I know several people that intensively manage their property for wildlife. They say that if you are planting fruit trees for wildlife, that pear trees are MUCH hardier than apple trees.
I planted "wild" pear tree cultivars at my place that are adapted to our climate zone. I threw in a few trees that produce tasty pears for humans from a cultivar that is grafted onto a hardy native rootstock.
Some pear varieties are so hardy, that they can actually become an invasive tree species.
This nursery is next door to you (in Indiana). I have had good success with their trees.
I also find their website to be excellent. They give lots of habitat advice, and are very good at labeling important selection factors. (For example, which trees are self-pollinating.)
