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Forest

Providing shade, oxygen, homes... is there anything forests can't do? | Kilen Woods State Park

"Forest" is a catch-all for any wooded plot of land. The primary ingredient in any forest is , of course, trees. Trees provide:

• Cover from the elements and predators.
• Shade for sensitive plants.
• Food in the form of fruit, berries, roots, bark, nuts, foliage, sap and young branches.
• Rotting wood, eaten by insects.
• Nesting materials for birds and squirrels.
• Insects eaten by birds and other animals.
• Shelter in boughs for birds and squirrels.
• Shelter in the way of cavities and hollowed trunks for woodpeckers, owls, bats, raccoons, chipmunks and other animals.

More animals can often be found in a forest than in any other biome in Minnesota, and are vital to preserving native species. Woodpeckers, for instance, require the dead and rotting trees found in old growth in order to hunt for insects and excavate the tree cavities that house many species, including owls and hawks. There are many animals that require, or at least prefer, special kinds of forests. Red Squirrels prefer coniferous forests, where they can get the get pine cones that make up their diet, while their cousins the Gray Squirrel prefer deciduous forests, where acorns are plentiful. There are many other specialized forest biomes not yet covered in this site, including Oak Savannahs.

On top of all the species that require forests, there are also many that require forest verges; areas where forests border other biomes. The American Beaver requires lakes, wetlands, or rivers that border on forests that provide the wood necessary to build dams and food piles.

Want to Learn More?

In an effort to make our site as comprehensive as possible, we have supplemented our online park and wildlife survey with other educational resources. Every book we recommend has been hand-picked by a Beyond Main Street volunteer. 7.5% of all proceeds from the links below go to help Beyond Main Street build a larger, more comprehensive site!

Birds of Minnesota and Wisconsin

Wildflowers of Minnesota

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