Naked Pinecones (trees, snake, violet, insects)

[Umbria]

I have 2 very tall and very old pine trees. This year I have been seeing many bare pinecorns - like an ear of corn with no kernels, just the husk. Maybe 8o-100. I usually get regular pinecones but this year they are naked. Any ideas?

[Bulldogdad]

Squirrels or chipmunks maybe. Birds also. Its some kind of animal that is stripping them.

[Umbria]

Well, at least you didn't say it's a sign of a harsh winter (don't you dare say that!). This must be one monster animal and it is meticulous - those cones are stripped totally bare. It's just that this year has just been~~~~~~~~strange.

I've gotten insects I've never gotten before (Japanese Beatles). Then I saw nickel size round holes in the ground (near the pines)??????????????????? (snake maybe) I filled those with ammonia and dirt.

Then I nearly stepped on a~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~SNAKE! I've never had a snake in this yard and I have been here 15 years and spend a lot of time in it.

So many strange things happening
bwahaaaaahaaaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaahaaa

[Bulldogdad]

I think this article explains what your seeing with your cones.
Squirrels Often Eat Pine Nuts and Maple Sap: They Open Cones in Winter and Eat Sap in Spring (http://mammals.suite101.com/article.cfm/alternate_foods_of_gray_squirrels - broken link)

[Robyn55]

Squirrels - they eat pinecones like corn on the cob . Robyn