When you walk along the Hickory Boardwalk Loop this time of year, the chances you’ll see piles of broken nuts, seeds, and fruits littering the walkway are quite high. Even if you didn’t get a chance to spot the culprit, it’s not as hard as you might think to figure out whodunnit.
Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) love to make a mess of things, leaving shells behind all over the place. They’re perfectly content leaving shells behind, as seen in the picture on the right. Squirrels have strong incisors that can break into the top of a seed or nutshell, and then they pull the seed open and cut it cleanly in half.
Sometimes you’ll get the chance to capture gray squirrels in the act. This one is fleeing the scene! This behavior often ends up dispersing seeds of local plants, and it helps grow forests. When you see one, stop and think about what a squirrels’ meal might become in the future!
Help us protect and conserve the biodiversity of our 950-acre reserve. Your support enables us to continue this mission, ensuring that future generations can enjoy clean water, vibrant habitats, and resilient communities.
