Habitat: Rocky Mountain juniper inhabitsmontane areas from 5000 ft.-8000 ft., (1500 m.-2400 m.). Usually found in cooler, shaded hillsides, ridges, and rock areas. Fun Facts: Kinnikinnick, also known as bear berry, is an important staple in the diet of park wildlife. Bears in particular utilize this plant. In late fall, bears eat the berries and other vegetation to create a blockage in the digestive system. This prevents the bears from defecating during winter hibernation. Kinnikinnick is a very small member of the genus Arctostaphylos, most of which are tall shrubs known as manzanitas. Fun Facts: Although the small cherries produced by this species serve as food for many animals, the seeds and leaves of chokecherries are quite poisonous to many of them. The seeds hold a trace amount of cyanide. However, many insects eat the foliage because they can absorb some of the toxin and in turn become poisonous. This is a deterrent for predators that would prey on these insects.