I have 2 mahonia (oregon grape holly) bushes. I'm considering removing them.

In their favor, they offer nectar and berries much earlier than any other plant around here, helping wildlife through later winter and early spring. (I'm in NC, btw.)

On the other hand, their unbelievably spiky leaves hide in the mulch underneath them and spear me through the fingertip whenever I innocently touch the ground anywhere within twenty feet of the shrubs, thus painfully ending all attempts at gardening for the day. I've been pricked by thorns before, and I can handle a fair amount of pain, but these things bring me to tears!

I've always wondered whether thorns in general do more harm than good for wildlife, especially anything with thin fur or thin feathers or soft paw pads. The shelter from predators versus the slow pain of infected stabbings, you know. But these mahonia leaves could stab through the thickest fur or hardest paw pad, I think.

Any thoughts?