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Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

Wildlife Use

Wildlife benefit greatly from redcedar trees - using them heavily as a source of refuge, shelter, and food. The dense branches provide a hiding place for many birds, while the bark that peels off in long, flexible strips provides nesting material for squirrels and other small mammals.

White-tailed deer browse on redcedar vegetation, but the most important food source coming from these trees are the seeds, which are covered with a fleshy, berry-like layer. These seed coats provide food for foxes, skunks, opossums, rabbits, mice, ground birds, and many songbirds.