Woodland Wildlife Habitat

Submitted By: Mike Kay, Forester,
Maryland Forest Service ________________________________________________________________

Most of our native woodland wildlife lives in and around trees utilizing hollow sections of the tree or building a nest somewhere in the canopy.   Trees usually develop hollow “cavities” when they grow older or die.  So, it’s the larger and dead trees that have most of the cavities.  Dead standing “snags” often attract insects which are hunted by woodpeckers that chisel out additional cavities in their quest for some grub.

A cavity developing where a branch broke off of this black birch tree.

Wildlife also utilizes downed trees for cover or habitat, living in the hollow areas or digging burrows beneath the fallen log.  The male grouse perches on large “drumming” logs to attract a mate.  As these logs decompose they recycle nitrogen and other nutrients back into the ground thereby enriching the soil. 

Downed logs provide habitat for animals and recycle nutrients in the forest.

Many of our woodland inhabiting birds are particular in the level of canopy they prefer to inhabit and build their nests.  Some species like the vireos prefer the upper reaches; others like the nut hatches feel more comfortable in the mid-story level while others like the grouse spend most of their time on the forest floor.  A forest with a diversity of canopy levels has more potential to attract a greater variety of wildlife.  There is also a broad group of animals that require large unbroken sections of forest for their habitat.  These animals are call Forest Interior Dwellers or FIDS.  

Forest’s with a multitude of canopy levels “structural diversity” provide more layers of canopy for birds and other wildlife to inhabit.

Most woodland wildlife are highly dependent on the seeds that trees produce as a food source.  The acorns produced by oaks,  the nuts of hickory, beech, and walnut, the berries produced by trees like sassafras, black cherry or black gum, and the seeds, cones, and samaras  produced  by trees like tulip poplar, maple, and pine are very important food sources for wildlife. A large dominant “wolf” trees found in a forest produces most of the “mast” crops. Our wildlife evolved over thousands of years with the native forest plants; as such, native plants offer much more nourishment than those exotic species that might have invaded the area. Besides the mast crops, wildlife also feast on various tree parts like branches, twigs, buds, and flowers.   In addition, animals will feed on the vines, mushrooms, and insects that might be associated with a tree.   Wild grapes are a very important food source for many birds and mammals.

This old apple tree supports a large grape arbor.

Woodland owners can enhance wildlife habitat by retaining large and dead standing trees, especially if the trees has cavities. Leaving large downed trees on the forest floor provides habitat and helps recycle nutrients. Managing for a diversity of tree species and age classes also helps to promote wildlife. Refraining from creating permanent openings in a forest aids deep woods dependent wildlife. Retaining grapevine especially where it creates a large arbor is another beneficial practice for wildlife.  Also, by controlling invasive exotic species to promote native plants helps to provide high quality food source for wildlife.