Abundance of acorns this year

GLOCESTER, R.I. (WPRI) - Fall is approaching and area trees are dropping acorns in abundance

It's a drastic change from last year when no acorns were to be found anywhere in New England.

Experts say it may seem like a lot compared to last year's extreme, but the yield of acorns is actually average.

"Usually you will have a good year, and then less and less, and sometimes you won't have any.  And that's what we ran into last year.  We were in that cycle where we didn't have any acorns," said Bruce Payton, supervising forester for Rhode Island DEM.

Heavy rain and high humidity the past few years dampened last year's crop.  This year it was a different story.

"This year, we got a fair crop, not exactly the biggest crop we've seen before.  And the acorns are a little smaller than normal," said Payton.

We asked Payton if this crop of acorns hinted at what the upcoming winter will be like, but he says it has no impact, and that trees just react to environmental conditions.

Payton adds, "More of the stress that's going on to them, not what's coming in the future.  I think they're forecasters, but I think they react more to what has happened to them in the past."

The acorns, no matter the size, are an important source of food for the animals.