Penn State Forest Expert: Save Dead Trees, They’re Valuable
UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) Most people rec
ognize the importance of living trees, but too many don’t
see the value of dead trees, according to a Penn State for
estry expert.
Most everyone knows that living trees provide wildlife
habitat, oxygen, timber, beauty and many other assets.
But many believe that when a tree dies, it is no longer use
ful.
“One misconception is that when a tree’s vigor deterio
rates, so does its ability to provide benefits,” said Ranee
Harmon, extension forest resources specialist. “In fact,
my American Heritage Dictionary defines deadwood as
‘anything burdensome or superfluous.’ Those certainly
are not the qualities of something a landowner would
want to have around.”
Hannon contends that dead and deteriorating trees ac
tually are vital elements of healthy forests. They release
nutrients, prevent erosion, store moisture, protect seed
lings and supply food and shelter for wildlife. “Despite
their importance, the number of dead and dying trees in
some forestlands has declined due to timber salvaging,
fire prevention, firewood cutting and worker safety regu-
lations,” he said. “Good forest stewardship requires us to
consider both living trees and deadwood as vital, interact
ing components of the forest ecosystem that we can man
age to meet sustainable forestry objectives.”
As a tree’s health deteriorates, it begins to lose the bat
tle against invading organisms and the wood becomes
weaker and softer ideal for cavity excavators such as
woodpeckers. “Many wildlife species use tree cavities for
sanctuary against predators, extreme temperatures and
unfavorable weather conditions, and for nesting and
brooding,” said Harmon.
“Cavity nesters play a significant role in forest ecosys
tems by preying on harmful insects and helping to dis
perse seeds. Wood ducks, bluebirds, woodpeckers, owls,
chickadees, squirrels, raccoons, bats and mice are among
the 35 species of birds and 20 species of mammals that
use tree cavities in Pennsylvania.”
Standing dead trees (snags) not only provide cavities
but also are favorite perching sites for flycatchers, hawks
and owls, according to Harmon. “Along the water’s edge,
snags are excellent places to find perching kingfishers, os
preys and bald eagles,” he said. “Nuthatches and some
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 4, 2003-E3l
bats and salamanders use spaces between loose bark and
tree trunks for roosting. Woodpeckers produce audible re
minders of the importance of deadwood for wildlife by
using the resonant qualities of deadwood for drumming
a communication technique used to indicate territorial
boundaries and attract mates.”
Dead trees retain their ability to benefit wildlife and
contribute to forest health even after they fall to the
ground, Harmon points out. “Downed, decaying wood
provides cover, foraging habitat and egg laying sites for
salamanders; and secure winter travel corridors and ther
mal protection for small mammals and mustelids, such as
weasels,” he said. “Twenty-three species of amphibians
and reptiles take refuge in decaying wood in the north
eastern United States, including box turtles and snakes.”
By providing habitat and nutrition for organisms such
as fungi, centipedes, beetles and ants which, in turn,
provide food for larger animals such as skunks, bears and
woodpeckers Harmon notes that deadwood plays a key
role in forest food webs. “Besides directly benefiting wild
life, deadwood plays an important role in forest health by
promoting soil fertility,” he said. “As they decompose,
rotting logs slowly release nutrients that help nur
ture future tree growth and prevent erosion by
holding soil in place. The branches and tops of
fallen trees help enable the regeneration of forests
by protecting new tree growth from animal brows
ing.”
Woody debris also plays a critical role in aquatic
environments. Logs and branches that fall into
steams and rivers help diversify habitat by cre
ating deep pools, shady areas and shelter. “Aquat
ic habitats with sufficient woody debris support a
greater variety of fish, invertebrates, algae and
other organisms than habitats devoid of woody de
bris,” Harmon said. “Besides habitat, legs can pro
tect stream banks and lake
shores from erosion and trap leaves, which, togeth
er with deadwood, are the major source of nutri
ents for small streams.”
Harmon stresses that good forest stewardship
involves regarding dead and deteriorating trees as
vital elements of healthy forests to manage for sus
tainable forestry objectives. For more information
about deadwood, get the free publication, Pennsyl
vania Woodlands Number 7: Dead Wood for
Wildlife from the Forest Stewardship Program by
calling 1-800-235-WISE, sending e-mail to
RNRext@psu.edu, or writing: Forest Stewardship
Program, Forest Resources Extension, T he Penn
sylvania State University, 7 Ferguson Building,
University Park, PA 16802.
Farm Bureau Winners
Receive Kubota Tractor
CHAMBERSBURG (Franklin Co.) Tom
Burton of Kubota Tractor Corporation will pres
ent Pennsylvania Farm Bureau members Michael
and Michele Hawbaker of Shade Gap, Franklin
County, with a Kubota tractor at Stouffer Broth
ers, Inc. in Chambersburg, on Friday, Jan. 10 at
11 a.m.
The Hawbaker’s won the Farm Bureau’s 2002
Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award
at the organization's annual meeting in Novem
ber. The young farm couple will have one year’s
use of the tractor.
The couple was selected based on their farm op
eration, growth, and financial progress of the farm
and their leadership involvement within Farm Bu
reau and other community organizations.
The Hawbaker’s operate a registered Holstein
Dairy of Distinction farm with a milking herd of
100 cows. They began farming on their own nearly
nine years ago, starting with a 70-cow milking
herd.
Since then the milking herd has increased to its
present level and cropping has expanded from 200
acres to 550 acres of com, soybeans, wheat, alfalfa
and hay.
Pennsylvania
Farm Show
2003