If you've chosen a real Christmas tree this year, you might have noticed the floor beneath it starting to get littered with pine needles. And while your first instinct might be to grab your vacuum ...

However, safety is of the utmost importance when foraging, especially when it comes to brewing your own pine needle ... tea ...

Numerous species of songbirds and small mammals feed on white pine seeds, while snowshoe hares and various deer graze on the needles. The bark, roots, and seedlings are food for pocket gophers. The ...