[Wikipedia] Range, Elevation, Animal Food Source, Native American Use,: Betula occidentalis, the water birch or red birch, is a species of birch native to western North America, in Canada from Yukon east to Northwestern Ontario and southwards, and in the United States from eastern Washington east to western North Dakota,[citation needed] and south to eastern California, northern Arizona and northern New Mexico, and southwestern Alaska. It typically occurs along streams in mountainous regions,[1] sometimes at elevations of 2,100 metres (6,900 feet) and in drier areas than paper birch. The foliage is browsed by sheep, goats,[6] and birds; some small birds also consume the seeds.[2] Some Plateau Indian tribes used water birch to treat pimples and sores. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)