Cattails are a common wetland plant found across North America. With their unique brown, cylindrical flower spikes, they stand out in marshy areas and along pond edges. If you’ve wondered what animals eat these aquatic plants, you’re not alone.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Muskrats, geese, ducks, red-winged blackbirds, marsh wrens, swamp sparrows, and painted turtles are some of the most common creatures that eat cattails.
An Overview of Cattails
Physical Description and Habitat
Cattails (Typha species) are wetland plants that typically grow in dense clusters near lakes, ponds, marshes and ditches. They have long, flat green leaves that can reach heights of 3-10 feet. The stalks are topped with dense, brown cylindrical flower spikes.
As the flowers mature and release seeds, the spikes turn grey and fluffy.
Cattails grow best in wet, mucky soils that are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus. They thrive in freshwater habitats with water depths up to 1.5 m. Cattails spread rapidly via underground rhizomes and abundant seed production (US Fish and Wildlife Service).
Reproduction and Spread
A mature cattail stand can produce hundreds of thousands of seeds per year. The tiny seeds are easily dispersed long distances by wind and water. They also reproduce vigorously via rhizomes, forming dense circular clones that push out native plants (Michigan State University).
If not properly controlled, cattails can rapidly take over wetlands. Their fast growth crowds out open water habitat and beneficial native plants that wildlife depend on.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Cattails
| Benefits | Drawbacks |
|---|---|
|
|
In moderation, cattails have ecological benefits and provide shelter and food for wildlife. But invasive cattail stands can destroy wetland habitats critical for birds, fish and amphibians. Careful control is needed to find the right balance for cattail growth.
Animals That Eat Cattails
Muskrats
Muskrats are a common sight around cattail marshes and ponds. These rodents absolutely love munching on cattail tubers, rhizomes, stalks, and leaves. In fact, the plants make up a large part of muskrats’ diets year-round, providing them with nutrients and calories.
Waterfowl
All kinds of ducks, geese, and swans relish the tender green shoots, roots, and seed heads of cattails. These waterfowl species often use cattail stands for nesting and raising their young. So having an abundance of cattails for food is super important.
Some key examples of waterfowl that depend heavily on cattails are:
| Ring-necked ducks | Canada geese |
| Wood ducks | Snow geese |
| Mallard ducks | Mute swans |
Songbirds
From colorful red-winged blackbirds to small marsh wrens, many songbirds will snack on cattail seeds and flower heads. The plants provide an abundant natural food source for sustainably fueling migrations.
In fact, scientists found removing cattails reduced songbird numbers by 45% since less food was available. Some species known to really chow down are:
Turtles
Lastly, various turtle species will nibble on cattail shoots when they get the chance. Aquatic turtles like painted turtles munch pieces floating near the water’s surface. And land-dwelling box turtles will sample tender shoots growing along marshy edges.
Since turtles are slow and gentle, they likely do very little damage compared to other wildlife.
When and Which Cattail Parts Are Eaten
Rhizomes
The rhizomes, or underground stems, of cattails can be harvested and eaten year-round but are best in early spring or late fall when starch levels peak (1). The Native Americans had a saying, “even when all else fails, we will survive on cattails”, showing how important rhizomes were as a reliable survival food source.
Rhizomes should be collected using a shovel, knife or stick to dig out the fleshy white roots. The outer layer is then peeled off to access the inner core which can be boiled, steamed or even eaten raw (2).
Shoots and Leaves
The green shoots and leaves emerging from cattails in spring can also be eaten when they are young and tender. These immature shoots are cut near ground level and are often compared to asparagus spears with their mild sweet flavor (3).
As the seasons progress, the lower shoots become tough and fibrous while upper shoots remain edible into early summer. Cattail leaves can be used as salad greens or cooking greens too. In terms of nutrients, the early shoots are high in potassium, phosphorus and vitamin A making them beneficial foraging foods (4).
Pollen and Seeds
From late spring to summer, golden yellow pollen can be collected from the spike flowers of cattails. This nutritious pollen has been used as a flour supplement by Native Americans and early settlers. It is rich in protein, falling between rice and wheat gluten levels (5).
The cattail seeds form later in summer and fall. These seeds have a high starch content of about 32%, comparable to corn and wheat (6). They can be eaten roasted, ground into flour or even popped like popcorn.
However, collecting the seeds is very labor intensive so they are not commonly eaten nowadays.
