Ecosystems · North America

Eastern Deciduous Forest And Appalachians

Oaks, maples and salamanders in some of the oldest mountains on Earth.

East of the Mississippi, broadleaf forest of oak, hickory, maple and tulip tree covers hills and valleys, rising into the ancient, rounded Appalachian Mountains. Autumn colour here is famous.

The Appalachians are also home to an exceptional variety of salamanders.

The Landscape

Mild, wet summers and cold winters suit trees that drop their leaves each autumn. The mountains add cool, moist slopes and streams, and rich coves host many wildflowers.

Who Lives Here

White-tailed Deer and Black Bears are the large animals, while Wood Thrush, Ovenbird and Red-eyed Vireo fill summer woods with song. Dozens of salamander species live under logs and in streams.

Through The Year

Spring brings wildflowers and a wave of migrating warblers, summer is leafy and humid, autumn is colour and nuts, and winter reveals the shape of the hills.

Pressures And Care

Fragmentation, introduced pests such as the hemlock woolly adelgid and emerald ash borer, heavy deer browsing and mining all affect these forests. Large unbroken forest and healthy streams matter most.

Visiting Well

Stay on trails, lift and replace logs gently if you look for salamanders, and check for ticks after walks.

Look for

Wood Thrush
Eastern Red-backed Salamander
Tulip Tree
White-tailed Deer
Black Bear

Often a good time to visit: April, May, October. Conditions vary from year to year and place to place.

Related habitats

Woodland · Upland

More in North America

Pacific Northwest Temperate Rainforest · Great Plains And Prairies · Sonoran And Mojave Deserts · Everglades And Gulf Coast Wetlands