In backyards across Des Moines, a quiet battle is unfolding between trees and the creatures determined to eat them out of house and branch. Sometimes, even people get caught in the crossfire. Oak trees loaded with acorns can snap under the weight, sending heavy limbs crashing onto homes, garages and anything unlucky enough to be beneath them. Aaron Steil, consumer horticulture extension specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach — an acorn expert — said oaks are exhibiting a phenomenon called masting, when trees produce a surplus, or “bumper crops,” of acorns all at once. “I can tell you, probably, from a squirrel’s point of view, this is probably one of the best years ever,” Steil said. Tap the link in our bio for more on this story. #DesMoines #Iowa #squirrel #oaktrees