To determine if access routes (bored holes) created through the outer bole of large-diameter ( = 50 cm dbh) cottonwood trees will hasten the establishment of heartrot and result in the creation of internal chambers that can be used by cavity-using wildlife (e.g., woodpeckers, owls, fishers, bats).

Mature forest and cutblocks (with single stem retention of cottonwood trees) within the Redrocky Creek drainage.

A 5-cm diameter hole was created to the core of 82 large-diameter cottonwood trees using a gas-powered drill. Treated trees were paired based on their bole (dbh) diameters and their proximity to one another. Each paired tree had a hole established on either the north or south side of the bole. All holes were situated at about 4-5 m above ground level. Trees were treated in both mature-forest and logged settings. These treated trees, and 93 non-treated trees, will also be monitored to determine stem survivorship (retention) rates. Cavity status, stem retention, and wildlife use will be reassessed at 1, 4 and 7 yrs post-treatment (i.e., 2003, 2006 and 2009), with further monitoring dependent on these assessments.

• Year 0 Progress Report (2002) [PDF, 1.2 Mb]
• Cottonwood Tree Enhancement Trial: An Evaluation of Treatment Holes and study Trees, 2002-2009 [PDF, 2.0 Mb]