12/27/2025
What looks like “just a dead tree” from the outside is actually a fully booked winter apartment complex.
Inside its hollow trunk, entire families survive storms, frost, and long winter nights:
🦉 Owl Perch — Wind-Sheltered Roost
Owls use upper cavities to escape icy winds and watch the forest from a safe, hidden perch.
🦝 Raccoon Nest — Dry + Insulated Winter Den
A hollow chamber becomes a warm, secure bedroom where raccoons curl up and sleep through brutal cold.
🐿️ Squirrel Cache — Hidden Nut Storage
Deep pockets inside the trunk protect precious food supplies that squirrels depend on when everything freezes.
🪲 Insect Refuge — Overwintering Bark Layers
Beetles, moths, spiders, and countless tiny species shelter inside the thick bark — the foundation of the entire food web.
🐾 Root Tunnel — Small Mammal Access Route
Underground entry points allow mice, voles, and shrews to escape predators and move safely under the snow.
🌳 Dead Wood = Critical Winter Habitat
While humans often see “danger,” wildlife sees the only shelter they have left.
Removing every dead or hollow tree “for safety”
eliminates the last natural winter homes
for dozens of species trying to survive.
If a dead tree isn’t endangering your home,
leave it standing.
It might be the only warm room left in the forest.
Gardening Tips and Tricks
