Wildlife HERO: We All Need Trees!
It is with great excitement I share that NatureHood partner Sharon Hughes and I are ready and excited to begin our next Wildlife HERO (Habitat Environment Resources Outreach) program at Delaware Elementary in
Springfield, MO. The current six-week program, our second, will focus on trees.
With the word Wildlife in the name, why would we spend six weeks studying and observing trees?
I am so glad you asked! Trees provide so much for wildlife and humans! Aside from building materials and paper products for humans, trees provide habitat, food, and shelter for wildlife. Amphibians, reptiles, birds, insects all rely on trees for various reasons.
For example, the Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) is one of the host plants to the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) butterfly. The Hackberry Tree (Celtis occidentalis) is host to a variety of insects, including the Hackberry Emporer (Asterocampa celtis) which can be found thoughout much of the eastern U.S.
Tree frogs live in forests and some even rely on knotholes in trees for habitat. Grey and Fox squirrels rely on trees for food and shelter. Many bird species nest in trees, either
on the limbs or in cavities, including the incredible Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) which demonstrates the importance of letting dead trees remain standing if they do not pose a threat to human health or safety. Those tree snags are an important part of the ecosystem.
Even fallen logs provide food and shelter for wildlife. Insects such as sowbugs live and feed on decaying logs. And mushrooms and other fungi are often associated with trees in varying forms of life, health, death, and decay.
These are but a few reasons why studying trees and understanding their role in our ecosystem is important.
We are looking forward to working with the participants in this spring's Wildlife HERO and can't wait to see the excitement on the faces of these young people as they explore and share the beauty of trees!