In my neighborhood we are starting to see Christmas trees on the curb, ready for pick up. Last year, In 2010, over 27 million Christmas trees were sold.
More communities are recycling Christmas trees – either using them to create mulch, or habitats for animals.
One newer use for recycled Christmas trees is to recycle them to create a better fish habitat. In South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Montana – and many other locations in the U.S., fish and wildlife agencies have been collecting Christmas trees and putting them in lakes and waterways to create protective habitats for smaller fish.
In some states such as Wyoming, trees will be dropped in holes in the ice at Ocean Lake later this month. In South Carolina, the trees will be put in Lake Hartwell.
The trees help provide cover for fish, and help promote the growth of fish by providing cover for smaller and younger fish. The trees also are beneficial for insects that live near water, which is food for many fish. Lakes often have woody habitats that rot away, and by adding Christmas trees, these types of habitats are replenished.
Other communities, such as Porter County in Indiana have gathered up Christmas trees and piled them up at a 25-acre wildlife rehabilitation site, which provides cover for birds, chipmunks, and other small wild animals. The trees protect the animals from predators, and also make a shelter in cold weather.
Image Source:
U.S. Forest Service
Mr. Thomas Flickr Site
www.theflyfishingforum.com
www.escobarshighlandfarm.com
Links:
Christmas Trees Get New Life – Augusta Chronicle
Recycle a Christmas Tree – Save a Fish (Department of Fish and Game)