This native oak was historically found in openings and along edges of the Big Woods or next to prairies. It grows quickly, compared to other oaks. Pin oak doesn’t require animal pollination, but its leaves are an important food source for the caterpillars of many moth and butterfly species – which, in turn, feed nesting songbirds. The small acorns appeal to a wide range of wildlife, from wood ducks, blue jays, wild turkeys and other birds to flying squirrels and muskrats. Oaks are also important nesting habitat for songbirds and raptors.
