Animal food might just be on your autumn table: forest ranger explains which nuts you can gather from nature
Autumn is just around the corner, and you can see that not only from the falling leaves.
Especially as winter approaches, nuts are an important food source for animals. Some years there are a great many nuts; this is known as a mast year. "Then a lot remains in nature, much of which germinates. In that case, you can certainly take a handful of nuts."
Horse chestnut for the autumn table
In the Zeeland countryside and in gardens, you mainly see acorns, hazelnuts, walnuts, beech nuts, and chestnuts. "Not all species are equally popular among animals. Animals often ignore horse chestnuts due to their bitter taste. Only in years when little food is available do mice and hares occasionally eat them." However, horse chestnuts are very popular on the autumn table and for crafts. So, if you come across them during a walk, feel free to take them home.
Sweet chestnuts are seen much less frequently. Sometimes you find them on estates or in gardens. The cultivated variety is much more popular in the animal kingdom. "Jays, squirrels, and mice, in particular, love them." If you want to see these animals, you can also go to oak trees. A good acorn year is often accompanied by a healthy mouse population. "Other animals benefit from that, especially owl species such as the little owl and the tawny owl. But also kestrels and buzzards."
Animals in the garden
If you want to give animals a helping hand, you can of course plant a nut tree in your own garden. "The beech is a good tree for that. The nuthatch is a real fan of beech nuts. Do you want a nut tree that also keeps flies and mosquitoes out of your garden? Then the walnut tree is highly recommended. "The leaves contain a kind of aromatic scent that flies and mosquitoes really dislike. You can crush a few leaves to release the scent and place them on your nightstand." All kinds of birds and mice are attracted to the walnuts. "Mice have a bit of a bad reputation, but they are actually incredibly useful. It is eat or be eaten in nature, and they are an important food source for birds of prey."
Mice generally do little harm and are quite harmless. "We should really have a bit more appreciation for them." Now that winter has arrived again, they are looking for warm places. "You can try to seal cracks, but they will always find a gap. They are just part of the family, even if they aren't always very popular."
