A little flock of titmice came daily to pick a dinner out of my woodpile. They were so familiar that at length one alighted on an armful of wood which I was carrying in, and pecked at the sticks without fear. — Henry David Thoreau, author of Walden

All night I dreamt of bonfires and burn piles and ghost of men, and spirits behind those birds of flame. — Ada Limon, 24th U.S. Poet Laureate (2022)

Strong winds plummeted the Prairie during the last two seasons, and spring promises to be no different. Spanish moss waves on thin little branches in the old oak tree. A gust of wind will snap the thin branch, taking the branch and the moss sailing across the lawn. In time you learn to pull the moss off of the broken branch and while standing with your back to the wind, hurl the moss back onto another thin branch on the oak tree to sail another day.

When the sun is shining and the day is warm, picking up moss and limbs is a blessed chore. With so many thin branches to gather it seemed prudent to stack the branches in small piles beneath the trees. Eventually all the piles will be gathered up on the trailer and hauled to the large burn pile in the field. In the meantime, these smaller piles of leaves, branches, fallen limbs, twigs and some logs will serve as habitat for small critters. Birds of all kinds will hide in the piles for quick shelter, safety, and some nesting, particularly cardinals, robins, mockingbirds, jaybirds, chickadees, wrens, tufted titmice, woodpeckers, sparrows, towhees and so on.

Small mammals will take respite in the stick piles, critters like mice, moles, voles, shrews and small rabbits. These organic piles will provide for the needs of bees, those that burrow in the ground, wasps, some butterflies, moths and other beneficial organisms.

A fallen tree in the woods is most often left where it falls. A fallen tree can serve as shelter as well and what I call the “squirrel highway.” From the kitchen table we regularly see squirrels zipping up and down the tree from woods to water. 

It is important if you make stick or brush piles to make sure it does not touch near a wood structure due to termites. Termites are not critters we want to share our habitat with. Also, don’t place piles in areas where fire or heat is available. All these little wood piles will eventually be moved to the large burn pile in an isolated field where no kindling is apt to spread the fire. The burn pile is always monitored and only ignited during times when burning is allowed. It’s recommended the burn pile be no more than eight feet tall and ten to twenty feet in length. We’re probably about that size now.

If the wood pile is left for the duration, the wood will rot and decay naturally. Insects will be attracted so moving burn piles or attending to them in a reasonable time is advisable. Also consider discarding any toxic additions such as treated lumber, creosote railroad ties, anything with lead paint, tires or other chemicals in some other manner. Any of these can be harmful to wildlife and possibly humans through contact, consumption or inhalation. It has been my experience if you think there is a possibility of ivies of any kind in your burn pile better beware. Even smoke can cause extreme reactions. You’ve probably heard said, smoke gets in your eyes.   

Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].