As gardeners put the last touches on their landscapes before winter, similar preparations are underway in the wildlife population. For year-round animal residents, this means constructing shelter, and especially storing food supplies for the hard months to come. Hibernating animals like woodchucks and chipmunks store their food in the most convenient way – in their bellies. The feeding frenzy begins in September and peaks in October, but you may still spot some activity as late as Thanksgiving as they top off their seasonal reserves.

Migrating wildlife is in a hurry to evade the onset of cold weather, but there is no journey without fuel. Ornamental grasses, like switch grass, maiden grass and fountain grass, provide seed in the fall. Hungry travelers also relish the seeds of perennial flowers, particularly the “composite” flowers such as coneflower, black-eyed susan, and sunflower. Autumn also brings a bounty of fruit in the form of crabapples, wild grapes, holly berries, and the fruit of dogwood, virginia creeper and boston ivy.

Other creatures rely on nature to provide an autumnal windfall to sustain them through the cold months ahead. In our formerly forested habitat, this manna takes the form of mast. Mast is the dry “fruit” of woody trees and shrubs, and forms a critical part of the cold-season diet of many animals, including deer, squirrels, turkey, quail and ducks. Our most valuable mast-producing trees in Ohio are the oaks, because they provide a consistent source of food. The white oaks produce the sweetest acorns, and these are consumed quickly. The bitter acorns of the red oaks are consumed late in winter as tastier fare runs out.

Hickory nuts are also prized, and squirrels will stash away a supply where other animals are less likely to find them. Beech, black walnut, butternut and hazelnut add variety to the menu. Specialist animals exploit the mast produced by pine trees. The red squirrel hoards the cones, producing a pile of food for winter retrieval. Birds with strong but finely pointed beaks, such as the pine siskin, are adept at plucking the seeds right out of the cones as they hang on the tree.

If you are lucky enough to have mature mast-producing trees in your garden, thank those folks who planted them years back, or had the foresight to leave them standing. Return the favor to future generations by planting new saplings that will ensure an autumn abundance for generations to come.