All of Oregon’s forests – whether they’re mostly new growth, older, or somewhere in between – provide habitat for wildlife. In Oregon’s managed forests, wildlife habitat is protected by and during management activities that emulate the diverse cycle of changing forest ages and changing habitats that accompany those evolving ages. Oregon forest managers include a skilled cadre of professionals caring for wildlife, fisheries and their habitat, including— foresters, wildlife biologists, ecologists, silviculturists, fish biologists, entomologists, pathologists, geologists, and engineers.

Historically, windstorms or fires created openings in the forest that eventually regrew, leading to a mosaic of different tree ages across the landscape. Diverse forests include different areas of tree cover—some areas are young, some are middle-aged, and others are older forests. As a result, some animal species are dependent on young forests, while others thrive in middle-age forests, and still others prefer to live in older forests. 

Young, open forests, for example, are especially important for migrating songbirds, while older forests are vital to species such as the northern spotted owl. Middle-aged forests are important to a wide range of generally-associated species, including many species that move between young and/or older forests. Natural forest openings contain standing dead trees called "snags," patches of live trees, and down logs – all of which offer important habitat within those forest areas. Timber harvest also creates openings that are used by many species, and state law requires that down logs and some standing trees be left behind for wildlife.

In the lifecycle of a growing forest, areas that begin as young forests in a couple decades next become middle-aged forests, and then decades later become older forests. A single forest never stands still—and neither does its forest habitat and wildlife. All are ever-changing through time.  In a managed forest, as one forest habitat area has matured, another area is harvested to create young forest habitat.   The cycle of life repeats in a managed forest—always maintaining areas of the different ages and different habitats. With diverse forest ages across the managed forest landscape there are accompaniment of diverse habitats and their wildlife.