Red eft
A rotting log makes a special backyard wildlife habitat element, providing either a focal point for one section of the property or a fascinating, out-of-the-way background piece that rates regular visits to see what’s new there.
It’s also a wonderful project for just about any child to play a major part in. From dragging the log into position to maintaining a damp environment around the log, it’s mostly work that the child can do himself, or at least help with considerably.
And, as the log slowly rots and changes, the environment that it offers and the critters it attracts will change and diversify. Almost weekly, there will be something new for the child to experience at “his log.”
That decaying piece of wood can become the very physical evidence of the child’s involvement in and ownership of the backyard wildlife habitat. The key to achieving such feelings is to involve the child in each of the following steps.
Locate the log. Most woodlots near your home will have a ready supply of fallen timber and an owner willing to part with a small bit of the wood you need. A deciduous tree species, such as apple, birch or oak, will provide a rotting log that will attract the greatest array of life. Hardwoods like oak will spread the decaying process over longer periods, while softwoods like birch will condense it.
A three- to four-foot section of eight- to 12-inch-diameter logs already fallen to the ground is what you’re looking for. Those dimensions will be large enought to attract a good assortment of critters and yet small enough to allow easy rolling by the child for his regular inspections under the log.
Start with a log that is already starting to decay. If it has a slightly moist, somewhat moist feel to it, that’s perfect. Maybe the bark is already beginning to separate a bit from the inner wood. That type of log will bring more immediate results.
The best location for a rotting log in the backyard wildlife habitat is heavily shaded and, where possible, adjacent to some “wild” space, such as a park, woodlot, hedgerow, field or stream. If you can’t provide any of the latter, concentrate on the shaded criteria.
Allow the child to have significant input into the location of the log. Suggest the general location, but allow him to make the final, exact selection. Then, allow him to do as much of the placement as he is physically and safely able to accomplish.
With the child, position the log so that as much of the side of the log toward the ground is actually resting on the ground. That allows maximum square inches of under-log habitat to develop.
The final enhancement – again something the child can do – is to thoroughly soak the log and soil around it with water. That encourages the rotting process and provides the moist habitat that many under-log dwellers prefer.
From that point forward, try to never allow your new mini-ecosystem to dry out completely. You won’t need to soak it like you did the first time, but a regular watering will maintain optimum conditions.
Make regular visits to the log – with the child, if you included a child in project. Carefully, slowly and gently turn over the log for a few minutes, inspect the life that’s accumulated there and then carefully, slowly and gently replace the log into the same resting spot.
Critters that might be expected to appear include earthworms, slugs, sow bugs, millipedes, centipedes and ants. In addition, if you locate the log near a woodlot, you might expect to attract some amphibian visitors, such as a salamander or two or three.
And, don’t overlook the non-animal life that will appear, such as mosses and fungal growths on the wood.
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