The Important Hemlock Tree

摘要

As winter approaches many wintering forest animals are gathering food and building their homes in preparation for hibernation. Hibernation is when an animal sleeps for longs periods of time in the winter. That way they don't need to eat as much food.But some animals don't hibernate. So what do they do in the winter for food and shelter? Animals like deer and rabbits need the forest to survive through the snowy months. Hemlock trees are important for animals to keep warm and find food. Hemlock treescan grow very close together in areas with very little sunlight, where other trees can't grow. In the winter, the hemlock forests help many animals. Hemlock trees provide excellentshelter because their branches hug tightly together and hold much of the snow fall, and their trunks and lower limbs block the cold wind. Clumps of hemlock trees also trap heat, helping animals stay warm. When other food is hard to find, some animals will eat the bark and ends of limbs while others eat the seeds and cones.