Known also as swamp or pignut hickory, bitternut hickory is a large but relatively short-lived (200 years) tree that is the most abundant of all hickories. Bitternut hickory wood is most desirable for charcoal and fuelwood as well as for smoking meats. It is also very shock resistant, hard, and durable giving it a use in making furniture and tool handles. The seeds are consumed by various wildlife such as, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and squirrels, especially in the winter. The bark can also be a food source for beavers, rabbits, and small mammals during periods of food scarcity. The leaves of bitternut hickory have a high calcium content and their roots form dense systems, making it one of the best trees for improving soil quality. Early settlers used oil extracted from the seeds for oil lamps, who also believed it to be a cure for rheumatism.