The Importance of Dead Trees
Trees are awe-inspiring, mighty forms of life that provide food, shelter, and oxygen, all of which are essential to life on Earth. But just like everything else that lives, trees' lives come to an end at one point or another. Even so, they cultivate a host of benefits after their life is concluded. Although the benefits might be clandestine to many of us, their value is not lost and the circle of life carries on.
Deceased trees can attract a wide variety of wildlife, such as insects, tree frogs, bats, woodpeckers, snakes, and more. Specifically, standing dead trees (known as snags) commonly attract pileated woodpeckers and squirrels. Oftentimes, these furry (and feathery!) friends will excavate portions of the dead wood in order to create their dwelling place. One of the main factors that draws the pileated woodpecker to snags is the variety of insects that snack on the dead wood. A pileated woodpecker’s diet heavily consists of carpenter ants, termites, and wood-boring beetles, all of which eat dying trees.
Providing food for insects and woodpeckers is just one way that dead trees contribute to the nutrient availability of an ecosystem, but they also provide a host of nutrients for the soil. As they break down, they release carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium, which are then utilized by plants. Plants are the foundation of an ecosystem, so providing them with the nutrients they need is essential for the continuity of life.
With all of the wonderful benefits that dead trees bring to the environment, it’s common for people to be met with confusion when it comes to dealing with dead trees on their property. Firstly, it’s of the utmost importance to make sure everyone in the general vicinity of the dead tree is safe. A dead tree can cause a great deal of property damage if it falls onto a house. However, if a dead tree does not present a threat to its surroundings, it is a great idea to leave it. With the amount of habitat fragmentation that is rapidly occurring, local wildlife becomes more reliant on the spaces that we consider to be leftovers after development has occurred. With that being said, it is becoming more urgent as time goes by that we create spaces where we can that are viable to wildlife, even if that means leaving dead trees in our yards. For some people, having the capability to identify a dead tree could make a world of difference for a pileated woodpecker that's in the market for a new home!
One warning sign for how to handle a dying tree is that its roots will begin to become more exposed; the tree may even start to be more tilted than it usually is. Another warning sign is dead leaves (or no leaves, in some cases) when surrounding trees have green foliage; the bare branches will snap off easily. If the branch is still green on the inside, this indicates that it is still alive. There may also be an excessive amount of mushrooms around or on the tree; this will be more pertinent in the spring and summer. A good way to identify a dead tree in the winter is to look for hollows on the tree’s trunk.
Overall, be aware of the area surrounding the dead tree. Dead trees can have numerous benefits for the abiotic and biotic environments, and while some consider them to be unsightly, knowing the benefits makes them all the more beautiful.
Read more on how planting a native tree is decisively the “best ecological bang for your buck.”