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Delaware Volunteers Collect More Than 350 Pounds Of Acorns To Restore Wildlife Habitat

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Delaware --(Ammoland.com)- At DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Annual Acorn Collection Day, 163 volunteers joined with agency biologists to collect 231 pounds of acorns that will be scattered in reforestation areas to establish new wildlife habitat.

In addition, 122 pounds were collected by landowners on their properties and donated to the Division.

“Our collection totals were a little lower this year, but it is not uncommon to have ‘boom and bust’ years for acorn production. We are fortunate to continue to have such a great volunteer turn-out at this event each year and we are pleased with this year’s collection,” said Lynne Staub, Division of Fish and Wildlife coordinator for the event.

“With the assistance of collection day volunteers and donations from landowners, this year’s collection was a success, with a final count totaling 353 pounds of acorns. The acorns will be used in reforestation efforts at the Blackbird Reserve and Cedar Swamp Wildlife Areas. These areas provide valuable habitat – food and shelter – for many native wildlife species,” Staub added.

Volunteers collected acorns from areas at each site where seedlings would not generally be able to grow, including mowed areas along trail edges, open spaces and roadsides. The acorns will be scattered in reforestation areas.

This year marked the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s 7th annual event, with more than 3,713 pounds of acorns collected since Acorn Collection Day was introduced in 2005.

This year’s collection day was made possible by the support of volunteers from throughout the state and by assistance from DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation – Rockford Park and Trap Pond State Park, and DelDOT – Smyrna Rest Area, for the collection sites.

For more information on volunteer opportunities with the Division of Fish and Wildlife, visit www.fw.delaware.gov/volunteers or contact Lynne Staub, 302-735-3600 or Lynne.Staub@state.de.us

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Volunteers Collect A “Bumper Crop” Of Acorns To Restore Wildlife Habitat
More than 2,300 pounds of acorns collected since 2005.

Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife

Delaware --(AmmoLand.com)-At DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Annual Acorn Collection Day, 91 volunteers joined with agency biologists to collect more than 790 pounds of acorns that will be scattered in reforestation areas or transplanted on public and private lands to establish new wildlife habitat.

In addition, more than 400 pounds were collected by landowners on their properties and donated to the Division’s reforestation program – the Landowner Incentive Program.

“This was a bumper crop of acorns, and we had a great turnout of volunteers to assist with the collection,” said Lynne Staub, Division of Fish and Wildlife coordinator for the event. “Between collection day volunteers and landowner donations, this year’s collection was a great success with a final count of 1,191 pounds of acorns. The oak trees produced from these acorns will expand wooded areas and provide valuable habitat – food and shelter – for many native wildlife species.”

This year marked the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s 5th annual event with more than 2,300 pounds of acorns collected since the event was introduced in 2005.

This year’s collection day was made possible by volunteer support of people from throughout the state and by assistance from DNREC’s Division of Parks and Recreation – Lums Pond and Trap Pond State Parks – and DelDOT – Smyrna Rest Area – for the collection sites.

Volunteers collected acorns from areas at each site where seedlings would not generally be able to grow, including mowed areas along trail edges, open spaces and roadsides. The acorns will be scattered in reforestation areas to grow on their own, or with the help of program partners, grown into oak seedlings that will be transplanted on both public and private lands throughout the state.

This year, more than 400 pounds of acorns were donated by landowners, including Betty Ann Cooper, who collected 150 pounds on her property in Frederica and donated the acorns to the Division of Fish and Wildlife for the program.

“I don’t like to waste things,” said Cooper. “This is a good way to use acorns so they aren’t wasted or run over by our mower. I do it because we need it – it’s for Delaware!”

For more information on the Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Landowner Incentive Program, visit www.fw.delaware.gov/dplap or contact Lynne Staub, (302) 735-3600 or Lynne.Staub@state.de.us

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