Cold Damage is a Natural Disturbance
Our forests are finely attuned to seasonal changes in weather. Cold damage, like fire damage, is a natural disturbance that strongly affects ecosystems. Ice storms may break the branches of trees or cause them to fall completely. Winter rains soften the ground so that tree roots loosen their grip, ice weighs heavily upon their upper branches, and strong winds push them over. When this happens, more sunlight can reach the ground, causing other, smaller plants to grow. Other times, frost burn can damage the trunks of trees so badly that they die. Such disturbances not only provide dead trees for wildlife to live in, but also increase biodiversity.
Viewer Tip: Our native forests have lived with natural disturbances for many years. Instead of removing damaged or dead trees, leave them standing or laying on the forest floor where they will attract and maintain wildlife populations. Potentially hazardous weak or dead trees, however, especially those near power lines, driveways, roads, or homes, should always be removed.
Season: Winter
This information is provided by the Georgia Wildlife Federation. For more information, visit www.gwf.org.
