COLUMBUS, Ohio — It’s usually hot, miserable, and the woods are full of cobwebs when the Ohio DNR (ODNR) Div. of Wildlife technicians head out in pairs for the  survey of acorn abundance. One technician focuses binoculars on the tree’s crown while the other holds the stopwatch.

This survey takes place at wildlife preserves across the state during August and September. The 2022 results showed that an average of 39 percent of white oaks and 37 percent of red oaks bore fruit. The long-term average for white oak production is 37 percent, and 54 percent for red oak.

“A mature oak tree can produce thousands of acorns which in turn feed more than 90 of Ohio’s woodland species,” said Kendra Wecker, “Deer, turkeys, squirrels, ruffed grouse, blue jays, raccoons, woodpeckers, foxes, and more seek out and eat acorns throughout the fall and winter.”

Acorns can be classified as red or white, depending on if they come from a red or white oak tree. Red oak acorns take two years to develop and are bitter, containing large amounts of the chemical tannin. White oak acorns mature in one year, and have a sweeter taste, said Kathy Garza-Behr, Wildlife Communications specialist.

“Our technicians go out on the wildlife areas, and they mark 25 trees of any oak in the white oak family and 25 trees in the red oak family,” Garza-Behr said. “They scan them for the percentage of acorns they see in the crown of the tree in 30 seconds. They look into the crown of the tree and gauge how many acorns they think are in there.”

“This allows them to get the percent of crowns with acorns, how much is in the crown, and it also gives them the percent of oaks with acorns,” she explained. “Acorns are a high energy source to wildlife and a preferred food.”

Years of less acorn production, as with the red oaks this year, are a little harder on wildlife. Critters will move around more and utilize farm fields or places where they can find an alternative to acorns, Garza-Behr said. They will spend more time picking up waste grain or grazing in those areas. It might even change the times of day when they’re moving.

“These deer may travel further to find other food sources and not even go near the area you’re used to hunting, so it does help people gauge where wildlife might be,” Garza-Behr said. 

People always look forward to this survey, she explained. Some people will use moon phases or weather for hunting, but many will look at things like diet and movement. Hunters are always interested in the acorn abundance survey but so are wildlife watchers. It lets them know how much wildlife they will see in their area.

This is the 18th year for the survey which takes in 38 wildlife areas. In District 5 in Southwest Ohio, Garza-Behr’s district, the division visits four wildlife areas: East Fork, Fallsville, Tranquility and Woodland Trails. In Districts 3 and 4 they check more sites just because of the abundance of oaks in that portion of the state.

To grow oak trees, collect mature acorns in the fall and put them in a bucket of water. Keep the ones that float and discard the sinkers; they won’t germinate. Store the remaining acorns in the refrigerator or outside for at least eight months during the winter. In early spring, plant the acorns under a shallow covering of soil, water regularly, and watch your new oak trees grow.

All results of the acorn abundance survey, including tables and historical numbers, are available at www.wildohio.gov.