References:
- https://preparednessmama.com/foraging-cattail-roots/
- https://www.wildfooduk.com/edible-wild-plants/cattail/
- https://www.eattheweeds.com/cattails-a-survival-dinner/
- https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2011/05/25/cooking-cattails
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cattail-pollen-nutritius-corn-wheat-alternative/
- https://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/articles/cattail.html
The Nutritional Value of Cattails
Cattails are incredibly nutritious wetland plants that have been an important food source for humans and wildlife for thousands of years. Every part of the cattail plant provides essential macro- and micronutrients.
Macronutrients
The most nutritious part of the cattail is the white tender shoots that appear in early spring. These shoots are packed with carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. A 100 gram serving contains about 0.2 grams of fat, 4 grams of protein, and over 28 grams of carbs, mostly in the form of fiber and starch.
Cattail rhizomes are also very high in starch and nutrients. They contain about 40% starch by weight in autumn. Native Americans used to grind the rhizomes into flour for breadmaking. Cattail rhizomes have 70% more protein than potatoes and 50% more fat.
Cattail pollen is also a fantastic source of protein, with about 32% protein content by dry weight. It actually has higher protein levels than many other sources of plant protein like wheat germ, soybeans, and rice bran.
Micronutrients and Phytochemicals
In addition to macronutrients, cattails provide a diversity of essential vitamins and minerals. The shoots are high in calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamin A. The pollen contains niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, and carotenes.
Cattails also contain bioactive plant compounds like flavonoids and phenolic acids that act as antioxidants to prevent disease. For example, cattail shoots provide about 28 mg per 100 grams of vitamin C equivalents, mostly from these beneficial phytochemicals rather than ascorbic acid.
| Plant Part | Key Nutrients |
| Shoots | Starch, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C equivalents |
| Rhizomes | Starch, protein, fat |
| Pollen | Protein, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin |
With such an impressive nutrient profile, it’s no wonder that cattails have been described as the “supermarket of the swamp. “ They provide a nutritious food source for many species of wildlife including birds, rodents, deer, and even black bears.
Humans can also take advantage of the cattail’s nutrients by eating the shoots, pollen, and rhizomes.
To learn more about the many ways cattails can be used as food and medicine for humans, check out this informative site from the University of Michigan:
https://arboretum.lsa.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Cattail-food-and-medicine-2017.pdf
Managing Cattails for Wildlife
Allowing Access
Cattails provide excellent habitat and food sources for wildlife when properly managed. Here are some tips for allowing wildlife access to cattails:
- Create paths through dense cattail stands to provide access points for wildlife. Paths should be wide enough for animals to move through easily.
- If you have a pond or marsh, maintain open water areas within the cattails for waterfowl and wading birds. Openings of 30-50% are ideal.
- Control cattail density around the water’s edge to allow wildlife easy access for drinking and feeding.
- Allow a diverse mix of emergent vegetation like bulrushes and sedges to grow alongside cattails. This creates a heterogeneous habitat.
By thoughtfully managing cattail density and distribution, numerous species like ducks, geese, songbirds, muskrats, and turtles can flourish.
Controlling Overgrowth
While beneficial, cattails can quickly spread and crowd out other plants. Here are some methods to control overgrowth:
- Manually remove unwanted cattails. Cutting or pulling them controls spread and opens up habitat.
- Carefully apply EPA approved aquatic herbicides. Glyphosate products like Rodeo work well.
- Control water levels where possible. Lowering water in mid-summer stresses cattails.
- Burn dried cattail stands in winter. This sets back growth while leaving wildlife cover.
By periodically using these control methods, you can maintain desired cattail density and ensure a diversity of vegetation thrives.
Supplemental Food Sources
While cattails provide habitat and nesting sites, supplementing food sources can further benefit wildlife:
- Place nest boxes for cavity nesting ducks like wood ducks and hooded mergansers.
- Sow moist soil plant seeds like smartweeds, millets, and sedges for waterfowl.
- Establish native wildflower patches for pollinators and seed eating birds.
- Leave strips of grain crops unharvested as winter food plots.
Providing these additional food sources adjacent to cattail stands gives wildlife supplemental nutrition and attracts more animals to utilize the habitat.
Conclusion
Cattails provide food and habitat for a diverse range of wildlife species. Understanding which animals consume cattails, and when and how they eat various cattail parts can help you better manage wetland areas.
By following some simple tips, you can ensure cattails don’t overrun a wetland while still providing nourishment for critters.
In moderation, cattails have environmental benefits and their ability to sustain wildlife makes them an important component of wetland ecosystems.
