The Importance of Snags

Hello, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. In part of our large yard, one area has three dozen mature pines. Occasionally one gets hit by lightning and dies, becoming a snag, and we leave them up (when they fall it makes a mess but they’re far from the house). The woodpeckers have a field day with them – and, when the dead tree does fall down, we examine all the cavities where birds have raised their young. One newly dead tree might land in the neighbor’s yard so I’m going to have them take down just the top. Some fifty-seven North American birds are cavity nesters and snags are the easiest places for them to excavate a nesting spot. If you want to help, read about Doug Tallamy’s homegrown national park movement and find ways your yard can support wildlife.