Tree removal seems like it should be straightforward—the service you call simply comes and chops down the tree. The challenge, though, is that a tree can provide home and forage for a large swathe of the neighborhood wildlife. In some cases, such as the case with nesting birds, there may even be regulations about disturbing said habitat during nesting seasons. Fortunately, there are some tactics your removal service can use to minimize disturbance to the wildlife that calls a dead tree home.
1. Time Removal Properly
Timing really is everything. Most birds are actively nesting from very early spring to late summer. By the end of summer, most baby birds are now fledglings learning to fly, so any nests will soon be empty. Squirrels and other tree-dwelling animals may still actively be in the trees, but they won't be raising young once fall arrives. Schedule removal for any time between fall and late winter and you will minimize the amount of wildlife that is disturbed by cutting down the tree.
2. Request an Inspection
Some tree removal services will check a tree for any obvious signs of nests before they begin removal. This service is often reserved for dead or dormant trees that aren't fully leafed out since it is harder to inspect a tree with a dense canopy. If animals are present, you may be able to have them relocated to another tree on your property. You can also decide whether or not to postpone removal for any remaining birds to mature enough to flee their nests.
3. Leave Some Habitat
You don't always have to remove the tree completely in order to render it safe to remain on your property. If you have room, the tree is dead, and the fall trajectory of the tree in a blowdown won't endanger a building or similar, you can opt to have it cut down to standing deadwood. Your removal service will cut off all the primary limbs of the tree and they may shorten the trunk so it won't pose a danger when it does come down. Standing deadwood provides home and feeding grounds for a variety of birds and small mammals. In a few years when the tree decays to the point that larger wildlife has moved on to leave the deadwood to the microorganisms, then the removal service can finish taking it down.
Contact a tree removal service if you need more help or further advice.