Everywhere I go recently, I am amazed at the number and size of tree tops, branches and even whole trees that have fallen as a result of the heavy snow we received earlier this month. If you have limbs down in your yard, what are you to do with them? How about using them to attract wildlife to your backyard?
There are all sorts of ways that we can welcome wildlife into our backyards. Most people know they can attract birds by adding bird feeders and baths, and many people plant native vegetation in their yards to attract birds, butterflies and maybe even a mammal or two. Another way to attract wildlife is to build a brush pile. By taking some of those fallen limbs and piling them up in a corner of your yard, you are creating a safe hiding place for all sorts of animals, including birds, chipmunks, rabbits, lizards and snakes. If you’re a little uneasy at the thought of snakes in your yard, just remember that snakes are a great form of pest control. Much cheaper than hiring the Orkin man to protect your property from rodents! If you really want to turn your brush pile into The Ritz, add a nice big log. As the log decomposes through the aid of insects, it turns into a feast for insect-eating animals. A hollow log is also a choice hibernation spot for small mammals, reptiles and even some butterflies that hibernate beneath bark.
Adding a brush pile to your backyard is not only a great benefit to wildlife, but also a benefit to yourself; you have the opportunity to watch wildlife, find a use for those fallen branches, and it’s less of your yard you have to mow come spring!
Have a question or a story of your own to share? Email me at kfisk[at symbol]briarbush.org!
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