For example, some birds will require snags in open shrub or grass communities. Others avoid snags in the open and will only use those in the closed forest. Snag Management Guidelines Ecological stewardship should include preservation and recruitment of snags for the benefit of wildlife and long-term soil productivity. Landowners must weigh many factors when managing for snags, including fire hazard, hazards posed to developed areas and trade-offs of productive forestland for benefits other than timber production. There is little reason to remove soft snags from a forest provided they are not posing safety or fire hazards.
Soft snags have virtually no commercial value.
Hard snags will gradually turn into soft snags so if adequate hard snags are provided, and most soft snags retained, requirements for all snag-dependent species should be met. In general, it is most beneficial to provide a wide range of snag species and size classes. Both coniferous and hardwood snags are useful to wildlife. For example, large black oak snags are extensively used by cavity-nesting birds and small mammals. Of the conifers, ponderosa pine may be preferable to white fir.