Did You Know?

• Coniferous forests are found in Scandinavia, Siberia, the north western United States, Canada and Alaska.
• These forests are home to many valuable fur-bearing animals.
• That this is sometimes called the "spruce-moose" biome.
• Coniferous forests are pine forests.

Where are Boreal Forests?

Coniferous forest occurs as a broad band across northern North America and northern Eurasia (called taiga in Russia) and also extends southward at higher elevations in the mountains.

What organisms (plant or animal) are typically found in the Boreal Forest biome?

• Trees common to this biome include the black spruce, white cedar, white spruce and balsam fir.
• Small plants may include sarsaparilla, beadlily, twinflower, ferns and mosses.
• Animals include moose, white-tailed deer, grizzly bears, timber wolves, lynx, porcupine, and red squirrels.
• Birds include ruffed grouse, gray owls, woodpeckers, gray jay, chickadees, finches and warblers.
• Salamanders and garter snakes are often found.
• Insects can be abundant and include:  mosquitoes, blackflies, biting midges (no-see-ums), and other flies.
• In spring, swarms of mosquitoes and armies of caterpillars emerge.
• Many species of insects live in the evergreen forests and include wasps, bees and sawflies.