Mountain Times - Volume 49, Number 46 - Nov. 11-17, 2020

Columns
26 • The Mountain Times • Nov. 11-17, 2020
Life within the brush pile
For nearly a decade, I’ve been adding to a brush pile in the woods behind my home. A
depository of pruned branches, dead flowers, discarded logs, old leaves, and an occasional
Christmas tree, the pile is a decaying testament to seasons and chores long past. Over the
years, the pile has settled a bit as the accumulated debris has slowly broken down. Yet, the
brush pile remains as intended: a woody oasis for wildlife.
“Wildlife uses brush piles for nesting, resting, evading predators,
keeping cool during summer, and staying warm and dry
when it’s cold and stormy,” Charles Fergus wrote in his book “Make
a Home for Wildlife: Creating Habitat on Your Land Backyard to
Many Acres.” Constructed brush piles replicate what happens on
the forest floor when dead branches and trees build up in a given
The Outside
Story
By Lee Emmon
spot. These unremarkable (at least to the human eye) heaps offer
critical cover for forest creatures, and Fergus notes that brush piles
are utilized by different species, including rabbits, turtles, weasels,
chipmunks, and squirrels.
In the winter, various small animals will use brush piles to
find sufficient warmth and cover, said Haley Andreozzi, the
wildlife outreach program manager with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative
Extension. These smaller animals, in turn, attract predators such as foxes,
fishers, and long-tailed weasels. Tracks left in the snow will help identify the different
creatures that enter and exit the pile.
Doug Hitchcox, a staff naturalist with Maine Audubon, said brush piles are also valuable
real estate for birds. He noted several species will use brush piles at different times of the
year, including sparrows, some warblers, like common yellowthroat, and a variety of wrens,
including house, winter, or Carolina wrens. Although the main benefit of brush piles to
birds is cover and shelter, some may try to nest within the pile. “Winter wrens and a couple
of species of flycatchers will often build their nests in the roots of uprooted trees,” said
Hitchcox. “So a brush pile might mimic that enough to be an enticing nesting location.”
If built near an existing bird feeder, especially one without adequate natural
cover nearby, a brush pile may attract more avian visitors. “If you don’t have trees
or shrubs already near the feeder, a brush pile is a great option to give birds a quick
get-away spot,” said Hitchcox.
Brush piles are easy to construct at the edges of forests, fields, and gardens. Recently
cleared areas also provide excellent sites. To start, simply place a base of logs on the ground.
Rocks or an existing tree stump can also serve as the pile’s foundation. Add multiple layers
of branches and smaller sticks, and eventually, you’ll have a dome-shaped pile with
numerous hiding spots for small animals. Leaves and other forms of vegetation will provide
insulation as well as natural covering. There should be room left at the bottom to allow
animals to come and go.
Andreozzi said that while any type of woody debris will support wildlife habitat, “a deliberately
structured brush pile will provide habitat for a larger diversity of species and will last
longer.” She suggests building multiple brush piles in areas without natural cover to ease
the threat posed by predators.
Since I started on my first brush pile, I’ve added another on a different corner of the
property. Smaller than the main pile, it grows slowly after each windstorm and yard job. The
pile has already attracted the attention of a few critters.
On cold winter nights, as ice-covered trees sway in the wind, and snow coats the
forest floor, I hope small creatures have reached the warmth and safety of my brush
piles – and that when a new day dawns, the old branches and rotting wood have
sustained a most precious gift: life.
Lee Emmons is a nature writer, public speaker, and educator. The illustration for this
column is by Adelaide Murphy Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern
Woodlands magazine and sponsored by nhcf.org.
It has been estimated that fewer than
50% of adults have a will or other estate
documents in place, which may not
be entirely surprising. No
one wants to be reminded
of their own mortality or
spend too much time thinking
about what might happen
once they’re gone.
But a will is an instrument
of power. Creating one
gives you control over the
distribution of your assets.
If you die without one, the
state decides what becomes
of your property, without
regard to your priorities.
A will is a legal document by which an
individual or a couple (known as “testator”)
identifies their wishes regarding the
distribution of their assets after death.
A will can typically be broken down into
four main parts.
1. Executors - Most wills begin by naming
an executor. Executors are responsible
for carrying out the wishes outlined in a
will. This involves assessing the value of the
estate, gathering the assets, paying inheritance
tax and other debts (if necessary),
and distributing assets among beneficiaries.
It’s recommended that you name
at least two executors, in case your first
choice is unable to fulfill the obligation.
2. Guardians - A will allows you to
designate a guardian for your minor
children. Whomever you appoint, you
will want to make sure beforehand
that the individual is able and willing
to assume the responsibility. For many
people, this is the most important part
of a will since, if you die without naming
a guardian, the court will decide who
Money
Matters
By Kevin Theissen
The yard was covered in white. I
mean, really covered in white. It wasn’t
that pathetic little amount that we got
on the first snowfall last week where
you talk yourself
into thinking that
there’s probably
enough
snow to ski some
laps around the
yard before the
snow is all gone.
This was the
first real snow,
the kind you
have to sweep off
of your car and
shovel the front
walk because it
will actually stick around. We measured
almost 8 full inches and smiles about as
big. Because snow that deep this early
in the season only means one thing: it’s
two-stroke time!!
We hook up the trailer, pull the pin,
open the clamshell and gaze longingly at
our beauties that have been hiding away
takes care of your children.
3. Gifts - This section enables you to
identify people or organizations to whom
you wish to give gifts of money
or specific possessions, such
as jewelry or a car. You can also
specify conditional gifts, such
as a sum of money to a young
daughter, but only when she
reaches a certain age.
4. Estate - Your estate encompasses
everything you own,
including real property, financial
investments, cash, and
personal possessions. Once
you have identified specific
gifts you would like to distribute,
you can apportion the rest of your
estate in equal shares among your heirs,
or you can split it into percentages. For
example, you may decide to give 45
percent each to two children and the
remaining 10 percent to a sibling.
The law does not require that a will be
drawn up by a professional, and some
people choose to create their own wills
at home. But where wills are concerned,
there is little room for error. You will not
be around when the will is read to correct
technical errors or clear up confusion.
When you draft a will, consider enlisting
the help of a legal or financial professional,
especially if you have a large estate
or complex family situation.
Preparing for the eventual distribution
of your assets may not sound enticing.
But remember, a will puts the power in
your hands. You have worked hard to
create a legacy for your loved ones. You
deserve to decide what becomes of it.
Kevin Theissen is the owner of HWC
Financial, Ludlow.
Smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em!!
Livin’ the
Dream
By Merisa
Sherman
Will power
all summer long. The BF and I cannot
contain our grins as we look at each other
before grabbing the rear of our sleds and
drag them out of the trailer in unison.
My skis, of course, don’t clear the trailer
because I didn’t pull hard enough. That’s
okay, I start my strength training for the
season by lifting the dead weight of the
rear and pulling back with all the strength
that I only imagine that I have — but it
still doesn’t move.
And so begins snowmobile season.
My engine, at least, turns over easily
and I drag the skis around, growing stronger
with each pull. Plumes of thick smoke
rise up, twisting in the wind. As I wait for
the engine to reach temp, I am captivated
by the smoke dancing in front of the
headlights like the Last Unicorn dancing
before the Red Bull. It’s simply beautiful.
But nowhere near as beautiful as the
tracks we would leave all over the yard.
After a quick mental review, I’m off with
one big loud BRAAAAAAAP. I lean my
entire body off the left side of the sled,
my knee hanging out as I shove the
handlebars to the right. The skis catch
Livin’ the dream > 27