How Do Trees Help Animals? 5 Reasons to Care for Them

Mockingbirds singing from live oaks, butterflies dancing from flower to flower, and squirrels racing each other along a trunk. It’s a typical Saturday morning. These sights and sounds bring comfort to most residents, and they all depend on one thing: healthy, long-lasting trees.

As certified arborists in Weatherford, TX, for more than two decades, we’ve been asked countless times, “How do trees help animals?” And while many may know that greenery plays a role in ensuring a healthy environment, not everyone is aware that our responsibility goes beyond planting. It involves constantly caring for the trees in our own backyard. So, here they are, the 5 different ways trees are important for wildlife.

1. Shelter for Birds and Mammals

Okay, you’re wondering, “How do trees provide shelter for animals?” The answer is simple: the same way apartment complexes (or other housing facilities) protect us. For example, woodpeckers nest in a trunk’s cavities, squirrels weave leafy dreys, and opossums tuck their joeys into bark crevices.

Therefore, that conifer in your yard can be the home of different wildlife species, including mammals, birds, and even insects, some of which you may not notice every day. They, however, will notice during storms or long winter months. Even young trees can serve as shelter for a few animals when running from predators.

2. Food for Pollinators and Others

We all love an all-you-can-eat buffet, nature included. Many animals depend on trees for food. In early spring, flowering redbuds and Mexican plums give pollinators their first nectar shot after winter. Come summer, cottonwoods drip sap that feeds beetles and butterflies. And in winter, evergreens are a 24/7 restaurant for chipmunks and squirrels.

In fact, one oak can support more than 5,000 insect species, and each bug becomes food for birds, bats, or frogs. Even wind-fallen fruit feeds overwintering butterflies and small mammals. If possible, leave a few peaches on the ground and let nature clean the plate.

3. Support for Migratory Birds

Imagine road-tripping for hours on end, with not a single diner in sight. Sounds frustrating, doesn’t it? We can prevent that. Caring for our urban trees, especially the ones in your landscape, turns their leaves and branches into the perfect stopover for migrating birds.

Just take Texas as an example. Twice a year, our skies fill with travelers on the Central Flyway, and our mature elms and sycamores provide a buffet of caterpillars that let warblers refuel in minutes.

4. Habitat for Beneficial Insects

Yes, we mentioned it before: trees provide habitat for wildlife, including insects. This last bit of information is one that many homeowners are wary of, understandably so. After all, insects have gained a reputation for the havoc they can wreak on trees and other plants.

Not every insect out there is nasty, though. Lady beetles, lacewings, and parasitic wasps keep aphids and scale in check. These allies overwinter inside curled leaves and loose bark. Therefore, we recommend leaving a light mulch of leaves under your pecan (just keep it away from the roots, as we advise in this DIY mulch guide). That way, you’ve created an insect hotel that pays rent in free pest control all season.

5. Shade for All Kinds of Animals

Climate change has made some summer days (weeks and months, even) unbearable. A walk in a park full of greenery is much more pleasant than on a bare sidewalk. Many animals share that sentiment.

So, of course, heat-sensitive amphibians like toads love to retreat to moist soil under elms, while songbirds rest beneath shady limbs. Even pond fish benefit from overhanging branches, keeping the water cool. In urban areas, greenery has lowered temperatures by up to 9°F, helping save pets and other animals during triple-digit heat waves.

Why Planting Trees Isn’t Enough

We all know the power trees have on the planet and the impact deforestation has had on it. So, yes, planting trees for wildlife is a great start, but our efforts shouldn’t stop there. Young greenery resembles a dorm room more than a fully-equipped home for animals, and cavities, crowns, and other parts take years to develop with proper care.

Compacted soil, lawn-mower wounds, or poor pruning get in the way of such progress, ruining habitat value. Therefore, instead of trying to create an old-growth forest in your yard, invest time in mulching regularly, watering deeply, and trimming properly. These practices help greenery mature faster, providing better food and shelter sooner.

Also, while opting for fast-growing ornamentals sounds tempting, we recommend against it. Such greenery often splits in storms and feeds fewer creatures. A live oak may take longer, but it will support thousands of wildlife encounters for 150 years.