The soil in the deciduous forests is quite fertile, since it is often enriched with falling leaves, twigs, logs, and dead organisms. Small tree or sapling layer - short tree species and young trees. Shrub layer - shrubs like rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurels, and huckleberries. Herb layer - short plants. Ground layer - lichens, clubmosses, and true mosses.
Ants are social insects.
The bald eagle is a large bird of prey. The beaver is a large rodent that builds dams and dens. A large, black to brown bear. The Brown Bear is a large bear with a muscular hump on its shoulders. The cardinal is a brilliant red bird with a short, wide bill.