In our young, sunny forests, it’s not just the baby trees we plant that grow. Wildflowers and berry bushes also thrive here, making this forest a great food source for pollinators like honeybees. Incredibly, it takes the nectar of about 2 million flowers to make 1 pound of honey, according to this NASA article. In addition to wild bees, beekeepers ranging from hobbyists to industrial honey producers place their hives on our land.

Drawn to woodlands, these hawks are one of many species that prefer to perch and nest in taller trees, but spend much of their time hunting along waterways and in young, open forests. We leave some tall trees standing after a harvest to ensure some perch trees are available for hunting birds. Red Shouldered Hawks eat small prey like mice, frogs and snakes.

Named for their large, shoe-like hind feet that allow them to walk on the snow, these hares actually change color! They’re white in winter and reddish-brown in summer to blend in with their surroundings. They prefer thick, young forests, where there are plenty of places to hide from predators and food like grasses and flowers. One hare can birth as many as 32 young in a single year, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

If you ever hear what sounds like a prolonged human shriek in the forest, it may be a mountain lion: they “scream” to attract a mate! Also known as a cougar, panther and puma, this wild cat has a massive home range of up to 100 square miles. That makes large forested properties especially critical for their survival. Mountain lions eat deer, coyotes, raccoons, elk and other mammals.

Blackberries grow plentifully in our young Pacific Northwest forests. There are native and invasive strains of blackberries, all providing a nutritious fruit treasured by larger animals like bears and deer; smaller animals like rabbits and squirrels; and many species of birds. Blackberry seeds are spread far and wide through bird droppings and animal scat. They’re so prolific, some strains are actually considered a weed in Washington and Oregon.

This stunning flower is a delight to hummingbirds and other pollinators, who seek nectar in its tubular, bell-shaped flowers. It grows wild in our young, sunlit forests although foxglove is originally from Europe. Though they are lovely to look at, these flowers are poisonous to touch and can cause nausea or even cardiac arrhythmia in humans. In fact, their impact on the heart is so powerful, they’re used in certain heart medicines.

Oregon grape is a shade-tolerant berry bush that flourishes in Pacific Northwest forests. It’s berries are a favorite snack for many birds and mammals. Pollinators like butterflies and mason bees drink the nectar of its flower. And small mammals sometimes hide among its leaves. Native Americans historically used it to cure many ailments like arthritis and itchy eyes. Its yellow roots continue to be used today as a natural dye.