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Dead Trees Serve
Important Role
Tree snags - dead or downed trees in various states of decay - provide vital habitat for as many as 1200 species of wildlife nationwide. Despite the importance of snags to wildlife, many modern forestry practices encourage the removal of dead wood from the forest floor in an attempt to control pests and fungi, as well as for aesthetic reasons. You can create a refuge for hundreds of woodland creatures by keeping snags in your yard (or constructing artificial snags if no natural ones are present).
Different species use different parts of the snags. Nearly every part of the dead tree is utilized in every stage of decay. Hollow cavities in standing dead wood make excellent nests for woodpeckers, while insects in the bark provide a ready food source. Other animals use the bark, too, but for a different purpose. Bats, tree frogs and beetles all make their homes in the crevasses between the bark and the trunk. Higher branches become excellent look-outs from which raptors spot potential prey and, later, where they may safely clean and eat their meals.
Invertebrate communities also thrive in decaying trees. Mosses, lichens and fungi all grow on snags and aid in the return of vital nutrients to the soil through the nitrogen cycle. Moreover, they provide an important source of food for a variety of wildlife.
Decaying logs on the forest floor help in another way, too. By acting as "nurse logs" for new seedlings, moisture-rich dead wood can help to ensure that the next generation of forest has a place to grow. These young trees, in turn, produce additional habitat variety for wildlife.
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