Oak-Hickory Forest and Rocky Slopes
Approximately 536 of Teatown's 834 acres are second growth forest. The majority of this area was cleared for farming in the 1800's and as agriculture has declined, has reverted back to forest. The dominant tree species at Teatown include a mixture of oaks and hickories. Tulip tree, maples, birch, hemlock and American beech are also common. The shrub layer in the forests of Teatown is somewhat sparse and is composed primarily of saplings of overstory trees and shrubs or small trees such as witchhazel and ironwood. The groundlayer vegetation is also sparse and is composed primarily of Christmas fern and the invasive plant garlic mustard. The lack of understory and groundlayer vegetation at Teatown is due to an overabundance of white-tail deer. These deer browse on all low vegetation eliminating this growth.
The soils in Teatown's forest are quite shallow and exposed rock is common. In a number of areas, large rock ledges occur. These areas provide unique habitats for a variety of plants and animals. Crevices in rock provide den sites for red fox and coyote as well as over-wintering areas for a variety of snakes.
Animals common in the forests of Teatown include white-tailed deer, coyote, squirrels, fox, scarlet tanager, wood thrush, woodpeckers, black racers, spotted salamanders, red-backed salamanders, and wood frogs.
Conservation Issues
It may come to a surprise to many that there is currently more forested land in the northeastern US than there was 100 years ago. This is due to the decline in agriculture in the region. However, while the amount of forested habitat may have increased, there remain a number of threats to this habitat. Forests are being chopped into smaller pieces across the landscape by development, a process called habitat fragmentation. These smaller fragments of forest support fewer species of plants and animals. Furthermore, fragments contain more edges (borders of forests with developed areas) than larger tracts of forest. Edges negatively affect the health of forests by allowing a mode of entry for invasive species and parasites which result in a decline in biodiversity. Edge habitats are also favored by species such as white-tailed deer. Deer have become so overabundant in our forests that they have resulted in severe declines in many native plant species.
