Why are so many acorns on the ground in Chicago? It's a 'mast year,' experts say - Chicago Sun-Times
By A Mystery Man Writer
Last updated 16 Jul 2024
![Why are so many acorns on the ground in Chicago? It's a 'mast year,' experts say - Chicago Sun-Times](https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/017f1e0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6122x3442+0+263/resize/820x461!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F-9RAxz2vCrR-wQxrozSbGzvo6Ac%3D%2F0x0%3A6122x4083%2F6122x4083%2Ffilters%3Afocal%283435x1984%3A3436x1985%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24941938%2FACORNS_092223_01.jpg)
The abundance in acorns this fall is the result of a phenomenon that happens once every few years, in which oak trees produce far more acorns than normal.
![Why are so many acorns on the ground in Chicago? It's a 'mast year,' experts say - Chicago Sun-Times](https://townsquare.media/site/721/files/2021/08/attachment-austin-goode-nslkhpfmi2g-unsplash-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Why Are There So Many Acorns in Illinois This Fall?
![Why are so many acorns on the ground in Chicago? It's a 'mast year,' experts say - Chicago Sun-Times](https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8d88967/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/840x560!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F4OHj5oq_RhO9VpgZO9HWlBcNmXM%3D%2F0x0%3A6000x4000%2F6000x4000%2Ffilters%3Afocal%282991x550%3A2992x551%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24918951%2F1672659882.jpg)
Bears go 7-10? That's crazy talk - Chicago Sun-Times
![Why are so many acorns on the ground in Chicago? It's a 'mast year,' experts say - Chicago Sun-Times](https://images.theconversation.com/files/301776/original/file-20191114-26202-8v7s3l.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip)
Tons of acorns? It must be a mast year
![Why are so many acorns on the ground in Chicago? It's a 'mast year,' experts say - Chicago Sun-Times](https://images.radio.com/aiu-media/Bur-oakThe-Morton-Arboretum-31c428d6-4200-4a1c-b3d1-6f83bf95964b.jpg)
Oak trees producing bumper crop of acorns this year
![Why are so many acorns on the ground in Chicago? It's a 'mast year,' experts say - Chicago Sun-Times](https://www.massaudubon.org/var/site/storage/images/7/1/6/7/1897617-1-eng-US/f8be8f306b61-2408JustinMiel8522-1920x1280-9dba7568-75cc-4098-a6cf-3c027bf1fd73.jpg)
Why Do Some Years Produce More Acorns Than Others?
![Why are so many acorns on the ground in Chicago? It's a 'mast year,' experts say - Chicago Sun-Times](https://static.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/282B8F02-A47D-40C9-8C81C14E891D2194_source.jpg?w=1200)
This Fall Is Full of Acorns--Thanks to a 'Mast' Year
![Why are so many acorns on the ground in Chicago? It's a 'mast year,' experts say - Chicago Sun-Times](https://media.wfaa.com/assets/WFAA/images/b3403ec7-8b7d-4076-a2ee-4512d4548a15/b3403ec7-8b7d-4076-a2ee-4512d4548a15_1140x641.jpg)
Why are there so many acorns falling in Texas? It's a mast year
![Why are so many acorns on the ground in Chicago? It's a 'mast year,' experts say - Chicago Sun-Times](https://townsquare.media/site/721/files/2021/08/attachment-14712559_1474908602525171_3225459971173229355_o.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Why Are There So Many Acorns in Illinois This Fall?
![Why are so many acorns on the ground in Chicago? It's a 'mast year,' experts say - Chicago Sun-Times](https://i0.wp.com/bcc-newspack.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2023/09/Screen-Shot-2023-09-22-at-1.23.04-PM.png?resize=780%2C909&ssl=1)
Squirrels Have Gone Wild' Celebrating An Acorn Surplus
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