Naturalists are baffled this fall by a shortage of acorns in the eastern U.S. Residents in some areas report plenty of acorns, while others have seen none at all Acorn growth runs in cycles, so a lean year may be normal after last year's big crop Some scientists fear the shortage will affect squirrel populations (CNN) -- Up and down the East Coast, residents and naturalists alike have been scratching their heads this autumn over a simple question: Where are all the acorns?Oak trees have shed their leaves, but the usual carpet of acorns is not crunching underfoot.In far-flung...