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Hi David,
In the area around my farm in eastern Ontario Butternut trees are found naturally. Most are in rough shape due to Butternut canker but they persist and produce nuts in spite of this. From my observations I'd say that Red Squirrels are the most likely vector of distribution. I've seen them moving and hoarding both Butternuts and the larger Black Walnuts, husk and all, around my front yard. I haven't seen seedlings in my yard however so either they don't survive the disease or none of the nuts survive the squirrels' hunger.
My neighbor told me that before Butternut became a scarce tree, his mother used to gather the nuts and use them in her baking. Presumably in the same way that walnuts or pecans are used. Anyone have a recipe for butternuts? Butternut 'squash' is the only ingredient I was able to find on the internet.
All the best,
Lance
-----Original Message-----
From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of David & Alison Webster
Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2015 7:25 PM
To: NatureNS@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: EXTERNAL: [NatureNS] Butternut seedlings
Dear All, Oct 27, 2015
Over the last 3-4 years I have been seeing Butternut seedlings in the yard; some new ones every year and most in the vicinity of a large Ash tree.
I have yet to see any animal carrying the nuts so I continue to wonder what agent moves them. Some 6-8 children play in nearby yards and they might move them but I can't see this happening year after year. To judge from the droppings on the tiers of wood, and excavations at the base of an old-growth compost heap, our yard is Raccoon Central but surely a Raccoon would not try to eat a Butternut.
One of the Western Woodpeckers (Acorn) has a slick way of eating the elongated Acorns of some western Oak species. It drills a hole in a tree just large enough to hold an Acorn, shoves one in the hole pointed end first and then eats the insides after pecking the proximal end away. More often they drill many holes in a tree and store Acorns for off season use.
We have Hairy Woodpeckers in and out of that Ash tree many times per week (10-20 ?) so I am wondering if they sometimes use or try to use the sharp crotch of Ash branches to hold a Butternut so they can peel the husk away enough to open the nut.
I tried eating Butternuts some decades ago and, drawing on memory, the husk is readily removed after leaf-fall and the meat is rich and good to eat without any treatment.
Yt, Dave Webster, Kentville
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