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Have you ever noticed

that New Hampshire has a lot of trees? New

Hampshire is about eighty-two percent forested.

Throughout history, trees have served important purposes for

both people and wildlife. You use wood products like paper, pencils and

furniture in your daily life. Trees provide wildlife with components of their habitat,

too. Oaks, for example, produce acorns that are food for squirrels, deer, wild turkeys and blue

jays, as well as providing places for squirrels and birds to nest.

Not only are there lots of trees in New Hampshire, depending upon where you are, there are different kinds

of trees. Trees grow based on the soil, weather conditions (climate) and landforms (topography). We identify trees by

looking at things like their shape, whether they have leaves or needles, and what their bark looks like.

VOL.

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The Woods and Wildlife Connection

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Forest communities are named by the combination of trees that grow together. Some forests only have evergreen trees – trees that stay green year round. Other forests have deciduous trees, which lose their leaves in the fall. Still others have both. They can range in size from an area the size of a football field to thousands of acres. Here are three common natural forest communities and a sampling of animals that make these places their home.

Red spruce and balsam fir forests are found growing in northern parts of the state and on mountainsides. As you climb a mountain, you will find dense stands of spruce and fir on steep rocky slopes where the soil is shallow. The other place you’ll see spruce and fir growing is near streams, swamps and bogs – areas where water does not drain well from the soil.

Spruce Fir Forest

Needles on red spruce are short, four sided and sharply pointed.

American marten, also known as pine marten, is an endangered species in New Hampshire. They spend a lot of time in trees and eat a variety of small mammals, like red squirrels, mice and voles, as well as birds.

Balsam fir needles are short, flat and blunt. The needles are soft and fragrant when cut.

The purple finch is the state bird of

New Hampshire. It feeds primarily on buds

and seeds.

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People from all over the world come to New Hampshire to see the brilliant fall colors. The northern hardwoods, a mix of primarily sugar maple, yellow birch and American beech, are responsible for this color. Found in central New Hampshire up to 2,500 feet in elevation, northern hardwoods grow on loamy, well-drained soils.

Northern Hardwoods: Maple-Beech-Birch

Sugar maples can grow to be 80 feet high and 3 feet in

diameter.

Black-throated blue warblers primarily forage (look

for) insects in the understory. Nests are two feet off the ground in deciduous shrubs.

American beech have small triangular nuts enclosed in a soft, prickly burr.

The black bear’s diet varies from spring to fall, based upon the food that is available. Beechnuts, rich in fat, are an important fall food.

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In the southern part of New Hampshire, red oak and white pine are commonly seen growing together on

well-drained soils. This forest type is common in

the transition zone between the northern hardwoods and the

central hardwoods found in southern

New England.

White Pine -Northern Red Oak Forest

Northern red oaks begin to produce acorns when they are twenty-five years old.

Northern redbelly snakes are found on

forested upland ridges under rotting wood.

Valued for their lumber, white pine can grow to a height of 200 feet. It takes two years for its cone to mature and drop its seed.

Travelling in flocks, wild turkey feed on acorns and other nuts

during the fall and winter.

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Have you ever wondered how you can tell different species apart? A dichotomous key gives you choices that lead you to the answer. Find an evergreen tree with needles and try to identify it using the dichotomous key:

If there are five needles in a bundle – White Pine

If there are three needles in a bundle – Pitch Pine

If there are two needles in a bundle – Red Pine

If needles are about ½-inch long, have a narrow

base and leave the twig rough when they fall off

– Eastern Hemlock

If the needles are blue-green and the twigs hairless – White Spruce

Name That Tree

If the needles are in bundles or tufts, go to 2

21

If the needles are singular go to 1

1a

If the needles are stiff, sharp, 4-sided (can be twirled between the thumb and finger) and leave the twig rough when they fall off, go to 1a

1b

If the needles are flat and can be easily

bent go to 1b

If the needles have broad bases and leave the twig smooth when they fall off – Balsam Fir

If the needles are ½ inch or more and the

twigs and buds are hairy – Red Spruce

pub09005a

this program receives federal financial assistance from the u.s. fish and wildlife service. under title vi of the civil rights act of 1964, section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973, title ii of the

americans with disabilities act of 1990, the age discrimination act of 1975, title iX of the education amendments of 1972. the u.s. department of the interior and its bureaus prohibit discrimination

on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion or sex (in educational programs). if you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility, or if you

desire additional information, please write to:

the u.s. fish and wildlife service – office for diversity and civil rights programs – external affairs4040 n. fairfax drive, suite 130, arlington, va 22203

Wild Times for Kids is published twice a year by the new hampshire fish and game department. multiple copies are available for schools and youth groups upon request. send your request to:

N.H. Fish and Game Department, Public Affairs Division11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301 l 603-271-3211 www.WildNH.com

Conserving New Hampshire’s wildlife and their habitats for over a century.

Support for this Wild Times provided by:Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire

N.H. Department of Education through Math Science Partnership and State Literacy PlanN.H. Fish and Game Department

© 2009 n.h. fish and game dept.

All you need is a partner, string, ruler, paper, pencil, meter stick and a tree to figure out the height of a tree.

1. Have your partner stand at the base of the tree.

2. Back away from the tree, holding your ruler in front of you in a vertical position. Keep your arm straight. Stop when the tree and the ruler appear to be the same size. (Close one eye to help you line it up.)

5. Measure how many meters he or she walked. That is the tree’s height. Round to the nearest meter and record your answer.

3. Turn your wrist so that the ruler looks level to the ground and is in a horizontal position. Keep your arm straight.

4. Have your partner walk to the spot that you see as the top of the ruler. Be sure the base of the ruler is kept at the base of the tree.