Landowner's Guide: Homes for Wildlife

Landowner's Guide: Homes for Wildlife: Fallen Logs

Fallen logs are snags that have toppled over or healthy trees that were felled, usually by windthrow. Once these trees fall to the ground, they do not lose their value to wildlife. On the contrary, they are highly beneficial. Fallen logs in or near water provide cover for various species of fish. Male ruffed grouse use fallen logs in their attempts to attract females with their springtime courtship drumming. Chipmunks use fallen logs as runways through the forest. Hollow logs will be used by a number of species for dens, especially in the winter. If the log is big enough, foxes and even bears will use it for this purpose. As the log becomes more decayed it becomes home to salamanders, moles, shrews, earthworms, and many kinds of insects. Eventually, these fallen logs will regenerate the forest as they return to the soil, providing rich nutrients for new plants to grow from.