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What do you see when you look at a dead tree or dead sections in live trees?
If you were a chickadee or a carpenter bee, you would see a potential home. If you were a woodpecker, you might see dinner. Most of us value live trees, but not everyone sees the value of a dead tree, and some see them as eyesores.
Dead wood, whether snags (standing dead trees), logs (fallen dead trees) or dead parts of living trees are a very important wildlife habitat. Tree cavities in live or dead trees are used by more than 50 species of birds and mammals.
Snags provide food for insects and other invertebrates that then become a food source for birds and mammals. Insects, salamanders, snakes, mice and shrews seek refuge in rotting logs. Skunks, bears and woodpeckers return to these excellent sources of food.
Larger hollow logs can provide shelter for mammals such as shrews, chipmunks and bears. Foxes and coyotes may use logs for dens. For some mammals, including deer mice, chipmunks and squirrels, log tops are highways over the forest floor.
Tree cavities are important for many nesting birds. The chickadee on your bird feeder may have been born in the hollow tree behind your house. Wood ducks look for tree cavities near water.
Barn owls look for nest sites that are near large fields. Bluebirds can nest in wooden fence posts bordering farm fields, or they can occupy holes in snags that are left in recently clearcut areas.
At least 30 kinds of birds commonly use snags for foraging perches. Flycatchers use snags as launch sites for catching flying insects. Hawks and owls use snags that border a field or orchard while they wait for an errant field mouse. Similarly, kingfishers, ospreys and bald eagles perch on or fish from dead trees standing in or near water. In addition, the indigo bunting, northern mockingbird and crow are among species that regularly use snags for singing perches.
Dead wood serves as an important wildlife habitat. Wildlife evolved in forests where dead wood was never removed. By incorporating a dead or dying tree into your landscape, you will be providing both visual interest and maintaining natural habitat. The wildlife will sing (or hoot or buzz or croak) your praises.
However, always remember that such trees can become hazards if too close to areas of activity or buildings. Next time you are hiking or just enjoying, take a moment to think about the second life of these trees as the circle of life in our forests and woodlots.