When other food supplies are low, these mammals will eat the bark. Snowshoe hares eat the bark, and grouse eat the winter buds. It regenerates quickly after fire or tree cutting by suckers from roots near the surface of the ground. Thus, aspen is an important fire-successional species in the boreal forest. Aspen matures in 60 - 80 years, and succession is often to white spruce as long as there is adequate soil moisture.
Forest fire is an important element in the establishment and maintenance of aspen stands.
Aspen poplar forests appear to be stable communities that dominate large areas of the landscape. In fact, they are really transitional communities dependent on frequent fire for establishment and rejuvenation. A fire frequency of approximately 100-300 years is needed to keep aspen stands healthy. Fire affects aspen in a variety of ways, depending on its intensity and on soil factors. Generally, most fires kill the above-ground parts of the plant.