It's raining maple seeds....from squirrels! :)

It's that time of the year again in my area that maple seeds begin maturing and start filling the sky as they take their helicopter decent down to their new earthy home, and sometimes a little prematurely, thanks to the squirrels!

It seems like it starts with one squirrel, feasting on the plethora of pink and red maple seeds, and realizing that the seeds are way too numerous to be enjoyed alone, invites all of their fellow furry friends to join in on the harvest and buffet.

Watching through the window, I can see them venture out on the furthest reaches of the limbs, munching away, and showering down maple seeds below them. If I venture outside and open the door, the squirrels quickly descend also, darting rapidly into the nearby woods.

Has it started raining maple seeds for anyone else this year?

I haven't seen squirrels in my maple trees, but I know of people observing them locally throwing down fir cones and have been a victim myself! They have already been checking out the hazelnut tree this spring.

Jay Angler wrote:I haven't seen squirrels in my maple trees, but I know of people observing them locally throwing down fir cones and have been a victim myself! They have already been checking out the hazelnut tree this spring.

Yeah, I've had them do that to me before too!

I got pelted by acorns while collecting them. Most maple seeds are edible and delicious in salad (peel off the helicopter). So, I am waiting for the fun!

Amit Enventres wrote:I got pelted by acorns while collecting them.

Ouch!

Most maple seeds are edible and delicious in salad (peel off the helicopter). So, I am waiting for the fun!

Very cool Amit!

Amit Enventres wrote:I got pelted by acorns while collecting them. Most maple seeds are edible and delicious in salad (peel off the helicopter). So, I am waiting for the fun!

I got really excited about this, but then I looked up the only maple we have around here Acer pseudoplatanus. (common name Sycamore) And drat not only is it not edible it can be poisonous and fatal to horses, the compound they contain is hypoglycin A which can also be fatal to humans. the levels depend on the tree and the weather, but not something I'm about to play around with :( even though it's not going to do much harm in small doses.

Skandi Rogers wrote:
I got really excited about this, but then I looked up the only maple we have around here Acer pseudoplatanus. (common name Sycamore) And drat not only is it not edible it can be poisonous and fatal to horses, the compound they contain is hypoglycin A which can also be fatal to humans. the levels depend on the tree and the weather, but not something I'm about to play around with :( even though it's not going to do much harm in small doses.

Yikes! Yes, always better safe than sorry. Funny though, my initial research shows that it's edible to humans and poisonous to horses. However, please do what you feel is right. We have red maples and sugar maples here and have eaten many salads with crunchy maples seeds on top.