Happening at the Crossroads
November 22, 2006
There are no Christmas trees in the parking lot at Crossroads at Big Creek. Our evergreens are distributed throughout the preserve, but this time of year, we think about greens.
In colonial times and the early days of our country, people just went out into the woods and cut down whatever they found. In the New England states, that usually meant balsam fir. By the time the first Christmas tree lot was established in New York in 1851, most people assumed that all Christmas trees were balsams. Consequently, that's what they sold.
In the early years of Door County, many balsam firs were cut and sent by the famous and sometimes ill-fated Christmas tree ships to Milwaukee and Chicago. By today's standards, balsam firs seem rather scrawny. But remember, before the electric lights, trees were lit with candles. They needed to have huge gaps between the boughs.
Truth is, in the East, balsam fir remains the top seller. In the West, Fraser firs are hot, but in the Midwest, folks seem to prefer Scotch pine and Douglas fir Around here, white pine and balsam also are quite popular.
What "Christmas trees" do wildlife creatures prefer? White pine! The seeds of white pine are oily and nutritious. Many of our winter birds depend on the seeds of pines, especially in years like this one, in which cones are plentiful. Squirrels (red and grey) chipmunks, and mice eat white pine seeds. Other mammals eat the inner bark and needles. Porcupines, rabbits and snowshoe hares just love to sink their teeth into the trunk of a pine tree. And while it's not their favorite food, whitetail deers will nibble on pine needles and twigs. (Deer much prefer cedar.)
Deer do use white pine for cover, and in heavy snow, to shelter them as they sleep. And many birds and small mammals incorporate pine needles into nests. Balsam fir may smell like Christmas to us, but to wildlife, the trees stink. For example, deer will not touch balsam fir unless they are starving to death, which perhaps is a good thing. This tree has very little nutrient value. Porcupines may gnaw a bit of the inner bark, but they'd much rather eat hemlock or maple.
Just as humans favor certain trees, forest creature have definite preferences. Animals with fur have little use for fir, but without our state tree, wildlife would pine.
Learn about middens in November 20 News
Crossroads at Big Creek is a mission-driven,
donor-support learning preserve focusing on science, history and the environment. Naturalist programs and lecture
are free unless otherwise noted. The trails of Crossroads are free and open to the public. Pets (on leash and under
control) are permitted but owners are encouraged to help keep the trails clean. Once snow is on the ground, hikers are asked to use designated trails and to avoid the groomed ski trails. The Collins Learning Center is
open Monday, Thursday and Sunday, 1:30 - 5:00, and Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, 11:00 - 3:00 and during scheduled
events. Crossroads at Big Creek is located at the intersection of Highway 42/57 and Michigan Street in Sturgeon
Bay. For more information, call 920.746.5895.
