NatureMapping Habitat - Old Growth Forests

Definition of "Conifer Forest" - General Code 900: Areas containing greater than 25% of trees, primarily conifer, as the primary vegetation

Conifer forest: Old Growth (952)


Descriptive Habitat Code: Conifer forest (9) defined primarily by structure; 2 or more layers, (5) large diameter > 30" dbh (5) with a closed (2) tree canopy.
Photo: KMD

Black bear
Ursus americanus
Code: URAM
Photo: KMD

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in mountainous, forested, and wetland habitats

Diet:
It is an omnivore and feeds upon a variety of foods which include vegetation, carrion, fish, fruit, grubs, and hoofed mammals.

Interesting fact:
The largest black bear ever recorded weighed approximately 600 pounds, although the average size is around 200 pounds. The black bear may have brown or tan fur. It climbs trees easily.

American Black Bear Fact Sheet >

Ensatina
Ensatina eschsholtzi
Code:ENES
Photo: WDFW

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found under bark, logs and rocks in coniferous and deciduous forests; both in open and wooded settings.

Diet:
The ensatina feeds primarily on insects.

Interesting fact:
During cold periods, this salamander may be found in burrows of meadow mice or gophers.

Ensatina Fact Sheet »

Gapper's red-backed vole
Clethrionomys gapperi
Code: CLGA
Photo: WDFW

Distribution and Habitat:
This species is found from sea level to the timberline on both sides of Washington State.

Diet:
They are herbivores and generally eat the green portions of a variety of plants.

Interesting fact:
Voles do not hibernate. They make tunnels under the snow during the winter.

Red-backed Vole Fact Sheet »

Long-toed salamander
Ambystoma macrodactylum
Code: AMMA
Photo: WDFW

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in semi-dry sagebrush areas, rocky shores of lakes, alpine meadows, and even developed areas, in rotting wood and under rocks near lakes, ponds, wetlands and other areas of standing water.

Diet:
It feeds on spiders, crickets, earthworms, snails, slugs, beetle larvae, and small invertebrates.

Interesting fact:
The long-toed salamander is found in habitats occurring from sea level to elevations of over 10,000 feet.

Silver-haired bat
Lasionycteris noctivagans
Code: LANO
Photo: MT

Distribution and Habitat:
The Silver-haired bat ranges as far north as Alaska and occurs throughout Washington, although in the Columbia Basin, it is found along wooded trees. They roost only in trees and except during migration, hunt in the forests.

Diet:
Although bat species worldwide have a varied diet which includes fruit, fish, blood, and other mammals, all the bats of Washington are insect eaters.

Interesting fact:
Many people mistake flying bats for starlings or swallows that fly erratically, like a butterfly. Bats use tree cavities or under large pieces of tree bark for roost sites.

Northern spotted owl
Strix occidentalis
Code: STOC
Photo: NGAP

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found solely in old growth forests along the pacific coast of North America. Currently only about 10% of the forests in the Pacific Northwest are classified as old growth.

Diet:
If feeds primarily upon small mammals.

Interesting fact:
Due to the dramatic reduction in its preferred habitat, the northern spotted owl is now listed as endangered. Owls have been seen using second growth forests in Northern California.

Spotted Owl Fact Sheet >

Pacific giant salamander
Dicamptodon tenebrosus
Code: DITE
Photo: BL

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in moist forests on the rocky shores of mountain lakes and in or near cold streams.

Diet:
It feeds on small insects and invertebrates.

Interesting fact:
This salamander is capable of climbing as high as 8 feet into trees, logs and bushes. The bite of this salamander can break the skin.

Roosevelt elk
Cervus elaphus roosevelti
Code: CEEL
Photo: KMD

Distribution and Habitat:
Roosevelt elk are found in old growth forest areas and mountainous forested areas in western Washington. Rocky Mountain elk are smaller and are found in eastern Washingtn.

Diet:
It is a herbivore that grazes in grassy meadows throughout its range.

Interesting fact:
The Roosevelt elk is the largest of the elk species.

Elk Fact Sheet »

Steller's jay
Cyanocitta stellari
Code: CYST
Photo: RA

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found throughout conifer forests and developed areas with large trees.

Diet:
It is an omnivore, feeding upon seeds, nuts, fruits and a variety of insects, such as grasshoppers and beetles. During nesting time it may also eat the eggs of other birds, as well as small mammals.

Interesting fact:
Steller's jays cache (store) food in the ground and cover it with a leaf or plant material to mark the location. Two Steller's jays are able to cache 100,000 nuts in a period of three months.

Steller's Jay Fact Sheet >

Van Dyke's salamander
Plethodon vandykei
Code: PLVA
Photo: WDFW

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found under rocks and logs located near lakes, streams, creeks, rivers, wetlands and areas of saturated soil.

Diet:
It feeds on insects as well as other foods.

Interesting fact:
Van Dyke's salamander is nocturnal, being especially active during or following periods of rain.

Wood duck
Aix sponsa
Code: AISP
Photo: Natures Pics

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in wooded areas around lakes, ponds, rivers, estuaries and other wetland areas.

Diet:
It is an omnivore and feeds on nuts, acorns and a variety of insects.

Interesting fact:
The Wood duck generally nests in hollow trees up to 40 feet or so above the ground, some distance from the water. Due to this, the duck is also referred to as the tree duck.

Wood Duck Fact Sheet >