OUTDOOR CORNER: CHRISTMAS TREES CAN BE A GIFT TO WILDLIFE

Birds, fish can find post-holiday shelter in Christmas trees.

With the holiday behind us, we are faced with a number of questions to ponder: Why do we eat so much? Why did we spend so much money? What do we do with the Christmas tree that we finally took down and hauled out of the house?

Well, we can't help you with the first two questions but might be able to give you some suggestions with regard to the Christmas tree. Rather than burn or discard the tree, you can make a gift of it. You can give it to local wildlife in your backyard or to the fish in your favorite pond.

Christmas trees can help attract winter birds to your yard, especially when placed near feeding stations. When set up or tied in an upright position, they provide security for visiting birds. The birds will often fly to the tree prior to moving to your feeder. In this way they can safely observe the area and check for the presence of predators. Likewise the closely-spaced branches can provide emergency escape cover if a predator should show up.

If you own a pond, or know somebody who does, you can improve the fishing with only a small amount of effort. To do an effective job you might want to call your neighbors and collect their trees also.

What you are going to do is provide some cover (or structure) in the pond that will benefit the fish population. Trees, when properly placed in a pond, set a chain of events in motion that ultimately result in an increase in the number and size of fish being caught.

Here's how it works: The branches of the submerged trees provide a place for microscopic animals and plants to grow. Small fish (minnows and bluegill) are attracted to the trees because of the available food and also because the branches provide shelter and protection from predators. Largemouth bass and other predatory fish use the trees as a place to feed on the bluegill and minnows. They also utilize the cover provided for their own shelter and protection from predators. This is where we come into the picture. When we pick up a fishing pole, we become that predator and begin to reap the rewards from our efforts.

You create your "fish attractors" by tying your Christmas trees to a concrete block with aluminum wire or polypropylene rope. One standard concrete block will usually hold down a bundle of three or four trees. You will want your trees to float in an upright or vertical position after you sink them in the pond. To achieve this, tie the weight to the butt end of the tree bundle.

Okay. You now have several bundles tied and weighted. What next? You need to determine the best locations in the pond for placement. Keep in mind that it is better to place several bundles within a few yards of each other rather than scattering them over a large area.

Water depth is important. You shouldn't place the trees in water deeper than 12 feet. In fact, eight feet of water is plenty. During the summer months water deeper than eight feet usually contains low levels of dissolved oxygen. Fish avoid low oxygen concentrations and may not utilize trees located in deeper water. It's fine if the tops of some trees "stick up" above the water surface. They provide resting places for insects that frequently fall into the water and provide yet another food source.

Construct the bundles on shore and drag them into the pond with a boat or from the opposite shore with a tractor or truck. Always keep your safety in mind. You will be using concrete blocks, rope or wire and deep water in combination. Be sure to have at least one companion along in case you run into trouble.

Christmas trees, whether pine or cedar, work extremely well. They do, however, have one drawback. They decay relative quickly so you should plan on adding additional trees every year or two. That may seem like a lot of work but it will almost certainly pay off this summer.

~Gene Myers is a Missouri Conservation Agent in Cape Girardeau County.