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April 1, 2005

Solution to NPR's Exploding Maple Trees

Today's top story on NPR's All Things Considered followed how the declining maple syrup industry of the North East had lead to untapped maples exploding from an excess of sap. I would like to put forth a solution to this dilemma - the maple syrup harvesting red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). These squirrels are already native to the area, so they wouldn't be threatening any resident species. They just need to be encouraged, perhaps in a crop rotational pattern, to spend winters in the neglected maples. It's kind of like time-sharing...

A downturn in the maple syrup market is having harmful side effects for trees in northern New England. For the first time in decades, the maples are remaining untapped, with sometimes-dangerous results.

More at: NPR : April Fool's: New England Suffers Maple Woes

One of the more crafty mechanisms, Serrao notes, is the maple syrup harvesting of the red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). The tree-dwelling rodent is found throughout the northern United States and parts of Canada.

When its stores of pinecones and nuts gathered during the summer and fall run low, the squirrel scores the bark of sugar maple trees with its sharp teeth, allowing the sap to drain.

Once most of the sap's water has evaporated in the winter sunlight and left a sugary residue on the bark, the squirrel returns to lick it.

More at: No Nuts, No Problem: Squirrels Harvest Maple Syrup

Posted by sorsha at April 1, 2005 3:58 PM