Oaks are among the most iconic and ecologically significant trees in Ohio. Towering over forests and scattered across urban landscaping, these trees support a vast network of wildlife, providing food, shelter, and stability to local ecosystems.
By autumn, oak trees produce acorns, a vital food source for squirrels, deer, birds, and even black bears. Did you know acorns are edible for humans too? While naturally high in tannins, which make them bitter, they can be leached to remove bitterness and ground into flour for flatbreads, cakes, and other traditional foods. For thousands of years, acorns have sustained both wildlife and people.
Ohio is home to both red and white oak groups, with species like the majestic white oak (Quercus alba) and the hardy northern red oak (Quercus rubra) being most prominent. Oaks are long-lived, with some standing for centuries, bearing witness to generations of change.
According to pollen analysis collected from sediment cores, oaks have been a prominent part of Ohio’s ecosystems for many thousands of years, dating back to the last glacial retreat.
Indigenous peoples across North America helped to care for ancient oak forests using fire management techniques–knowing oak trees are more fire resistant than many other species, allowing fires to burn through the forests prevented overcrowding and encouraged biodiversity by allowing a vast array of edible and medicinal disturbance plants to emerge, like wild berries and herbs.
Oaks are a major keystone species in Ohio, not only dazzling us with their majesty, but providing food and shelter for so much wildlife. Their long life-spans and popular acorns easily spread by wildlife and humans alike will prolong their rich history and ecological importance in Ohio’s landscapes.
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