^'''^■^ ISC.Z ^ 



■"""^'tREST SERVICE RESEARCH NOTE-299 



1980 



^^rtheastern Torest 

 Txperiment Statioii 



FOREST SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 370 REED ROAD. BROOMALL, PA. 19008 



FIREWOOD AND WILDLIFE 



-ANDREW i? CAftEY 

 AND jqlHN^. GpL^ 



Research Wildlife BiolpgiStS 

 Northeastern Forest Ekperimieftt Station 

 Morgantow:|i', Virginia 

 .' "i • • J"" 



' — --'^ ~o 



Abstract. The increased demand for firewood threatens the habitat of ' uj -v 

 many wildlife species. Dead or dying trees that commonly are cut for fire- 

 wood are vital to wildlife species that nest in tree cavities. Likewise, 

 healthy trees of many species preferred for firewood are important com- 

 ponents of wildlife habitat. Tree species or species groups are value -rated 

 for both firewood and wildlife so that the ratings can be used to decide 

 how to manage a woodland for fuel and wildlife. 



As the cost of heating a home rises and the 

 threat of fuel shortages persists, wood be- 

 comes increasingly attractive as an alternative 

 energy source. Increased demand for fire- 

 wood has widened the range of manage- 

 ment options available to forest managers and 

 landowners. Previously uneconomical thin- 

 ning of forest stands may be profitable. Pre- 

 viously unmerchantable trees— the dead, 

 dying, or injured ones— make good firewood. 

 It might be profitable to manage certain areas 

 solely for firewood and to cut immature trees 

 at frequent intervals. Superficially, the 

 economical removal of dead, dying, or in- 

 jured, or malformed trees seems attractive and 



so does the prospect of profitable thinnings 

 that may increase the growth of the remaining 

 trees. However, from the chickadee's point of 

 view, such action may be tragic. The dead, 

 dying, or injured trees are the foraging sub- 

 strate for a number of insectivorous birds, 

 especially woodpeckers and bark-gleaning 

 birds. Removing the low-vigor trees that pro- 

 vide foraging substrate and the large dead 

 trees and "wolf" trees that provide nest cavi- 

 ties and dens results in an "energy crisis" for 

 a number of wildlife species. So consider 

 your goals carefully before deciding whether 

 or not to harvest firewood, and if you do so, 

 decide what tree species and how much to 

 harvest. 



1 



