Do camels store water? In a word, No! A popular myth that a thirsty traveler could kill a camel and in part of its stomach find water that could be drunk to survive, is not true. The camel does have a very complex digestive system, and its stomach does have pockets in it. But these pockets are filled with liquefied masticated food waiting to be absorbed. A truly desperate person might be able to consume this vile mess and live longer, but not otherwise.

It seems that oak trees can synchronize their erratic production of acorns in a way that they can stay one step ahead of the local mouse population. The white-footed mouse depends primarily on the acorns as its main food source. The mice will eat large quantities of the nut which decreases the oak’s ability to reproduce its species.

The rate of mouse reproduction increases or decreases in response to, in part, the availability of food supplies. When acorns are abundant, the next year will be a big one for mouse population. When acorns are scarce, then the mice will have a very low birthrate and a high deathrate. The mouse population cycles from low to high depending upon acorn production.

It appears that oak trees in one area will produce huge numbers of acorns one year and then as the mouse population increases will decrease the numbers. Each year there are areas where large numbers of acorns will be produced, but this large production will move from area to area.