Festive fir season may come only once a year, but coniferous, as in cone-producing, pines are year-round favorites of the feathered and furry. Because pine trees retain their needle-shaped leaves in the fall, they provide birds and mammals with essential shelter for safe nesting as well as protection from predators and harsh weather. Pine needles, buds, shoots, and bark are also a valuable food source for forest residents large and small including bear, elk, deer, hare, beaver, and porcupine. And seeds from pine cones are nutritious, protein-packed fuel for a variety of birds such as woodpeckers, warblers, finches, and chickadees.

Large pines like the longleaf, which can grow to heights of 200 feet and live for over 300 years, are part of critical forest ecosystems that over 30 endangered species rely on for habitat, including the gopher tortoise and red-cockaded woodpecker. If you’d like to help expand and restore pine forests to benefit wildlife, you can give habitat this holiday season by supporting American Forests. Plus, planting trees is one of the most effective things you can do to help keep the planet cool for critters and humans alike. Oh, yeah!