I’ve often heard folks complain about two problems with fruit
trees in their yards.

One is that mammals or birds are eating the fruit. "How
do we stop this?"
they ask.

The second goes like this: "Robert, I really think we
ought to cut down that crab
apple. The rotten fruit always makes such a mess on the
lawn."

These problems say interesting things to a backyard wildlife
habitat manager. Animals
are attracted to fruit, and some trees put out a lot.

The alert wildlife manager sees these problems as a benefit.
Fruit attracts wildlife.

Late summer is when many fruits mature. These can attract
interesting animals to your
wild garden. Now, as fall begins, is a good time to drive around
suburbs, parks and wild
places and get some good ideas on what kinds of fruiting trees
and shrubs to plant.

You can divide your options into falling fruit and holding
fruit.

One of my favorite falling fruits for September is the native
American crab apple. Mine
started falling in early September. By October they will all be
on the ground.

Crab apples are hard, astringent little apples. They aren’t a
favorite with deer,
raccoons or other wildlife, but that makes them desirable in a
way. They last a long time
on the ground, waiting to be eaten in times of shortage.

Persimmons are also a good fruit for this time of year.
Individual trees vary a lot as
to when they fall.

A nice, gooey, squashed persimmon lying on the ground
attracts certain butterflies that
don’t seem fond of flowers. The tawny emperor, hackberry
butterfly, viceroy, red-spotted
purple and some other species will suck on rotten fallen
fruit.

Racoons, possums and deer also love them. So do
mockingbirds.

Pears and apples are also good options.

For fruit that hangs on the tree, I like figs. Figs attract
lots of insects.
Fruit-eating beetles like the beautiful figeater love figs. So
do certain wasps and
hornets, along with butterflies.

For fruit that hangs on the tree into the winter, try the
Callaway crab. Mockingbirds,
possums, crows and other flying and climbing creatures will feed
on it. The fruit rarely
falls to the ground.

Some of the wild offspring of the Bradford pear have fruits
big enough to attract
wildlife. And they last and last on the tree.