection of acorns is appearing in an open fronted cart-shed type building with concrete floor.


Last year we kept a tally and it got to more than a hundred growing by various numbers. Then, in just the same way, they began to disappear until none were left.

There are a couple of handy oak trees approx 50m away from the building.

What can be going on?. It's a poor hiding place, nowhere to conceal the cache.

Is it a squirrel? There are deer and foxes around, too.

Is it a half-way house on the way to the chosen hiding place?

[Adam Cheeseman]

or possibly a Wood Mouse.

Cheers,

Adam

[The Woodman]

Prime suspect - the Wood Mouse.

[BettyB]

Just one woodmouse? Poor little creature must be run ragged.

Is s/he storing them and, if so, why in such a vulnerable place?

Thanks for replies; will report back if I ever see who it is.

[Billabong Karen]

In my experience - if you've got one woodmouse, you've certainly got more...

I find piles of cherry stones stashed away in my garden (we have a big cherry tree); I assume the mice and voles hide them for the lean winter months.

[shirl]

Our squirrels bury them (and peanuts!) , they are in the lawn, the flower borders and the veg garden. And the ones they don't find during winter start to grow, we had lots of oak saplings appear this year. So I think wood mouse is a good bet for your hoard of acorns

Shirl

[BettyB]

Thanks for all replies.

We can understand whoever it is collecting for winter but the puzzling part is the chosen location. The acorns cannot be hidden or buried and were only left there temporarily. Whether removed by collector or a pillager we cannot be sure, of course.

We,too, have a plentiful supply of oak saplings few of which get to grow as deer visit regularly.

Another twelve were added last night.

[STYRBJORN]

Remember also that some birds stock up for winter. Corvids are proving at least the equals of mammals in intelligence and memory. The fact that the shed is open fronted adds plausibility.

Ric

[BettyB]

Latest total is 328. It takes ages to count them as we are careful not to touch them with our hands. Wouldn't want to pollute someone's winter supplies.

Thank you for replies