Thank you Frank my friend for such another educational video! We have 2 oak trees in side yard and I was just telling my wife this week I've never seen or remember such an abundance of acorns. I have literally had to sweep them up with a shop broom into a snow shovel. It is literally, what seems to be 50 times worse than last year. You, my friend, have answered my question as to why. Thank you again!
This is great Frank. Watched the branches of my white oak steadily descend to almost the ground this summer. Had a forever memorable fall of the sound if my oaks raining acorns. Gusts of winds almost signaling the oak to finally let go of all that weight.
ALWAYS great to hear from the Wild Report ...i keep up with your videos! We have to get together and shoot a couple of episodes! ... How bout meeting me up at Mountain Rogers...White Top...Elk Garden trail head specifically and we search for the Yonahalosee (spelling error) salamander! Do you have my email?)
@@natureatyourdoor Yeah that would be great! We might end up having to plan for this January since that's when I'll be back in NC. I do not have your email.
@@TheWildReportOfficial ftaylor10000@gmail.com let's keep in touch...send me an email..will have to plan that trip for spring..4000 to 5000 ft...likely to be froz solid! 😲😟😃😃
Thanks again Frank, I learned something new. I have never heard of the term "mast". I have watched videos about how plants communicate with the help of Fungi though, which I find fascinating.
Thanks for this very educational article. I boggled at all the rich implications of "mast" and all the connections to wildlife management, recreation, anthropology, etc. For instance: Mast can be an important food source for humans as well. Before we invented agriculture, a lot of human food sourcing involved gathering mast. We still do it, though not as much because of the labor involved. I remember picking wild native and invasive (Mongolian) raspberries every Summer in California and making raspberry pies with them, sometimes recruiting the younger members of neighborhood families. On a side note, when my son was learning gardening at the local elementary school, I was drafted into making pumpkin pie from scratch to demonstrate to the class the usefulness of this originally wild American vegetable. I read of Native American tribes in California harvesting acorns. Making these edible involves a lot of processing to remove the tannins, and some tribes regarded certain species of acorns poisonous whereas other tribes exploited the same species as a food source. I picked up on your mention that hunters are commonly well-acquainted with mast as it presages abundant game. I imagine that DNR officials observe mast occurrences in deciding how many hunting licenses to make available. Also, encouraging hunting just after these years helps avoid herbivore population expanding beyond the capacity of the habitat to support, and also to prevent the predator population expanding and subsequently looking to human-kept livestock when their prey populations contract again.
Yes...exactly so much too think about...big year for walnuts here...abundant and free picking on the ground...and even with store bout walnut prices soaring ...few people bother. ...time? Knowledge? Nature disconnect?
@@natureatyourdoor Probably all three of those, possibly more. I remember I started gathering blackberries (not raspberries, sorry) when I noticed there was a bush literally growing into my apartment complex parking lot. So in my case I was totally ignorant about it until I just came face-to-face with it, and took notice. Then I saw I had time and interest to pursue it, and had an inexpensive summertime treat with a little investment of time. The blackberries were free, I just had to get flour, butter, sugar and cornstarch from the store if I didn't already have enough. Leftover berries could be eaten straight, with a little rinse, or sprinkled on morning cereal. After I started gathering seriously, I bumped into other neighborhood foragers doing the same on the nature/fitness trail that bordered my apartments. So it seems there's a small community of foragers in most suburban areas that have a reasonable intrusion of useful wild plants. They don't make a lot of noise about it because they don't want everybody coming through and stripping the patches bare before they can get a share, or just vandalizing them because of sheer orneriness, as sometimes happens. I once looked for berry-picking opportunities here in La Crosse, doesn't seem as common here as in California. Maybe no blackberries here? What about huckleberries? Hmm... I remember discovering, when I was between 4 - 8 yo. that the wild flowers growing into a nearby yard were full of a little sweet taste when I put them in my mouth. I told my parents about my discovery, and they warned me to be careful, I didn't know if the neighbors were spraying pesticides there. Sigh... I sometimes see squirrels around here happily scampering off to a secluded corner with their prize, a fresh walnut fruit. They expertly strip off the fruit and the shell, eat the nutmeat, and leave a little pile of of inedibles behind for people to wonder about. I don't notice a lot of walnuts on the ground here, possibly because I'm not good about recognizing walnuts in the fruit, and I don't use walnuts that much anyway.
