Oak and Acorns

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The buds, young sprouts and raw acorns (fruit) of the oak (Quercus  sp.) contain tannins, gallic acid and pyrogallol. Poisoning by these toxins in animals can cause gastroenteritis,  kidney and liver damage.  Symptoms of poisoning may be delayed for  several days following the ingestion.

Oak poisoning is more common in cattle and less so in sheep and  horses. The toxicity of the oak varies with the growing season,  climatic and geographic factors.

In humans, ingestion of ripe acorns in young children seldom causes  problems apart from the occasional gastrointestinal upset. It  appears that raw acorns are potentially more toxic.

Acorns are still a cause of serious poisoning in livestock. I was  unable to locate reports of toxicity in the avian species. Since  there is the potential for causing toxicity, and because the  nutritional value is questionable, it is probably best to avoid  giving acorns to birds to eat.

I realize that oak branches have been used as perches and have not  caused problems. There is the potential for toxicity so are probably  best avoided.

Gillian Willis
Vancouver, B.C.

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Copyright © Gillian A.Willis. Permission to re-use any part of this text (whole or in part) must be obtained from the author.