NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Oct. 16, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 416
For more information contact Lynne Staub, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Private Lands Assistance Program, 302-735-3600; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
Volunteers collect a “bumper crop”
of acorns to restore wildlife habitat
More than 2,300 pounds of acorns collected since 2005
At DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Annual Acorn Collection Day, 91 volunteers joined with agency biologists and collected 792 pounds of acorns that will be scattered in reforestation areas or transplanted on public and private lands to establish new wildlife habitat. In addition, 438 pounds were collected by landowners on their properties and donated to the Division.
“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 1,230 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, 438 pounds of acorns were donated by landowners, including Betty Ann Cooper, who collected 150 pounds on her Frederica property 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.
