Canopy Tree Project
Animals Who Inherited the Fairy Tale Forests
January 9, 2026
Close your eyes. Imagine stepping into a forest that feels older than anything you’ve ever known. The air is cool enough to raise the hairs on your arms, crisp as you breathe it in. All around you rise tall trees, their trunks broad, disappearing into the layered canopies far above. At your feet, fallen trees rest in the green quiet, their weathered wood blending into the forest floor as new life grows around them.
This is an old-growth, or primary forest. Akin to the mysterious forests depicted in Brothers Grimm tales, old-growth forests feel untouched and otherworldly. In fact, one of the main characteristics is that it remains unmarked by human activity, allowing this complex ecosystem to flourish. Though these forests do not possess magical abilities like in fairy tales, their real magic lies in the rare habitats they create, which are sadly close to vanishing.
Climate change and unsustainable logging have destroyed U.S. forests. In the West, on average less than 5% of old-growth forests remain. In the East, just under 1%, on average, still stands. Old-growth forests take a very long time to develop, making this rapid destruction even more harmful.
So, What Exactly Is An Old-Growth Forest?
Forests develop in stages. These canopied ecosystems begin with shrubs and tree seedlings, then grow into developed trees, and after a hundred years or so, the trees reach past the harvesting age, advancing into an old-growth forest. Throughout each stage, if left untouched by humans or other disturbances like fire or insects, the forest develops as a rich ecosystem teeming with biodiversity.
No crevice of this land is left unused; the multilayered canopies are perfect for birds and other small critters. Undisturbed trees develop hollow cavities that become ideal nesting places for animals. Deadwood creates habitat for insects, fungi, reptiles, and amphibians, and the moist air benefits the lichen and mosses. It’s within this dense, layered architecture that the forest’s most dependent residents appear, ones whose whole success depends on the complex features of an old-growth forest.
“Hoo” Loves Old Trees? Owls!
As wise as the ancient forest it calls home, the Northern Spotted owl is an indicator species, one whose presence signals the health of an ecosystem. One of three spotted owl subspecies, the Northern Spotted owl ranges across the Pacific Northwest, preferring to harbor in old-growth Douglas fir forests.
Northern Spotted owls do not build their own nest, but seek out broken-top trees, tree cavities, which are the hollowed-out areas of a tree, and nests built by other wildlife. How sustainable of them! These birds flourish in the cluttered organization of an old-growth forest through the multilayered canopies that provide a happy environment for their prey. Younger forests are not capable of developing this level of complexity yet, making the existence of old-growth forests vital for this little owl’s livelihood.
As old-growth forests are popular amongst loggers due to tree size and numbers, forest size has decreased greatly. After years of activism and negotiation amongst environmentalists, loggers, and the government, the Northern Spotted owl was listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Under this, loggers are required to leave at least 40% of the forest intact within a 1.3-mile radius of any spotted owl nest or activity site.
While the Northern Spotted owl helped old-growth forest enforcements in the Pacific Northwest, it isn’t the only species shaped by these forests. In the Southwest, an iconic, little fuzzy creature shows how dependent life can be on the structure and age of ponderosa pines.
Living High in the Ponderosa Penthouse
The Kaibab squirrel has pointed ears, a black belly, and a bushy white tail. It is one of the rarest animal in the national park system. This adorable critterl is an endemic species, meaning it can only be found in one geographic region. You can spot it on the Kaibab Plateau in Kaibab National Forest and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The Kaibab Plateau hosts most of the Southwest’s remaining old ponderosa pines, which the squirrel eats the seeds, pinecones, bark, and twigs of. The great height of these old trees is perfect for the squirrel, as they nest as high as 40 feet above the ground.
The Grand Canyon’s North Rim has faced a multitude of environmental threats, such as drought and climate change, hunting, disease, logging, and most recently, the Dragon Bravo Fire, which burned up to 145,504 acres of land. In 1965, about 300,000 acres of Ponderosa Pine Forest were designated as the Kaibab Squirrel Habitat National Natural Landmark, protecting the forest for all those who depend on it.
The Kaibab squirrel shows how species with small range areas and a specific habitat dependence can face major risks. Thousands of miles away from the Southwest, a similar dynamic appears with the Alexander Archipelago wolf, whose survival is linked to the old-growth rainforests of Southeast Alaska.
The Big Bad Wolf
This creature stalks the forest floor for its next meal. The Alexander Archipelago wolf resides in the Tongass National Forest in Southeast Alaska, which happens to be the largest U.S. National Forest. This dark-haired wolf thrives in dense, undeveloped forests with lots of wildlife for food sources, something that old-growth forests provide. The cluttered forest floor also provides plenty of denning sites.
The wolf’s favorite meal is the Sitka black-tailed deer, another old-growth dependent animal. Threats to the Tongass National Forest such as logging and road development, put prey animals like deer at risk, this in turn affects the Alexander Archipelago wolf. These wolves are beautiful, and hunters agree. In the fall of 2021, there were an estimated 230 wolves around the Prince of Wales Island. But over the course of a month, 62 of those wolves were killed. Despite this, the wolf has been repeatedly denied any kind of status under the Endangered Species Act.
As old-growth forests shrink, this beautiful wolf’s future becomes inseparable from the future of its habitat. Protecting these forests is not just about just saving ancient trees, but also about preserving the unique animals that call them home
Keep the Ancient Giants Standing
Old-growth forests are an awe-inspiring landscape that acts as a life-supporting system for these unique animal species. From owls in the Pacific Northwest to squirrels on the Kaibab Plateau and wolves in Southeast Alaska, the loss of ancient trees threatens entire ecosystems that cannot be recreated quickly once they are gone.
The best way to preserve old-growth forests is to protect them. By 2030, EARTHDAY.org plans on planting 60 million trees globally to try and add to the forests of the future. If you would like to support this mission, please consider donating to the Canopy Tree Project today.
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