Standing dead trees like this one are an important part of the forest. Wildlife trees at all stages
provide a portion of the life support system for many species of plants, invertebrates, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Some of the uses include nesting, feeding, communication (drumming, marking), roosting, shelter, and over wintering. Another beneficial group of wildlife tree users are the birds of prey: owls that nest in tree cavities and hawks that use the trees as hunting perches. These birds prey on mice and other rodents that often eat tree seeds or young seedlings.