"The thing about acorns is they aren't intended to be digested whole, so any animal that eats them that way is going to expel them that way. Some seeds, which are what acorns are, need animals to pass them through their digestive tract. The journey helps to break down the outer protective covering and make it easier for the seeds to germinate. Acorns, however, don't require that, relying on the animals for a different reason."
"The acorns are meant to be cached and buried, providing a moist environment that allows them to germinate, and offering some protection from being eaten right away. Squirrels, other rodents and a variety of birds typically do the caching, storing the acorns to be eaten later when conditions soften the outer shell. None of those foraging and storing animals are likely to eat the acorns whole, but there are larger animals that are known to scarf the acorns down."
"Have you seen any damage in the neighborhood, such as plowed up lawns, broken fences or torn up garden beds? That would be a sign of wild boars. If not, then the scat might be from neighborhood dogs. I love dogs, but let's face it, most of them will swallow anything they come across whether it's meant to be eaten or not."
Acorns are seeds not adapted for whole digestion, and animals that swallow them whole will expel them intact. Some seeds require digestive passage to break seed coats, but acorns rely on caching and burial to germinate. Caching creates moist conditions and protects acorns from immediate predation. Squirrels, other rodents, and various birds typically cache acorns rather than swallow them whole. Larger omnivores such as bears, wild boars, and dogs are more likely to eat whole acorns. Wild boar activity leaves signs like plowed lawns, broken fences, or torn garden beds. Coyotes eat acorns but generally do not swallow them whole.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]