What critter in Walnut Creek is swallowing acorns and leaving evidence?

"The thing about acorns is they aren't intended to be digested whole, so any animal that eats them that way is going to expel them that way."

"Some seeds, which are what acorns are, need animals to pass them through their digestive tract. The journey helps to break down the outer protective covering and make it easier for the seeds to germinate."

"The three most likely culprits are bears, wild boars and dogs. I haven't seen any reports of bears wandering around Walnut Creek, but the area does have wild boars. Have you seen any damage in the neighborhood, such as plowed up lawns, broken fences or torn up garden beds? That would be a sign of wild boars."

Acorns are seeds not intended to be digested whole, so animals that swallow them typically expel them intact. Some seeds require passage through an animal's digestive tract to help break down protective coverings and aid germination, but acorns rely on caching and burial to germinate. Squirrels, other rodents and many birds usually cache acorns for later consumption rather than swallowing them whole. Larger animals such as bears, wild boars and domestic dogs are known to eat acorns whole. Wild boar presence often shows as plowed lawns, broken fences or torn garden beds. Coyotes may eat acorns but generally do not swallow them whole.

Read at The Mercury News