Handles

1. Lots of predators around, coyotes, coons, skunks, possum, owls, hawks these will each take a portion of some of the small game and game birds be it chicks, eggs etc. I've seen more coons this year than squirrels. Not many people hunt them anymore. Landowners don't want dogsscaring "their" deer onto other properties.
2. Last winter was really tough on the squirrels, not a huge accorn year to start with, then 3 feet of crusty snow prevents them from getting to much of their burried caches, overall a poor accorn year this year too.