490 A NATIONAL PLAN FOR AMERICAN FORESTRY 



Much forest wild life requires large areas of woodland. In this class 

 are included elk, moose, deer, bear, some species of grouse, turkeys, 

 and some fur bearers and predators. Range wild life includes the 

 plains animals, such as buffalo, antelope, jack rabbits, and some spe- 

 cies of grouse and prairie chickens, which for the most part seek the 

 open, and thrive there under natural conditions. Farm wild life in- 

 cludes small birds and mammals and such game species as pheasants, 

 Hungarian partridges, quail, squirrels, and rabbits, which profit by 

 the easily obtained food supply on farms and prefer areas where brush 

 cover and open spaces occur. Migratory wild fowl mostly seek wild 

 coastal lakes and marsh areas for resting places, food, and breeding 

 grounds. 



Although specific figures are not available, it is safe to state that 

 the forested and wooded lands of the country provide all or part of 

 the habitat for a major percentage of the remaining wild life, which 

 for the purpose of this report includes birds and those mammals of 

 importance for food, fur, hunting, and aesthetic qualities, and those 

 commonly classed as predators. 



The forest is a favorable natural habitat of wild life because, for 

 most species, it furnishes three prime essentials: food, breeding 

 grounds, and protection from enemies and the elements. 



Forest and other wooded lands furnish these environmental condi- 

 tions in whole or in part for all classes of game, fur bearers, and other 

 wild life, except those that frequent the open country and unwooded 

 marshes. In general, the topography and the flora of the wooded 

 lands of mixed growth are most suitable to accommodate a great 

 abundance and variety of animal life. Marginal areas are particu- 

 larly favorable. Streams, lakes, wooded swamps, open marshes, 

 ridges, and rough mountain areas afford a vast range of climatic 

 conditions, varieties of food, and other factors of environment neces- 

 sary for a great variety of dependent animal life. The forest mantle 

 provides the cover needed for protection against natural enemies, 

 and the increasing numbers of hunters. 



Space limitations will permit the citation of only a few specific 

 examples of forest requirements for wild life. H. L. Stoddard reports 

 as a result of investigations in Georgia that in seed years pine mast 

 is one of the chief foods of quail during the fall and early winter. 

 Longleaf pine cones open rapidly and the seed falls within a 2-week 

 period. Since it sprouts quickly, it furnishes food for only a short 

 time. Loblolly pine cones open slowly and furnish a food supply 

 well into the winter. Stoddard's investigations disclosed that in 

 1925 pine mast formed 32.5 percent of the quail food during the above 

 period. The food supply is naturally affected by seed years and, 

 when pine seed is not available, quail seek sweetgum seeds, acorns, or, 

 as in the Central States, seeds of legumes which grow in woods, to- 

 gether with field weed seeds, corn, other grains, many wild fruits, and 

 insects. In Northern States pine seeds are less important. Ruffed 

 grouse derive a still larger part of their food from the forest. In 

 addition to tree seeds, this species eats insects and a great variety of 

 buds, leaves, and fruits. 



Among the larger game, deer obtain practically all of their food 

 from the forest. An examination of the deer range in Pennsylvania 

 by experts from the United States Biological Survey and the State 

 game commission disclosed that deer food consisted almost wholly 



