2
and seeds, nectar, nuts
(mast), browse plants such as
twigs and buds plus forage and
aquatic plants.
Fruits and berries are rich in
vitamins and carbohydrates
and are usually available in the
summer and fall. These include
elderberries, blackberries,
strawberries, raspberries,
cherries, grapes, mulberries,
and apples.
Some varieties, such as
mountain ash and holly, have
berries that stay on the bush
or tree and are available to
wildlife in the winter.
One of the most popular
berries for birds is elderberries.
Fifty-one different bird species
eat them. Other favorites are
sunflowers, preferred by 46
species, and flowering dogwood,
favored by 45 bird species.
Fruits are also eaten by
many different kinds of
mammals, including squirrel,
fox, deer, bear, skunk, and
opossum.
Nuts are really fruits with a
dry, hard exterior shell and
contain fats and proteins.
Acorns from oak trees are
most widely available along with
pecans, beechnuts, and
walnuts. Squirrels and
chipmunks prefer hickory nuts,
hazelnuts, black walnuts, and
butternuts.
Grains and seeds constitute
the major food of many species
of wildlife. They mature in the
summer and fall but some can
be found throughout the year.
Seeds of conifers (evergreens)
are also a good source of food.
Weeds probably contribute the
most to food sources as they
are so abundant and many times
are favored by wildlife (not
property owners) over more
attractive yard plants. A good
example is pigweed. It can
contain nearly 100,000 seeds
per plant!
Other favorite weeds are
ragweed, smartweed, dock, and
crabgrass.
Grains raised by farmers, such
as oats, wheat, barley, rye, corn,
grain sorghum, and soybeans
provide abundant food. In recent
years, whitetail deer, which have
thrived despite urbanization,
cause millions of dollars of crop
losses for farmers, especially to
corn, soybean, and hay fields.
For example, in Maryland the
deer population has increased
from 20,000 in 1981 to over
300,000 currently.
Vegetative parts of plants are
sought by rodents, browsing and
grazing mammals, and some
gamebirds. Deer, antelope, and
rabbits are especially fond of
alfalfa and clover hays.
Also, we must not forget
aquatic plants such as wild rice,
widgeongrass, pond weeds, and
wild celery. They are a favorite
of ducks, geese, muskrats,
beaver, moose, and sometimes
deer.
The roots, bulbs and tubers of
plants which are underground
are consumed by moles,
gophers, wild turkeys, ducks,
geese, and muskrats.
And nectar from plants is
sought by hummingbirds, moths,
and bees. Plants that
successfully attract nectar
feeders include trumpet
honeysuckle vine, cardinal bush,
paintbrush, bee balm, petunias,
and morning glory.
Wildlife will often use an
abundant food source almost
exclusively when it becomes
available. Good examples are
nuts and fruits. Squirrels and
Blue Jays store acorns, hickory
nuts, and walnuts for later use.
Deer and bears develop a thick
layer of fat by feeding on
acorns.
Insects are another vital food
source, especially for songbirds,
quail, and pheasants. If you use
insecticides to kill pests on
your property, be careful and
use with
restraint.
Providing a
variety of
foods is
probably the
most
important
part of your
