Mountaintop Grasslands Make Poor Habitats

By Andy Hansroth

(This article appeared in the Charleston Gazette on May 30, 1999)

A letter from environmentalist attorney John McFerrin solicited the opinion of yours truly about assertions from coal companies that grasslands affiliated with mountaintop removal are wildlife habitat.

McFerrin asked. So here’s my opinion:

Converting forested mountaintops to grasslands does a grave disservice to wildlife in West Virginia and elsewhere.

Contrary to the coal companies’ claims, grasslands don’t make good wildlife habitat. I observed a similar situation as a youngster in Morgan County, where an area was prepped for a housing development. And mountaintop removal is much more severe, on a much larger scale in terms of land damage.

When soils are completely removed, mixed up, then later returned, when grasses are sewn to hold the soil in place, regrowth of native trees does not occur. Growth of any trees, in fact, is difficult.

Coal companies try planting trees. But the areas don't recover. One needs only look at 25- to 50-year-old strip mines to determine how such disruption of soil can permanently alter a site. And mountaintop removal is simply a more severe form of strip mining.

Mountaintop grasslands as wildlife habitat? Not in my book.

In Morgan County, my parents built a home on top of a large windswept ridge overlooking the valley of my hometown -- Berkeley Springs.

That was in 1973 and there was a large undeveloped parcel of land approximately 15 acres in size across the street.

Back then, the lot held quail, squirrels, cottontail rabbits, raccoons, opossum, ruffed grouse, deer and wild turkey.

Then someone bought the property and cleared every inch with plans for future development. The land was turned from 15 acres of brush, young growth trees, honeysuckle, greenbriers and brambles into a large grass-covered lawn. After it was cleared, you could mow the entire section of property. That’s when I discovered how little grasslands are used by game.

Wildlife sightings on the grassy field ceased almost entirely. The clearing saw little wildlife usage. Occasionally, deer grazed there. Songbirds were nearly nonexistent, though, with the exception of several types of sparrows.

When coal company officials say they are converting mountaintops to grasslands for the benefit of wildlife, they aren’t telling the truth. All manner of wildlife prefer their natural habitat -- not something altered. And the very best way to benefit wildlife is to leave habitat in its original pristine state.

I’ve traipsed over many miles of strip mines while hunting all over West Virginia. And every plot is an example of true wildlife habitat being irrevocably altered. Now, mountaintop removal sites are adding to the harm.

I’ve never been on a strip mine where habitat returned to its original state. On strip benches, the only natural habitat I’ve found lies both above and below the high walls. On mountaintop removal sites, the land’s ridges are removed and valleys filled.

And, believe me, they will never, ever return to their original state.

A wildlife biologist who wishes to remain anonymous to avoid the coal industry’s scorn, explained why wildlife habitat is permanently altered by mountaintop removal -- and why native trees don’t grow back on strip mines or removal projects.

"Once the grass is on there, tree seedlings just can’t grow," he said. "The grass cover has to be put down to prevent erosion. And that’s the problem. Tree seedlings can’t grow [on mountaintop removal sites] because they’re competing with the grasses.'"

This same expert added that native trees will begin to regrow around the edges of small strip projects. But on large scale mountaintop mining sites, the overall habitat for wildlife and native tree species is permanently altered.

"[Native] trees won’t grow back there in our lifetimes,'" he said.

Which should be a concern to all West Virginia outdoorsmen.