Not Just for Timber

Carl was an avid hunter and loved wildlife. Some of the value and economic return on this woodlot was sacrificed by leaving less valuable trees to grow that provide important habitat for wildlife. Trees with holes and crevices are potential den trees providing shelter for wildlife. The hemlock trees near the opening provide important cover, especially in the winter. Mast trees such as beech and cherry are an important food source. The term, “Mast Tree,” is used to describe trees that produce edible fruit or seed. Mast trees are broken into two categories: Hard Mast (trees that produce a nut such as an acorn or a beechnut) and Soft Mast (trees that produce a fleshy fruit such as a cherry or berry).