October 2023 in Michigan. EVERYTHING is masting this year. Oaks (5 kinds), Hickory’s (4 kinds) and Black Walnut. I’ve never seen it like this. My woods are literally carpeted with nuts. The Oak galls were also crazy. Dozens under each tree. It’s so much it seems weird, almost apocalyptic.
Frank thanks for your family oriented channel. You have some good topics. What is your average annual snow fall at your elevation. Here in SE WI we get about 40 inches. Love the changing seasons.
The snow here is funny...we can have a year with barely a measurable snow storm...then another year we can get a 18 inch or more storm! Then snow might last week or two ...melt..and then we might see a couple 3 to 8 inch storms...very variable.
This is really fascinating! White oak acorns, in particular, are also really tasty when dried and roasted. They’re a little sweet with a maple-like flavor.
@@natureatyourdoor …I’m just learning about these things, so that’s interesting, both the tastiness and the tannin consideration. I’m afraid my property has gone pretty much un-searched for this phenomenon. Time for a hike! Thanks for identifying these three kinds of oaks. Super helpful!
@@natureatyourdoor Yes - usually have to soak them multiple times (three seems to work the best for me), though I don't necessarily wait until the water is completely clear.
That was really interesting. Nutty (no pun intended) how trees so far away from each other seem to follow suit in a mast year. Not the same, but we had a situation where there were several Arizona Mtn kingsnakes found in a two-day period, hours apart, in different habitats. Must have been "the time" to come out.
Hello Frank, i really do like your channel! I am constantly learning something new with each new video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge! Take care be safe & GOD bless ya!!!
Great episode! Do you know if urban trees follow the same mast cycles as forest trees? I’d say in my neighborhood, the biggest predators of acorns are the cars that crush them on the road - never any lean years for cars, unfortunately.
Thanks so much for this one, Frank! I have a huge yard full of 200+ year old oaks, and any chance to learn more about them is great. Always thought they were white oaks, and you managed nicely to prove that theory for me. It also appears that this is going to be a mast year here in mid-state South Carolina as well, we're getting tons of acorns - and I'm sure I'll have a yard full of deer every evening to help clean them up. About the oaks - I do find truffles under them once in a while. Any chance of a truffle video? :)
Your are welcome Deer Prudence! I haven't discovered truffles here as yet..but funny you mention it ...i just brought back some black truffle oil from Italy!
@@natureatyourdoor Frank - I didn't know I had any til my neighbor's hog got out of her pen. We'd just had to have a big oak taken down and she absolutely tore the ground up where the oak had been. That's when I started looking!
WOW long time since I heard that word. Because we purchased all our food in grocery stores we are not paying attention to nature. Very interesting thank you for bringing that to my attention I had forgot about that a mast year 🤔💭 hmmmmm
That’s a deer and turkey buffet! During early bow season I was hearing a ton of acorns falling in the woods, I’m a short distance from you so I guess it’s the same all across these mountains!
Btw...Hillbilly hardi climbed out of my tree stand yesterday...i had lowered Muzzle loader down with cord (cap removed) ...it was on the ground infront of me...took last step to ground...and here a buck snort at me at 15 feet in middle of my shooting lane, ....smh. 😖
@@natureatyourdoor nearly the same thing happened to me on the first day of muzzleloader! Looked around before I lowered my muzzleloader down, dropped the string and then I saw a deer 🤣 no way to get to my gun as I dropped the rope to the ground already! That same evening I got a six pointer and a doe, one of the best hunts I’ve ever had!
I thought there was a lot of acorns this year. I also noticed the chestnut tree didn’t have as many this year. I would like to try to grow some chestnut trees. I them put in soil and refrigerator for the winter and transfer to a small container with the sprouts growing down.😊 I might be wrong but I believe it’s American. My aunt loved nature and it’s been there for a long time.
You might leave them in a secure place outdoors. Some seeds need the freeze/thaw cycle too! Let me know how it turns out. Have you see my chestnut tree episode?
@@natureatyourdoor thank you for the info. Just have to find a place the little chestnut snatcher can’t get them. Yes I saw that video. I’m leaning towards this tree is American. It’s been there a long time and a huge pecan tree. Wonder what kinda soil is best for putting the chestnut in? My grandfather built the house in 1911 from the hardwood off the mountain. Blight came through but there were established chestnut tree on the mountain. They acquired the land at a public auction in 1906.
Can't believe how often I've noticed these differences and it never occurred to me to do any further research.😒(Especially when I've complained about boredom - that's downright embarrassing)!
