Final answer:
The squirrel will collect a total of 252 acorns in the 21 days before the winter storm. This is calculated by multiplying 12 acorns/day by 21 days. Instead of retaliating against a bear, the squirrel should focus on preparing for winter.
Step-by-step explanation:
If the squirrel collects 12 acorns a day and there are 21 more days until the big winter storm, we can calculate the total number of acorns the squirrel will collect. We do this by multiplying the number of acorns collected per day by the number of days remaining, which gives us:
12 acorns/day × 21 days = 252 acorns
After 21 days, the squirrel will have accumulated 252 acorns more than the original amount she had before the given 21-day period.
Regarding what the squirrel should do to get even with the bear for eating the acorns, it's important to remember that animals in nature often have to deal with challenges like this. The squirrel could focus on collecting more acorns, perhaps finding a better hiding place to store them, to prepare for the winter storm. However, revenge actions, such as retaliating against the bear, are not advisable nor part of natural behaviors in wildlife, and focusing on preparations for winter would be a more practical approach for survival.