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Falling Acorns Driving Jersey Residents Nuts

PARAMUS, N.J. (CBS 2) – Acorns are falling everywhere this year and they're driving homeowners crazy.

They're covering sidewalks, roads, patios and furniture and Paramus residents are giving up on trying to clean up.

"We just cleaned this like two days ago," Renata Ayob said. "You like trees, you like the green, you have to accept it all."

The rise in tree droppings is even surprising horticulturists like Dr. Steven Fischer.

"I've been in this industry 40 years and I've never seen a year like this," he said.

Dr. Fischer and his partner, Dr. Susan Gruben, work at Bergen County Community College and said a record number of fallen acorns comes from a combination of windy weather, dry conditions and timing.

"These trees are producing huge amounts of seeds. They call it a mast year. It's been going on for millions of years," Dr. Gruben said.

The acorns don't all seem to drop at once though, CBS 2's Derricke Dennis reports. They fall one by one at any moment, making residents and their possessions easy targets.

"Because it's like you forget they're there, and then suddenly, as if someone threw something on your car," Ayob said.

Even though there are benefits to acorns -- squirrels love them and they're seeds that can become beautiful old, oak trees years from now -- homeowners aren't too fond of them.

"If I clean, after one hour, again, same thing, doesn't help," said Paramus resident John Hakimian.

New Jersey Fish and Wildlife experts said they are planning an acorn cleanup next week. The acorns will be recycled for mulch.

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