Wildlife enthusiasts, especially in rural areas, might want to leave some of the newly fallen, dead material for wildlife habitat, as long as it doesn't pose a safety hazard. Hairy woodpeckers excavate oblong holes in standing dead hardwood. Chickadees nest in cavities excavated by woodpeckers.
Bats roost in spaces under bark in standing dead trees and downed logs.
Tree frogs and beetles are also found under bark. Dark-eyed juncos nest around the roots of downed trees. Grouse use the bare soil where trees have uprooted to take dust baths during the dry months. Flickers and woodpeckers feed on the insects that live in snags. Squirrels and deer mice store food in fallen trees and decomposing logs.