5. Snags & Wildlife

The big tree lying across the trail is dead but it is still a source of shelter or food. Dead or dying trees still standing upright are known as snags. Once fallen, they become logs. Decomposers such as termites, fungi, and beetles turn snags and logs into soil. While it decomposes, this log can provide badly needed cooling shade and moisture for snakes, lizards, frogs, and toads.

Snags are ideal for birds to nest in and great places to search for food. See the hand-sized oval holes chiseled into many parts of the tree? This is a sure sign that the spectacular Pileated woodpecker has been here, either excavating a cavity to nest in while the tree was alive, or working the decaying wood for carpenter ants and other insects. Look and listen for the Pileated announcing his presence with a bright red crest, unmistakable call or loud drumming on hollow snags. As time goes by, this log will slowly transform into nutrient-rich soil that will support the growth of new life in the forest.