What is it?  

Native to woodlands across Florida and beyond, snags and logs provide essential habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. A snag is a standing dead tree, while a log is a fallen snag resting on the forest floor. Both serve important roles in the ecosystem, offering food, shelter, and nesting opportunities. Snags may look lifeless, but they are alive with activity, housing insects, fungi, mosses, and lichens that in turn attract birds, mammals, and amphibians. 

Why it matters.  

Snags and logs are nature’s multi-purpose resources. High branches of snags make excellent lookouts for birds of prey, while hollow cavities and cracks create safe homes for owls, bats, raccoons, and squirrels. On the ground, decaying logs return nutrients to the soil, acting as “nurse logs” for new seedlings. Hardwood trees often make better nesting habitats, while softer woods provide prime foraging for insect-eating species. Even a single snag or log can become a miniature ecosystem. 

What you can do! 

Snags are a vital but often overlooked part of healthy landscapes. Experts recommend keeping about three snags per acre, though local guidelines may vary. You can help woodland ecosystems thrive by facilitating the presence of snags and logs. Here’s how: 

• Keep the snags and logs in your backyard. It is “one of the most important decisions you can make to promote wildlife habitat,” according to the Northwest Natural Resource Group. 

• Build a wildlife habitat pile in any sun exposure or vegetation type. Piles should be deliberately constructed, according to this article.  

• Move dead wood resting against your home to a safer area of your yard. This allows wildlife to thrive without risking your property.  

• Create artificial snags and logs with trimmed branches or nesting boxes, which can provide critical habitat for hundreds of species. 

Get Involved: 

• Look at the information on the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program conducted by UF/IFAS Extension here. 

• Participate in a scavenger hunt for all ages made by Duke Farms Foundation, which also explores the definition of a limb. 

Information from the National Wildlife Federation, UF/IFAS Extension, and the Duke Farms Foundation. Photo from UF/IFAS Blogs.