( CNN ) -- Up and down the East Coast , residents and naturalists alike have been scratching their heads this autumn over a simple question : Where are all the acorns ? Some scientists fear a mysterious shortage of acorns this fall in the eastern U.S. will affect squirrels . Oak trees have shed their leaves , but the usual carpet of acorns is not crunching underfoot . In far-flung pockets of northern Virginia , Maryland , Pennsylvania , West Virginia and other states , scientists have found no acorns whatsoever . `` I ca n't think of any other year like this , '' said Alonso Abugattas , director of the Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington , Virginia . Louise Garris , who lives in the Oakcrest neighborhood of Arlington , Virginia , first noticed the mysterious phenomenon early this fall when doing yardwork beneath a canopy of large oak trees . `` I have lived in the area my entire life and have never not seen any acorns ! '' she said . Garris checked with some local plant nurseries and they confirmed her observation . The mystery has found its way to the Internet , where a `` No acorns this year '' discussion on Topix.com yielded more than 180 comments from people reporting acorn disappearances as far away as Connecticut and North Carolina . `` WHAT IS GOING ON ? '' posted a resident of Maplewood , New Jersey . `` Now we are finding dead squirrels ! SHOULD WE ALL BE CONCERNED ? '' Not necessarily , naturalists say . Last year Garris reported a bumper crop of acorns , which scientists say may be one clue to this year 's scarcity . Virginia extension agent Adam Downing said acorn production runs in cycles , so a lean year is normal after a year with a big crop . `` It fits with the physiology of seed reproduction . The trees are exhausted , energy wise , from last year , '' Downing said . But even he is surprised at the complete absence of nuts in parts of Virginia . `` There are plenty of acorns in most of the state , but zero acorns in some pockets , '' he said . Downing said recovery from last year 's big crop , combined with a much wetter-than-usual spring , probably accounts for the acorn absence . Meteorologists say the Washington-Baltimore area saw about twice as much precipitation last May as normal . Kate McNamee , who runs a Washington-area , volunteer tree-planting project called `` Growing Native , '' lends specific numbers to the acorn shortage . Her group collects hardwood seeds and plants trees to protect rivers and streams in the Potomac River watershed . `` Last year we collected 25,000 pounds of seeds , most from a bumper crop of acorns , '' said McNamee . `` This year we only collected 10,000 pounds , and 90 percent of that was walnuts . '' Even though this acorn shortage has not risen to the level of a crisis , scientists say it is important to watch closely . If the shortage continues for several years , other forces might be at work . iReport.com : Skillful squirrel raids bird feeder . Garris said her observations got her thinking about other recent environmental issues . `` I had read about the collapse of the bee colonies , and it made me wonder , is something else going on here ? Could this be affecting other systems ? '' At the Long Branch Nature Center , calls and e-mails have been pouring in from people who want to donate acorns they 've gathered in areas where they are plentiful . It 's also hard to think of acorns without thinking about squirrels . What happens to them when their favorite food disappears ? Some Eastern Seaboard residents have reported seeing skinny , aggressive squirrels devouring bird feed . `` Especially in the depths of winter , there 's not much else for the squirrels to eat . Some may switch their diet , many others probably wo n't make it , '' said Abugattas . `` Squirrel and deer numbers will almost certainly go down . '' But Doug Inkley , senior scientist at the National Wildlife Federation , said that wild animals can be resilient when their usual food sources go away . Inkley cited a blight that destroyed 3.5 billion American chestnuts from 1900-1940 , wiping out a common food source for squirrels , deer , mice and wild turkeys . But those animals adapted and survived , he said . Barbara Prescott , a wildlife rehabilitation expert , agreed that squirrels are not fussy about their diet . She suggested that residents leave whole ( not crushed ) corn , peanuts and sunflowers in the seed as backyard treats . John Rohm , wildlife biologist for Prince William , Loudoun , Fairfax , and Arlington counties in northern Virginia , has faith in the furry population . `` Animals are resourceful , '' he said . `` If they 're hungry , they 're gon na find something to eat . '' CNN.com 's Brandon Griggs contributed to this story .
Naturalists are baffled this fall by a shortage of acorns in the eastern U.S . Residents in some areas report plenty of acorns , while others have seen none at all . Acorn growth runs in cycles , so a lean year may be normal after last year 's big crop . Some scientists fear the shortage will affect squirrel populations .