Winter is the ideal time to examine cones of coniferous trees. Cones on pine trees and other conifers hold the seeds of that tree until they're mature and ready to be dispersed by wind, animals, or gravity. Most cones close up in wet weather so that the seeds don't get damp and fall straight down out of the tree. The majority of animals don't eat cones, but they do eat the seeds at the base of the scales near the cone's center. If you find piles of pinecone scales, there's a good chance that squirrels live nearby and eat pine seeds.

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close-up photo: Karen Swain