Staff report

After the holidays, live-cut Christmas trees can be repurposed as habitat for various species of animals, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife.

Each winter, recycled live-cut Christmas trees are donated to the Division of Wildlife and placed at select wildlife areas and public lakes around Ohio. The trees are bundled together and weighed down so they sink to the bottom of lakes, attracting fish and providing cover. Many species are attracted to this dense cover, including crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass.

A live-cut Christmas tree can also be recycled as the centerpiece of a wildlife-friendly brush pile.

Place the tree in a desirable location and layer limbs around it in a square arrangement. Cover the top with additional brush to create a unique and valuable shelter for small animals.

Songbirds including cardinals, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and wrens travel in and out of brush piles for food, nesting and to escape predators. Small mammals such as rabbits and chipmunks also use brush piles for shelter and raising young. Brush piles are a valuable shelter for overwintering insects like bees, moths and butterflies as well.

Live-cut Christmas trees are also useful as compost, mulch and more.

The Mahoning County Green Team accepts donated trees at designated dropoff sites until Jan. 31.

The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office Community Service Program collects and prepares trees to be used for fish and wildlife habitat in partnership with ODNR.

Last year, the Green Team collected about 50,000 pounds of Christmas trees with this program. Make sure to remove all of the decorations and drop the tree off at one of 15 locations across the county 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.

• Austintown Township Park, 6000 Kirk Road.

• Beloit Village Park, 17910 E. 5th St.

• Berlin Township Building, 15823 W. Akron-Canfield Road.

• Campbell City salt dome, Warhurst Road.

• Canfield Township Fire Station, 5007 Messerly Road.

• Craig Beach / Milton Township Fire Station, 1979 Grandview Road.

Ellsworth Township Fire Station, 6036 S. Salem-Warren Road.

• Goshen Township Maintenance Garage, 12649 Seacrist Road.

• Green Township Cemetery, state Route 165 and Beaver Creek Road

• Jackson Township Building, 10613 Mahoning Ave.

• Lowellville Village Street Department, 3 W. McGaffney St.

• New Middletown / Springfield Recycling Center, 10720 Struthers Road.

• Poland Township Park, 7400 Moore Road.

• Struthers: Trees will be picked up at curbside.

• Youngstown CCA (former South Branch Library), 1771 Market St.