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Snags |
Why all these dead trees in the Nature Center? Because Snags are Habitat. Snags are "animal inns" that provide homes for more than 125 Idaho wildlife species including insects woodpeckers, owls, songbirds, squirrels, raccoons, snakes, frogs, and salamanders. And many of these species depend on each other. For example, insects living under the bark attract birds, especially woodpeckers. Woodpeckers "drilling" for food create holes that become homes for cavity-nesters such as bluebirds and owls. Eagles, ospreys, and hawks use snags as hunting perches. The snag overlooking the Alpine Lake (# 10), is a favorite perch of the Great Blue Herons that visit the Nature Center. Fallen snags continue to provide habitat- only in a horizontal rather than vertical position. Eventually, rotting snag is recycled into the soil providing nutrients for another group of plants and animals (#16).
