This Is the Odd Reason Behind the Hudson Valley Squirrel Boom

Think you've seen more squirrels than usual this year in the Hudson Valley? You're not alone.

It's been an absolute squirrel party in my backyard in Newburgh, NY, much to the excitement of our dog. Every morning, he sprints to the door, getting ready to charge out into the yard and send the fluffy rodents scurrying in all directions. It turns out that there actually might be a scientific reason behind the reported "squirrel boom".

Environmental scientists may have discovered the reason there is such a large population of squirrels in the Hudson Valley, NY this year (Canva)

Are There More Squirrels Than Usual in the Hudson Valley?

I know I'm not the only one who has noticed the increased activity of one of the Hudson Valley's cutest pests. Facebook posts in community groups across the region have all been asking the same question: why are there so many damn squirrels? The answer may come from the trees.

"Masting" years for certain trees occurs every 2-5 years and results in an overproduction of acorns, walnuts, and other seeds and fruits (Canva)

What Is Tree "Masting"?

There is an odd phenomenon with certain species of trees (including local oaks and maples) called "masting". Masting occurs every few years, and produces a "boom crop" of walnuts, acorns, and other seeds or fruits from affected trees. While scientists don't know the cause of masting, some suspect a clear effect of the overproduction.

A Mast Year for Trees in New York State

Last year was declared a "mast year" by Sheldrake Environmental Center in Larchmont, NY. One employee observed that the excess production of acorns and other edibles in 2023 might very well result in a population boom of the animals that consume them in 2024.

The simple equation makes a lot of sense. More food for squirrels, chipmunks, and other small critters means that more of them can survive the long winter, leading to bigger populations. Even though my dog can't understand what a "mast year" is, I'm sure he's thankful for it.

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It seems like squirrels might get away with more than other wild rodent species simply due to how cute they are. Check out the lengths one resident went to create a "squirrel movie theater" below, and keep scrolling to see how you can channel your inner squirrel with a luxury treehouse Airbnb.