|
The bark is often used as a fire starter
because it burns even when its wet. Native Americans also
used the bark to cover their canoes. They also used it to
make baskets, baby carriers, mats, torches and moose calls.
Because the wood was strong and flexible it was made into
spears, bows and arrows, snowshoes and sleds.
The wood is now used for building lumber
to make pulpwood and plywood, spools, clothespins, woodenware,
shoe lasts, wood pulp, fuel wood, cabinet making and for veneer
and interior finishing.
Syrup, wine, beer, and medicinal tonics
are made from the sap.
Although moose and white-tailed deer will
eat the leaves and tender shoots of the paper birch, it isn't
their favorite food. Porcupines like to eat the bark and rabbits
will eat the seedlings and young saplings. Yellow-bellied
sapsuckers will peck little holes in the bark and feed on
the sap. Hummingbirds and squirrels also drink the sap from
the sap wells the sapsuckers made.
|