@@carmennunnally9847 they are full of bitter tannins..but they can be soaked in water...dried and ground up and cooked like a protein rich nutritious flour!
Very cool! I learned a lot, well I will probably watch it again so I can get it all memorized. I find the name chestnut oak to be so confusing! I feel like some scientists shouldn't be allowed to name things just like some people should be allowed to name their kids.😉
Amazing to look back and find your HS science teacher making amazing videos!!!!!
Lol! Right? Glad you are connected to my youtube channel! Send q s anytime. I reply to all comments!
Thank you for sharing the wealth of your knowledge 🥰
You are welcome! Love sharing !
Thank you Frank my friend for such another educational video! We have 2 oak trees in side yard and I was just telling my wife this week I've never seen or remember such an abundance of acorns. I have literally had to sweep them up with a shop broom into a snow shovel. It is literally, what seems to be 50 times worse than last year. You, my friend, have answered my question as to why. Thank you again!
You are welcome Ted! The abundance is fascinating! Sounds like you are really buried there!
Such a great channel. Love learning new things, and boy you are filled with great information. Thank you for teaching us about nature.
You are welcome Tsu! Your compliment energizes me! Appreciate it very much!
This is great Frank. Watched the branches of my white oak steadily descend to almost the ground this summer.
Had a forever memorable fall of the sound if my oaks raining acorns. Gusts of winds almost signaling the oak to finally let go of all that weight.
The Question now is what to do with them all. 😇
Beautiful memory!
What an original and informative video Frank, I learned so much about our woodland ecosystems!
ALWAYS great to hear from the Wild Report ...i keep up with your videos! We have to get together and shoot a couple of episodes! ... How bout meeting me up at Mountain Rogers...White Top...Elk Garden trail head specifically and we search for the Yonahalosee (spelling error) salamander! Do you have my email?)
@@natureatyourdoor Yeah that would be great! We might end up having to plan for this January since that's when I'll be back in NC. I do not have your email.
@@TheWildReportOfficial ftaylor10000@gmail.com let's keep in touch...send me an email..will have to plan that trip for spring..4000 to 5000 ft...likely to be froz solid! 😲😟😃😃
Thanks again Frank, I learned something new. I have never heard of the term "mast". I have watched videos about how plants communicate with the help of Fungi though, which I find fascinating.
You are welcome Gandalf!
Thanks for this very educational article. I boggled at all the rich implications of "mast" and all the connections to wildlife management, recreation, anthropology, etc. For instance:
Mast can be an important food source for humans as well. Before we invented agriculture, a lot of human food sourcing involved gathering mast. We still do it, though not as much because of the labor involved. I remember picking wild native and invasive (Mongolian) raspberries every Summer in California and making raspberry pies with them, sometimes recruiting the younger members of neighborhood families.
On a side note, when my son was learning gardening at the local elementary school, I was drafted into making pumpkin pie from scratch to demonstrate to the class the usefulness of this originally wild American vegetable.
I read of Native American tribes in California harvesting acorns. Making these edible involves a lot of processing to remove the tannins, and some tribes regarded certain species of acorns poisonous whereas other tribes exploited the same species as a food source.
I picked up on your mention that hunters are commonly well-acquainted with mast as it presages abundant game. I imagine that DNR officials observe mast occurrences in deciding how many hunting licenses to make available. Also, encouraging hunting just after these years helps avoid herbivore population expanding beyond the capacity of the habitat to support, and also to prevent the predator population expanding and subsequently looking to human-kept livestock when their prey populations contract again.
Yes...exactly so much too think about...big year for walnuts here...abundant and free picking on the ground...and even with store bout walnut prices soaring ...few people bother. ...time? Knowledge? Nature disconnect?
@@natureatyourdoor Probably all three of those, possibly more. I remember I started gathering blackberries (not raspberries, sorry) when I noticed there was a bush literally growing into my apartment complex parking lot. So in my case I was totally ignorant about it until I just came face-to-face with it, and took notice. Then I saw I had time and interest to pursue it, and had an inexpensive summertime treat with a little investment of time. The blackberries were free, I just had to get flour, butter, sugar and cornstarch from the store if I didn't already have enough. Leftover berries could be eaten straight, with a little rinse, or sprinkled on morning cereal. After I started gathering seriously, I bumped into other neighborhood foragers doing the same on the nature/fitness trail that bordered my apartments. So it seems there's a small community of foragers in most suburban areas that have a reasonable intrusion of useful wild plants. They don't make a lot of noise about it because they don't want everybody coming through and stripping the patches bare before they can get a share, or just vandalizing them because of sheer orneriness, as sometimes happens.
