Book 20, Question 118
Why Do Some Mountain Forests Have Bare Stripes?
Some mountain forests have long, bare stripes running through them. These stripes are avalanche paths, where snow slides down often and clears away the trees.
More fun facts
- Like wildfire and landslides, avalanches are a natural disturbance that wildlife habitat needs.
- Avalanches can easily snap big trees, but many trees survive with only scars on their trunks.
- Scientists in Glacier National Park cut slices called cookies from dead trees in avalanche paths.
- The cookies show the years trees were scarred, building a record of big avalanche cycles over the past 100 to 200 years.
- The open avalanche paths get lots of light and water, so huckleberries, cow parsnip, and glacier lilies grow there.
- Those plants are key food for grizzly bears and black bears.
Sources: National Park Service
Questions kids ask
Are avalanche paths good for animals?
Yes. Their open ground grows berries and flowers that bears love to eat.