Fruits of the Forest

STORY BY KATHY ANDREWS
PHOTOS BY CHAS. J. DEES

White oak Quercus alba Members of the white oak family generally are identified by their round, lobed leaves. Their acorns mature in one season, contain little tannin and therefore are sweeter than black or red oak acorns. Because these acorns are highly palatable, they seldom last through a winter. As a group, acorns are eaten by waterfowl, shorebirds, gamebirds, songbirds and my mammals.

With more than 420 vertebrate species dependent on woodland communities for some portion of their life cycle, healthy forest ecosystems are critical to maintaining viable wildlife populations.

Shagbark hickory Carya ovata Characterized by long, shredding bark, the shagbark hickory grows in rich, upland woods. Shagbark leaves are pinnately compound, with five to seven lance-shaped leaflets arranged alternately along the stem. Meat of the tree's four-angled, white nut is sweet, making it a favorite food of animals and humans.

Most animals need to eat daily, and creatures of the forest search for mast—the hard and dry or soft and fleshy fruits of woody plants. Throughout the year, white-tailed deer, white-footed mice, wild turkeys, wood ducks and a variety of songbirds and squirrels forage the forest for these nutritional packets. During migration, mast in flooded hardwood timber becomes especially important for ducks.

Hard mast—nuts and seeds—is an important wildlife food during the fall and winter. These concentrated food sources are high in fat and extremely durable, hence their importance as a cold weather survival food. Oaks, walnuts and hickories are the most common producers of hard mast in Illinois.

Summer brings the fruits of berry and fleshy seed-producing plants. This soft

Black oak Quercus velutina By contrast to the white oaks, the black or red oak family has bristle-tipped leaves and bitter-tasting acorns. These acorns tend to be passed over until other acorns are gone, making them good late season food sources. Acorns in this family require two growing seasons to mature.

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Wild black cherry Prunus serotina Wild black cherry trees have single, oval-shaped leaves arranged in an alternate pattern. Ripe fruits are dark purple to black, with many small fruits on a single drooping stalk. Wild cherries are an important wildlife food during the summer. Birds make repeated trips to a tree to harvest fruits off the branches. Many mammals feed on fruits

mast is high in the carbohydrates and sugars necessary to build energy stores for winter. Soft mast is produced by plants like persimmon, wild grape, crab apple, black cherry, mulberry, blackberry, dogwood, plum and sassafras.

Vary the Landscape

Plant diversity is an important consideration, whether managing a woodland or landscaping a yard. Areas containing a variety of plant types provide the seasonal foods wildlife need.

Hard mast-producing trees, although some of the slowest growing, generally are longer-lived and represent a long-term habitat investment.

Black walnut Juglans nigra Leaves of the black walnut are pinnately compound, with 15 to 23 leaflets arranged in an alternating pattern on the stem. Fruits are yellow-green and up to two inches in diameter. Inside the husk is a hard, oval, dark-brown nut. Walnuts most commonly are eaten by red-bellied woodpeckers and fox and gray squirrels.

Soft fruit-producing plants are faster growing and produce food relatively quickly. These trees tend to have a shorter life span and need to be replaced, if not naturally regenerated. Additional benefits of soft mast trees are their showy spring blossoms and brilliant fall color.

Food production can vary dramatically from plant to plant and from year to year. Establishment of a variety of mast-producing species ensures some food is available when other plants fail to produce. For instance, white oaks and black/red oaks generally alternate years of heavy acorn production. This complementary nature of acorn production demonstrates the importance of developing a diverse timber for wildlife.

Pecan Carya illinoinensis A slow-growing tree associated with moist woodlands, the pecan may reach 150 feet in height. Nuts are elliptical in shape and two inches long, Pecans are eaten by wood ducks, wild turkeys, northern bobwhite, woodpeckers, squirrels, white-tailed deer,

Forests—representing only 12 percent of Illinois' surface area—are biologically diverse and support 61 percent of our native flora and 75 percent of our wildlife species. More than 508 species of woody plants—trees, shrubs and vines—have been recorded in Illinois forests.

Foresters and wildlife managers strive to maintain large-crowned trees, as these produce the greatest amount of seed. Three methods are used to improve mast production: propagation (direct planting); release from competition with other plants (controlled burning, thinning, creation of forest openings); and protection (preservation of mature plants, elimination of diseases and insects).

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