I once looked for berry-picking opportunities here in La Crosse, doesn't seem as common here as in California. Maybe no blackberries here? What about huckleberries? Hmm...
I remember discovering, when I was between 4 - 8 yo. that the wild flowers growing into a nearby yard were full of a little sweet taste when I put them in my mouth. I told my parents about my discovery, and they warned me to be careful, I didn't know if the neighbors were spraying pesticides there. Sigh...
I sometimes see squirrels around here happily scampering off to a secluded corner with their prize, a fresh walnut fruit. They expertly strip off the fruit and the shell, eat the nutmeat, and leave a little pile of of inedibles behind for people to wonder about. I don't notice a lot of walnuts on the ground here, possibly because I'm not good about recognizing walnuts in the fruit, and I don't use walnuts that much anyway.
@@jimrodarmel8512 👍😊
fascinating! You always spark my enthusiasm and I eagerly read more about topics you've shared. Thank you for another interesting subject!
You are welcome Susan!
Very very interesting video
Thank you Roni!
October 2023 in Michigan. EVERYTHING is masting this year. Oaks (5 kinds), Hickory’s (4 kinds) and Black Walnut. I’ve never seen it like this. My woods are literally carpeted with nuts. The Oak galls were also crazy. Dozens under each tree. It’s so much it seems weird, almost apocalyptic.
Wow! Exciting times! Chattanooga Tennessee is having mast crop of white oak now as well...INCREDIBLE.. isn't it!
I wish my squirrels would find their way over there ☺️! Very interesting study, Frank. Thank you! We're in full color here. It is pretty 🍂🍁
Plenty of acorns for everybody!
Frank thanks for your family oriented channel. You have some good topics. What is your average annual snow fall at your elevation. Here in SE WI we get about 40 inches. Love the changing seasons.
The snow here is funny...we can have a year with barely a measurable snow storm...then another year we can get a 18 inch or more storm! Then snow might last week or two ...melt..and then we might see a couple 3 to 8 inch storms...very variable.
The meteorological average is 18 inches
Fascinating ! This Mast topic is all new to me.
Glad I could teach you something new my friend!
This is really fascinating! White oak acorns, in particular, are also really tasty when dried and roasted. They’re a little sweet with a maple-like flavor.
Hi Ben! Thanks. Do you soak the acorns in water first to remove some of bitter tannins?
@@natureatyourdoor …I’m just learning about these things, so that’s interesting, both the tastiness and the tannin consideration. I’m afraid my property has gone pretty much un-searched for this phenomenon. Time for a hike! Thanks for identifying these three kinds of oaks. Super helpful!
@@natureatyourdoor Yes - usually have to soak them multiple times (three seems to work the best for me), though I don't necessarily wait until the water is completely clear.
@@benmoffitt7524 i just had another viewer ask! Thanks, Ben!
That was really interesting. Nutty (no pun intended) how trees so far away from each other seem to follow suit in a mast year. Not the same, but we had a situation where there were several Arizona Mtn kingsnakes found in a two-day period, hours apart, in different habitats. Must have been "the time" to come out.
I once found 100 and 100s of red eft stage of eastern newt prowling around on one afternoon. (Summer after a big rain with no rain previous month)
Excellent presentation
Thanks a lot! Appreciate your encouragement!
Very interesting, thanks for the video. We are having the same in Ireland, our native Irish broad leaf trees are producing so much.
One of the joys of this channel is priveledge to interact with people around the world! Thanks for sharing your observations from Ireland! 🍀!
Hello Frank, i really do like your channel! I am constantly learning something new with each new video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge! Take care be safe & GOD bless ya!!!
Thanks so much Judy! That means a lot to me!
I really enjoy your videos! You are so interesting and I learn so much and very often go on to research the topics you discuss. Thank you!
I think you have become my #1 fan! Thanks for encouraging me!
@@natureatyourdoor My goodness! Thanks! Your students are lucky to have you for a teacher!
Great episode! Do you know if urban trees follow the same mast cycles as forest trees? I’d say in my neighborhood, the biggest predators of acorns are the cars that crush them on the road - never any lean years for cars, unfortunately.
I am sure they do!! 👍😊
Too bad people punish themselves with urban living
When I had a stress headache, I was frequently able to take Excedrin and walk in the woods to decompress
Thank you for your time sir. Well done
My pleasure...love to share!
