MT ZION — Unwanted trees, slash and storm debris may not have a place in man’s back yard but they could serve as a shelter for wildlife such as small birds and mammals. Once you get done taking the decorations off of your live Christmas tree this year consider building a wildlife shelter with a brush pile. 

Old natural Christmas trees are not the only material useful for brush piles. Consider constructing a pile using slash, the debris from land clearing, or downed limbs from previous storms. While the southern instinct is to burn, you don’t have to burn everything. 

MSU Extension Service states brush piles can create microhabitats where soil moisture is ideal for insects and worms. These become food sources for birds and other wildlife. MSU states you should first use larger limbs to construct the base of your brush pile before adding smaller branches and other vegetative materials. 

Over time the other vegetative matter will break down to again attract insects and worms to serve as a food source. Larger limbs will continue to provide needed vertical cover for wildlife. Brush piles should be between five to six feet tall and about 10 to 20 feet wide. For managing habitat for rabbits keep the brush piles spread out by 100 yards or so while encouraging other shrubby habitat and open spaces for early successional plant communities.