Urban areas can mitigate the loss of native and migratory bird habitats by safely conserving parts of dead trees. Dead or dying trees can often be made safe and retained, providing wildlife resources while posing no threat to the public. Doing so aims to foster a healthier environment for coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Dead or dying trees preserved for habitat enhancement are known as ‘habitat trees’. What defines a “habitat tree”? It’s a tree initially marked for removal but is preserved to minimize wildlife hazards, mirroring natural decay found in ancient forests. It’s known by various names such as wildlife tree, special use tree, veteran tree, snag, etc.
The City of Littleton Forestry partnered with CU Boulder to create these guiding documents for habitat tree retention in the Front Range.
Repurposing Hazard trees for bird habitat brochure
A Guide to Promote Bird Activity in Urban Environments through Hazardous Tree Mitigation
