Thinning Banner Forest: A Deadly Threat to Wildlife

Banner Forest, our 636-acre haven in Kitsap County, is a safe home for owls, frogs, deer, and more. Its thick trees keep animals happy and alive. But the county’s plan to chop down half the trees through selective thinning could spell disaster. This isn’t about care—it’s about profit, and it will lead to a cruel, scary death for our wildlife. Choosing proforestation (letting the forest grow naturally, also called passive management) saves animals and keeps Banner wild. Here’s why thinning is a nightmare for wildlife and why we must stop it.

Pileated Woodpecker in Banner Heritage Forest Park

Thinning: A Death Sentence for Animals

Cutting down half of Banner’s trees would wreck the homes and food of our animals, leaving them to suffer and die. Here’s how:

- No Place to Live: Owls and woodpeckers need big trees to nest. Chopping half the trees leaves them homeless, forcing them to starve or fight for scraps. Studies show thinning can cut bird homes by 30%, killing many.

- Starving and Thirsty: Thinning dries out the forest floor (as we shared on August 31, 2025), killing bugs that birds like chickadees eat. Frogs and salamanders, who love wet ground, will dry up and die without shade.

- Invaders Take Over: Thinning lets weeds like Scotch broom grow, choking out food plants for deer and bees. Animals go hungry, facing a slow, cruel death.

- Scary Disruption: Loud machines and falling trees scare deer and coyotes, driving them away from their young. Many won’t survive the chaos.

The county wants to thin for profit, selling trees while ignoring the blood on their hands. Animals will die, scared and alone, because of their greed.

Proforestation: Saving Our Animals

Proforestation keeps Banner’s trees standing, giving animals homes, food, and safety. The forest stays cool and wet, bugs thrive for birds, and deer roam peacefully. No machines, no death—just nature doing its job.

Stop the County’s Cruel Plan

Thinning half of Banner Forest’s trees will kill our wildlife in a heartless, profit-driven disaster. Proforestation saves animals, keeps the forest alive, and costs nothing. Don’t let the county’s greed destroy our owls, frogs, and deer! Speak out at savebannerforest@gmail.com to protect Banner’s wildlife.