The humble acorn's effect ripples through the forest.

A plump red oak acorn falls into a shallow pond.   

Ripples radiate outward in a perfect metaphor for how annual acorn crops in NH forests ripple through regional wildlife populations for months - or even years - after autumn acorns ripen and fall.

This is the second year of moderate to heavy red oak acorn crops.

Layers of fat built up by acorn-foraging black bears determines the health of bear cubs born in dens to nurse well beneath the snow next winter. For deer, the bumper acorn crop means more twin fawns will be born to white-tailed does next June if winter is not too severe.

Fall nut crops also influence next year's rodent birth rates, moving up the food chain from prey to predators. Heady days for smaller rodents including mice, chipmunks and squirrels that are the most important forest prey species foretell of boom times ahead for predators including barred owls, red-tail hawks, red foxes, bobcats and coyotes further up the food chain.

Acorns cause a spike in prey birthrates, predator birthrates and eventually numbers of parasites like ticks and mange mites. Even the relative frequency of road kills may increase, feeding scavenging crows, ravens and turkey vultures.

While oaks have evolved an intentional "boom and then bust" strategy of variable seed production to ensure acorn germination, consider the incidental ripples throughout the forest food chain over successive years.

Today’s acorns will be next Spring’s squirrels and chipmunks, ultimately destined to become next summer’s broadwinged hawk chicks and well-fed weasels!