Tree snags and cavities may not look like much, but they are a very important part of nature! A tree snag is basically a dead or decaying tree, and a cavity is basically a hole in a living tree. Here are some cool facts about these trees:

• Over five hundred species of birds, three hundred species of mammals, four hundred species of amphibians and reptiles and nearly all fish benefit from snags for food, nesting or shelter.

• The insulation of a tree truck allows many animal species to survive hot summers and cold winters.

• Many animals use tree cavities and loose bark to store their food.

• Insects that live in dead trees eat thousands of forest pests that can harm living trees.

• Dead trees that have fallen into rivers and lakes are also valuable to animals in the water. Amphibians and fish hide under them to escape predators.