We pick too many chestnuts, forest rangers see: 'Significant consequences for animals'

2 min read · 14 Oct 2022 · 8 · 8 · 8

Brabant forest rangers see that too many (sweet) chestnuts, mushrooms and other forest fruits disappear into visitors' bags. This causes a shortage of food in animals, they say. “Carrying a hand is fine, but some people want full bags. That's really not the intention,” emphasizes forest ranger Erik de Jonge. Since they were back on the ground, Erik has seen that chestnuts are unabated in popularity among visitors. “Around ninety percent of the chestnuts are taken. So they are not eaten by the animals and with that you really get a large layer of food from the forest for squirrels, jays and mice. And mice are owls' staple food again, so removing them has serious consequences for animals” In addition, there are few acorns and beech nuts in the Brabant forest this year. “We think this is due to a late frost in the spring and the extreme drought,” he explains.

“That means that many animals have to survive on chestnuts. When we remove everything, we enjoy popping chestnuts in the winter while the animals starve. That can't be the intention” Officially, the rules are therefore strict: you can't take anything from the forest at all. “But of course, no forest ranger is difficult about that, because that's part of autumn and it's a bit of nature experience,” says Erik. “Again: bringing a hand is really fine, but of course we don't allow taking everything for sale,” says Erik, who works in the woods on the Brabantse Wal. There is often another problem: forest visitors who come off the trails to pick up. “This morning, I met a couple who were really walking hundreds of meters off the path. There are all kinds of deer, foxes and martens lying there in peace during the day and you cause panic among the forest animals,” says Erik, who insists that animals have better hearing and walk away before people can see them.