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| Most of the trees in the woods are hardwoods, deciduous trees that lose their leaves in autumn. Oak, hickory, and maple are the predominant species. Evergreen trees, such as cedar and pine, provide patches of green all year long. Like the Rain Forest, the Eastern Forest contains life in layers. Owls, hawks, squirrels and caterpillars inhabit the canopy which is formed by the leaves and branches of the tallest trees. Raccoons, flying squirrels, birds and hornets can be found in the understory. Deer, ticks, chipmunks and rattlesnakes make their home on the forest floor. The underground or soil layer is home for the groundhog, worms, moles, and yellowjackets. While we think of the woods in terms of its growing trees, dead trees are critical to the heath of the forest and the wildlife this habitat sustains. They provide food and nest sites for animals and enrich the soil as they decay.
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The Woods
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Copyright © 2004 by Owl’s Hill Nature Sanctuary. All rights reserved.
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