Brush Piles for Wildlife

Brush piles have a reputation in some circles as "waste piles," the sign of the Lazy Man who refuses to keep things tidy. But in wildlife circles, they have a much different status. A well-built brush pile is a nesting spot for Northern Cardinals, Song Sparrows and Gray Catbirds. It's shelter for migrating White-throated Sparrows and overwintering Northen Juncos, as well as resident rabbits, grouse and chipmunks. And it is an emergency bomb shelter when a hawk enters the vicinity. So this holiday season, consider giving wildlife a homemade gift - a brush pile!

So how does one built the neighborhood's BEST brush pile? A good shelter has a dry basement, so start with a dry spot, or build up the site a bit before beginning. If there is standing water under the pile, it is of less value to the animals you are building for.

The bottom "floor" should be logs or sizeable branches of leg thickness or greater. This is the foundation, the ultimate factor determining width and length, so plan accordingly. Place the foundation logs parallel to each other, with a foot or two in between (the better for chipmunks, weasels and rabbits to scurry through), then place another layer of similar size on top of these, running in the opposite direction. Layer #3 should be smaller branches, placed thickly enough to catch grass clippings from above but loose enough to provide ventilation.

From this point up, the brush pile is whatever you make it, using whatever "stuff" is available -- straw from the dog pen, branches trimmed from shrubs, grass clippings, fallen branches. All that really matters is that there are alternating layers of loose material (such as branches of various sizes) and more solid material (straw, grass clippings). Solid layers capture fallen seeds and provide insulation, while the open layers allow for ventilation, as well as easeir movement through the pile for those who live there.

If the appearance of the brush pile is a concern, or you want to provide a two-for-one deal for animals (shelter AND food), decorate the brush pile with Wild Grape, Virginia Creeper or other vines to provide a splash of fall color, seeds and berries. As will all really good gifts, a brush pile will bring pleasure to both those that use it, and the one who sees how much it is appreciated.

 - Janea Little, Senior Naturalist