A brush pile is a deliberate pile of woody material to provide shelter. Animals can use brush piles and the spaces within them for nesting areas, resting spots, or escape routes, as well as locations to seek food. Brush piles are typically built with a base layer of large logs stacked log cabin style and then intertwined and covered with smaller branches. These structures are particularly crucial in the winter when other trees and shrubs have lost their foliage, reducing their ability to shelter animals. As brush piles begin to break down and decompose, they attract numerous insects, which in turn provide a valuable food source for insectivorous species.
©Brian Henderson