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Appendix 2 - Animals that consume forest pests

Last updated on January 4, 2024

(adapted from Machmer and Steeger, 1995)

 
Wildlife tree user guild Feeding guild Predator example Prey example General remarks
Birds of prey Eagles
Hawks
Falcons
Owls		 Golden eagle Rabbits
Hares
Rodents		 Rodents, such as voles and hares are the most common food item of 13 of the 17 species in this group.
Bark-foraging birds Sapsuckers
Woodpeckers
Northern flicker
Nuthatches
Brown creeper		 Black backed woodpecker Bark beetles
(e.g., Mountain pine beetle)		 Forest insects make up >=75% of the diet volume in 11 of the 15 species in this group.
Foliage-gleaning birds Chickadees
Warblers		 Black-capped chickadee Moths
Budworms
Loopers
Beetle
Weevils

Forest insects are the most common food item of the 4 species in this group.

All 4 species are known to eat a variety of pest insects.
Aerial-foraging birds Flycatchers
Swallows
Bluebirds
Flammulated owl
Lewis woodpecker
Vaux's swift
Purple martin		 Violet-green swallow Beetles
(e.g., western pine beetle)		 Insects make up >=75% of the diet volume in 9 of the 10 species in this group.
Aerial-foraging bats Myosis spp.
Big brown bat
Silver-haired bat
Pallid bat
Hoary Bat		 Big brown bat Beetles
Moths

All 12 species in this group are insectivorous.

Investigation of specific pest species consumed are underway
Small mammals Mice
Chipmunks
Bushy-tailed wood rat
Shrew		 Wandering shrew Moths
(e.g., spruce budworm)

Insects comprise part of the diet of at least 6 of 12 species in this group; 4 species are known to consume pest insects.

Fungi are the predominant food for several species.
Small mammals Martens
Weasels		 Pine marten Voles
Squirrels		 Small mammals such as martens subsist mainly on mice, squirrels and voles.