Welcome to ANIMAL INN!

Dead, dying and hollow trees provide food and shelter for a wide variety of animals. Hollow trees, trees with broken tops or visible nest cavities, fallen trees (both on the forest floor and in streams), and stumps all are examples of ANIMAL INNS.

Unfortunately, ANIMAL INNS are in danger because they are often prized as firewood for America's families.

Have you ever walked through the woods and noticed holes in different trees? Did you wonder what caused the holes or what might be in them? These holes are home to a huge variety of wildlife known as cavity nesters; their homes are known as ANIMAL INNS.

Why cavities? For some species of wildlife, life revolves around these ANIMAL INNS. The southern flying squirrel, for example, uses cavities for nesting, resting, raising of young, storage of food, escape from predators and the rain! More animals can survive when they have the protective home an ANIMAL INN gives to them.

But... Cavities are a limited resource in the forest. There are only a certain number of suitable trees. Dead trees blow down, are cut for firewood, or are removed during certain types of forest management.