Doreen Fogle: Don’t water the oaks!

The native oaks are critical to wildlife, from insects to bears, providing food and shelter. Thousands of insects eat the leaves, branches, and acorns. In turn these insects feed birds and are especially important to the feeding of nestlings.

Deer and bear rely on acorns to help fatten up for the winter. Entomologist and author Douglas Tallamy states that the single most important thing we can do to help wildlife is to plant a native oak.