When I photographed these ripening Blue Elderberry berries a few days ago, I was reminded of something I saw last year related to the elderberries I observe in the Wasatch Mountains.

Ripening Blue Elderberry berries, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, UtahRipening Blue Elderberry berries

Last year we were in a mega drought, and many of the shrubs that produce berries, including Blue Elderberries, weren’t producing as much fruit as they typically do. The elderberries did seem to be doing slightly better than the serviceberries, hawthorns, and chokecherries.

I was hopeful that the elderberries would help the wildlife that eats the berries of these shrubs to help them survive.

But one morning while I was up in the mountains I saw a woman cutting clumps of all of the ripe berries on several elderberry shrubs. When I say “all” I mean all. As I drove the road I looked carefully at every elderberry shrub that was close to the road and I could see that all those berries had been taken as well. I don’t know if the woman was taking the berries for her own personal use or if she was taking them to make a product for sale.

I am aware that people use elderberries to create syrups, wine, juices, jelly, jams, teas, and pies.

I deeply wish that the woman I observed had left some elderberries for the birds and wildlife, because some birds and wildlife depend on them for their survival.

I’m seeing lots of ripening berries on the Blue Elderberry shrubs in the mountains this summer. I just hope they aren’t all cut off of the shrubs like they were last year.

Birds and animals are still struggling to survive even though we have gotten more moisture in northern Utah than we have had in a long time.

Life is good, it is even better when we leave food for wildlife.

Mia

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