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Thanks Lance,
We do have a Red Squirrel that more or less lives here. If I find a
fruiting Butternut within Squirrel distance then that will be the solution.
I wonder how a Squirrel would get at the nut ? It would be a tough chew
but possible I suppose.
In Davis, California I once heard a very shrill but faint shrieking
sound at dusk which turned out to be a mouse gnawing at a Wild Walnut shell.
Dave W.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Laviolette, Lance" <lance.laviolette@lmco.com>
To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 11:44 AM
Subject: RE: [NatureNS] Butternut seedlings
> Hi David,
>
> In the area around my farm in eastern Ontario Butternut trees are found
> naturally. Most are in rough shape due to Butternut canker but they
> persist and produce nuts in spite of this. From my observations I'd say
> that Red Squirrels are the most likely vector of distribution. I've seen
> them moving and hoarding both Butternuts and the larger Black Walnuts,
> husk and all, around my front yard. I haven't seen seedlings in my yard
> however so either they don't survive the disease or none of the nuts
> survive the squirrels' hunger.
>
> My neighbor told me that before Butternut became a scarce tree, his mother
> used to gather the nuts and use them in her baking. Presumably in the same
> way that walnuts or pecans are used. Anyone have a recipe for butternuts?
> Butternut 'squash' is the only ingredient I was able to find on the
> internet.
>
> All the best,
>
> Lance
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca]
> On Behalf Of David & Alison Webster
> Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2015 7:25 PM
> To: NatureNS@chebucto.ns.ca
> Subject: EXTERNAL: [NatureNS] Butternut seedlings
>
> Dear All, Oct 27, 2015
> Over the last 3-4 years I have been seeing Butternut seedlings in the
> yard; some new ones every year and most in the vicinity of a large Ash
> tree.
> I have yet to see any animal carrying the nuts so I continue to wonder
> what agent moves them. Some 6-8 children play in nearby yards and they
> might move them but I can't see this happening year after year. To judge
> from the droppings on the tiers of wood, and excavations at the base of an
> old-growth compost heap, our yard is Raccoon Central but surely a Raccoon
> would not try to eat a Butternut.
> One of the Western Woodpeckers (Acorn) has a slick way of eating the
> elongated Acorns of some western Oak species. It drills a hole in a tree
> just large enough to hold an Acorn, shoves one in the hole pointed end
> first and then eats the insides after pecking the proximal end away. More
> often they drill many holes in a tree and store Acorns for off season use.
> We have Hairy Woodpeckers in and out of that Ash tree many times per
> week (10-20 ?) so I am wondering if they sometimes use or try to use the
> sharp crotch of Ash branches to hold a Butternut so they can peel the husk
> away enough to open the nut.
> I tried eating Butternuts some decades ago and, drawing on memory, the
> husk is readily removed after leaf-fall and the meat is rich and good to
> eat without any treatment.
> Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
>
>
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
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> Version: 2015.0.6173 / Virus Database: 4455/10903 - Release Date: 10/28/15
>
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