Some birds will migrate to warmer climates. Other animals start a winter coat to offer protection to the cold winter months. As for black bears, they begin to feed heavily to store fat for the upcoming hibernation season. A primary food source for black bears in Maryland prior to hibernation is acorns.
Acorn production varies among oak species, and with older, more mature trees producing more acorns.
It takes acorns from the red oak group two years to mature, while acorns from the white oak group will mature in one year. Late frosts will affect acorn production, as the freezing temperatures can kill oak flowers. The purpose of these surveys is to determine acorn production as well as other mast crops. Acorns are counted in select plots in the four western counties. These surveys have been conducted since 1976, and provide important information on the availability of acorns as food for wildlife.