The deciduous forest covers most of the eastern half of the United States, extending from the Great Lakes to the middle of Florida. Much of this great forest has been cut for agricultural and building needs, especially during the first 100 years of our nation’s history. In many areas the forest is now being allowed to come back due to less agricultural use, but increasing population will never allow the great forests of the past to revive completely. In the regions of the deciduous forest the temperature varies widely, however the summers are generally quite hot. The average annual rainfall is 45-50 inches distributed throughout the year. The type of forest is often determined predominantly by the water-holding properties of the soil, and this is determined by the parent-rock below. A study in the forests of Maryland showed that regions based on granite or gneiss had thick soils that hold large quantities of moisture and regions based on schists had soils that due to their large-grained nature could not retain much of the available rainfall.
Succession in the deciduous forest results in mature forests composed of tall high-canopy trees such as beeches or oaks, a lower layer of maples or birches, and beneath these a lower layer comprised of dogwoods, hawthorne, and hollies. This assemblage of trees shades the forest floor excluding most ground shrubs and flowers. But there are some shade-loving plants that take advantage of the humus-rich soil and bring surprises of color to the forest. These include trillium, lady slippers, mountain laurel, blue anemone, and fringed gentian.
The leaves that fall from the deciduous trees spread out on the ground where bacteria and fungi begin breaking down the vegetative matter. Other creatures; beetles, millipedes, springtails, and earthworms creep through the leaf litter further mixing and breaking it down. This produces the typically rich humus found in the forest. Into this rich soil burrows mice, moles, voles, woodchucks, marmots, and chipmunks.
There is a rich array of medium and large animals inhabiting the deciduous forest. Many of these animals are limited by the intrusion of man into their habitat. Hawks, owls, black bears, bobcats, and beavers have greatly declined in numbers. The mountain lion once roamed the forests but no more. Elk and moose are quite scarce and wolves are gone. Some animals have increased in number however. This includes the white-tail deer, often a nuisance in populated areas now. Raccoons and opossums have adapted very well to life in populated areas and numbers of woodchucks, red foxes, cottontail rabbits, and songbirds have grown. The successful animals are generally animals that inhabit the forest edges, open areas increase their food supplies and wooded areas provide shelter.
The animals of the deciduous forest have adapted to the cold non-productive season of winter in a variety of ways. Some remain active, living off their hoard of collected nuts and seeds. Others collect a winter store and go underground. Bears find a rock hollow or cave to curl up in but their hibernation is not deep and they can respond to changes in the weather or the presence of a threat. The burrowing animals vary in their depth of sleep also, ranging from simple reduction of activity to entering a deep almost death-like sleep. Even the most deeply affected animals will rouse from hibernation if the weather warms or on the other hand chills below the freezing point in their den. The additional cold could kill them so they awaken enough to feed on their winter cache and warm up. All the hibernators depend on their layers of stored body fat to get them through the winter so the fewer the disturbances to their rest the more healthy the animal will be in the spring. A major disturbance in a hibernating animal’s rest could cause its death before spring arrives.
One animal of the deciduous forest that has increased dramatically in number is the white-tail deer. When settlers arrived in New England the white-tail deer provided a valuable source of meat and hides. Over time hunting and clearing of the land for agriculture reduced the deer population greatly. But the institution of hunting limitations, the regeneration of the forests on abandoned agricultural land and the removal of natural predators has resulted in a population explosion among out at night and feed on orchard fruit or garden vegetables, eating and trampling as they move through residential areas. Where roads and highways wind through wooded areas or meadows the sudden appearance of a deer in the headlights of a car can prove a disaster for both the deer and the driver. In many areas new hunting seasons have been instituted to thin out the herds. This has proven to be very controversial with high emotion flowing on both sides of the debate. This topic is a good discussion starter as many of the children will have strong feelings about hunting, both pro and con. For children who have heard much about the killing of animals and the resultant extinction or endangerment of species this topic will bring in some other concepts, range management and overpopulation. More information about this debate is available from both wildlife protection agencies and hunting organizations. These are listed in the Appendix.
One other mammal of the deciduous forest that is important to tell the children about is the raccoon. This animal has adapted exceedingly well to the suburban and even the urban environment of man. The raccoon feeds on a wide variety of natural foods such as crayfish, frogs, mollusks, mice, worms, eggs, berries, nuts, and grains. In the country it will feed on farmer’s corn and in the city it will forage in garbage pails. The raccoon does not insist on washing its food as many have heard, however given the opportunity it does seem to like to eat moistened food. Raccoons have become a problem in Connecticut over the last few years as a carrier of rabies. This started on the western border of the state and has moved eastward steadily. Since rabies is a fatal but preventable disease children should be sure their family pets (dogs and cats) are vaccinated and must be warned to stay away from any mammal that is acting strangely (wild animals out during the day in plain sight, or dogs or cats that are unknown to the child). They should also be aware that a dead animal can harm them if they handle it and come in contact with the bacteria. There is an excellent educational program that has been developed by the state Humane Society on rabies. More information is available by contacting them. The address is in the Appendix.