Thanks so much for this one, Frank! I have a huge yard full of 200+ year old oaks, and any chance to learn more about them is great. Always thought they were white oaks, and you managed nicely to prove that theory for me. It also appears that this is going to be a mast year here in mid-state South Carolina as well, we're getting tons of acorns - and I'm sure I'll have a yard full of deer every evening to help clean them up. About the oaks - I do find truffles under them once in a while. Any chance of a truffle video? :)
Your are welcome Deer Prudence! I haven't discovered truffles here as yet..but funny you mention it ...i just brought back some black truffle oil from Italy!
@@natureatyourdoor Frank - I didn't know I had any til my neighbor's hog got out of her pen. We'd just had to have a big oak taken down and she absolutely tore the ground up where the oak had been. That's when I started looking!
WOW long time since I heard that word. Because we purchased all our food in grocery stores we are not paying attention to nature. Very interesting thank you for bringing that to my attention I had forgot about that a mast year 🤔💭 hmmmmm
You are welcome Toni! And yes.. You are right.
Looking good frank! I know for sure the squirrels there aren't complaining 😏
Ha! I am sure they are not!
Interesting. Thanks for the info
You are welcome Jorge!
Very interesting! Thank you! 🥰
You are welcome Cathy!
That’s a deer and turkey buffet! During early bow season I was hearing a ton of acorns falling in the woods, I’m a short distance from you so I guess it’s the same all across these mountains!
It is!
Btw...Hillbilly hardi climbed out of my tree stand yesterday...i had lowered Muzzle loader down with cord (cap removed) ...it was on the ground infront of me...took last step to ground...and here a buck snort at me at 15 feet in middle of my shooting lane, ....smh. 😖
@@natureatyourdoor nearly the same thing happened to me on the first day of muzzleloader! Looked around before I lowered my muzzleloader down, dropped the string and then I saw a deer 🤣 no way to get to my gun as I dropped the rope to the ground already! That same evening I got a six pointer and a doe, one of the best hunts I’ve ever had!
@@HILLBILLY_HARD 💪👍😀
I thought there was a lot of acorns this year. I also noticed the chestnut tree didn’t have as many this year. I would like to try to grow some chestnut trees. I them put in soil and refrigerator for the winter and transfer to a small container with the sprouts growing down.😊 I might be wrong but I believe it’s American. My aunt loved nature and it’s been there for a long time.
You might leave them in a secure place outdoors. Some seeds need the freeze/thaw cycle too! Let me know how it turns out. Have you see my chestnut tree episode?
@@natureatyourdoor thank you for the info. Just have to find a place the little chestnut snatcher can’t get them. Yes I saw that video. I’m leaning towards this tree is American. It’s been there a long time and a huge pecan tree. Wonder what kinda soil is best for putting the chestnut in? My grandfather built the house in 1911 from the hardwood off the mountain. Blight came through but there were established chestnut tree on the mountain. They acquired the land at a public auction in 1906.
Which old wagon road is this? Is it something that anyone can walk on or is it private?
Just a little section of it left on my property in Virginia...maybe 100 yards or so of the original road..the rest of it was graded an paved over.
Can't believe how often I've noticed these differences and it never occurred to me to do any further research.😒(Especially when I've complained about boredom - that's downright embarrassing)!
Ha! Fighting boredom everyday!
I have them here. They are pretty
Love the magestic wise old oaks!! 😊
@@natureatyourdoor can you eat them???
@@carmennunnally9847 they are full of bitter tannins..but they can be soaked in water...dried and ground up and cooked like a protein rich nutritious flour!
@@natureatyourdoor wow. Thank you
Here in Omaha there are hardly any acorns
Thanks for report from Omaha! 👍😀
My white oak seems to have a heavy mast about every 7 years., and the rest of the time very little.
Interesting pattern! Thanks for sharing!
Does this indicate a ‘NASTY’ winter? Possibly?!??;((
Old timers might say so..,but it is more a explanation of the weather the preceeding year rather than the coming year!
Subbed
Awesome! Thank you! Welcome to my channel!
I enjoy your videos! I believe God coordinates his creation.
Thank you Heavenbound!
Very cool! I learned a lot, well I will probably watch it again so I can get it all memorized. I find the name chestnut oak to be so confusing! I feel like some scientists shouldn't be allowed to name things just like some people should be allowed to name their kids.😉
Lol! 😉
Scientist use Latin names for better identification