If you live in the Northwest, you've seen a million Doug firs. For centuries, they've been crucial to the Northwest way of life. And if you celebrate Christmas, you might bring one into your home every year. But Doug firs are far more than just pretty scenery: they're remarkable — once the world's tallest trees and capable of communication. Video courtesy of Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Black Bear

Black bears love Douglas fir sap. They use their claws to strip bark from trees, then feed on the sapwood (newly formed outer wood) by scraping it from the heartwood (older central wood) with their teeth. Scattered remnants of bark strewn at the base of a tree and vertical tooth marks indicate bear activity. 

Spotted Owl

Northern spotted owls are non-migratory. They prefer old-growth forests, particularly Douglas fir forests, that typically take 150 to 200 years to mature. These types of forests have high canopy layers, snags (standing dead trees), and open spaces for flying underneath and between trees.

Fir Beetle

Douglas-fir beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae) is the most destructive bark beetle of mature Douglas-fir forests in western North America. It is a native insect found throughout the range of its only host tree, Douglas-fir, from southern Canada to northern Mexico.

Douglas Squirrel

Douglas squirrels mostly eat seeds of coniferous trees such as Douglas fir. They are hoarders, storing their food in a single location called a midden. The squirrels peel off the scales of cones to get at the seeds then discard the scales into piles that they often live inside of.

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