Quercus rubra
Northern Red Oak
The Catskill Mountains are not home to many oaks compared to the surrounding lowlands, but if you do spot an oak it is likely our native Northern Red Oak. In some years, oaks produce a great quantity of acorns. Such years of abundance are known as “mast” years. The word mast refers to the seeds and nuts of trees and shrubs. While we don’t know for certain why oaks and other trees have mast years, it is theorized that the trees signal to one another to overproduce via mycorrhizal or fungal communication networks in the soil. This excess production allows for a better chance that more acorns will sprout and grow successfully. In theory, this abundance of acorns is great for squirrels preparing for winter. However, more acorns can trigger a spike in the squirrel population which can then lead to increased competition for forage the following season.