Squirrels Cause Pine Debris

Q: What is causing healthy-looking clumps of pine needles to break off and fall from our towering pine tree? Dozens of these pine needle clumps with immature pine cones have been collecting on the ground. This has been going on for weeks, but I don’t remember it happening in years prior. 

A: This is the time of year when squirrels begin breaking off mature pine cones and eating the seeds. They pull off the pine cone scales one by one and eat the seed at the base of each. You have probably seen the “cobs” of the cones on the ground as well.

Pine cones take two or three years to mature. Fully developed cones are sometimes accompanied by younger cones at branch tips. A hungry squirrel comes along and tears off the bigger cone. This weakens the joint between the branch and needles. It’s not unusual for a spray of needles and a smaller cone to break off and fall to the ground. So that’s the story, morning glory!