Download - Calling All Wildlife - Wisconsin Department of Natural ...dnr.wi.gov/files/PDF/pubs/wm/WM0216.pdfbird watching, or wildlife photography, while hundreds of thousands enjoy the challenge

You know the feeling well...nothing quite compares with

the experience of watching awild animal. Somehow, wildlifegives us all something we need: aconnection with nature, a senseof wonder, peacefulness andbeauty. Whatever your specificreasons, you are not alone. Over 85 percentof Wisconsinites participate in “watchablewildlife” activities such as backyard feeding,bird watching, or wildlife photography, whilehundreds of thousands enjoy the challenge ofmatching their hunting skills to the survivalskills displayed by their quarry. In fact, justabout everyone gets some kind of benefit orenjoyment from wildlife. If wildlife gives usso much, why not give something back towildlife?

As a landowner, you—as well as yourneighbors—are in the best position to helpwildlife survive and prosper. Did you knowthat about 74 percent of Wisconsin’s totalland area is owned by private landownerslike you? That’s a lot of land. If all of us worktogether, wildlife will flourish.

The Wildlife and Your Land series isdesigned to offer suggestions to you, theprivate landowner, on how to manage forwildlife, whether you own a 160-acre farm,

a small woodlot, a large rural homesite, asuburban tract, or a tiny urban lot. Eachpart of the series

focuses on manage-ment practices thatyou can apply to yourland. But first, let’sstart by getting to knowsome of the basics ofwildlife management.

Calling All Wildlife!Wildlife Management Basics

It’s 6 a.m. and the dog’s whimpering to be let out. So, reluctantly, youstumble downstairs toward the back door, turn the latch—click—andopen it. WHOOSH, flap! You’re startled by a rapid flapping andwhistling of wings as a flock of mourning doves flies off. And there, atthe edge of the woods, stands a lone doe. She eyes you squarely in theface and darts off into a thicket of dogwood. It’s another good morningand the chickadees and wrens are singing all about it.

Wildlife and Your Landa series about managing your land for wildlife

What’s Wildlife?

When you hear the word “wildlife,” whatcomes to mind? If you’re like most people,you think of deer, bear, ducks, geese andsongbirds — basically, the large mammalsand showy birds. But that’s not all. Snakesare also part of the wildlife family, and so arebutterflies, earthworms, salamanders, frogs,ants, turtles and more. In fact, wildlifeincludes all birds, mammals, reptiles,amphibians, fish and invertebrates. So, don’trestrict your appreciation and observation tothe old favorites.

Habitat is Where It’s At!

When a red fox vixen trots home after a longday in the field, where does she go?Furthermore, how does she survive? Well,think about what you need to survive: food toeat, water to drink, shelter, and space to liveand roam. Not surprisingly, red foxes, and allwildlife, need the same things. The termwildlife managers use for this combination offactors is called habitat. Habitat is where ananimal lives, eats, establishes and defendsits territory, mates and produces offspring. Inshort, it’s the animal’s home. The fourcomponents of habitat are food, water,shelter and space.

What’s WildlifeManagement All About?

Wildlife management is really habitatmanagement, and that’s what this Wildlifeand Your Land series is all about. To attractcertain animals to your property you willneed to manipulate the type, arrangementand availability of the four components ofhabitat on your land: food, water, shelter andspace. How the four are arranged on yourproperty is very critical to the success of yourefforts. Habitat is the single most importantconcept in wildlife management. Master anunderstanding and appreciation of habitat,

and you will be able to make great stridestoward managing your land for wildlife. Let’stake a closer look at this important concept.

Becoming a “WildlifeRealtor”

When you’re in the market for a new home,your realtor asks many questions in order tomatch your wants and needs to the availablehousing stock. Some people prefer city lifeand will choose a low maintenance condo,while others yearn for a sprawling farmhouse. So, too, every animal has differenthousing needs. The ruffed grouse prefersaspen forests with dense alder thickets andscattered openings; the meadowlark is drawnto grasslands; and the garter snake loves tohang out on sunny rock piles. Remember,what grows or exists on the land determineswhat animals live there.

You can learn to spot habitat types bylooking at the plants that grow there. Forexample, an alder thicket, a grassy field orpasture, a patch of prairie, an oak woodland,a cattail marsh, and even yourbackyard are all specifictypes of habitat.Although each of thesehabitats provides ahome to a host ofplants and animals,none of them cansupport all wildlife.Each supports veryspecific types ofwildlife.

2 Wildlife and Your Land

Getting to know yourland is like getting toknow a person; ittakes a little timeand effort, but in theend it pays off. So,put on your boots andget ready to take acloser look at the fourmajor components ofhabitat on yourproperty: food, water,shelter, and space.

As you walk, note what’s there and what youthink might have been there. Keep in mindthat it’s important to periodically walk yourproperty because not all plants are visibleduring each season, and animals continuallyfly, walk, or sprint across it. The more youwalk your land, the better you’ll get to knowit and its inhabitants.

Habitat’s Four MajorComponents

GY Food: Supermarkets vs. “The Back 40”

We have supermarkets, wildlife has theland—your land and your neighbors’ “Back40.” Make your land a supermarket forwildlife by creating food sources andenhancing existing sources. Some projectsinclude: installing bird feeders or plantingtrees, shrubs, crops, grasses and flowers. Butbefore you make these decisions, find outwhat’s already growing on your land. Whileevery animal has its own food requirements,there are certain basic seasonal food types.(See But what is it???, page 6.) Note these asyou walk your land.

GY Water: The Fountain of Life

We need water to survive, and so does everyliving thing. As you walk along, note the

wetlands, rivers, creeks, springs, ponds andother low, wet, areas on your property. Forthose of you living in urban areas, don’t forgetbirdbaths, garden sprinklers, fountains andponds if you have them. Maintaining existingwater sources, restoring wetlands andbuilding wildlife ponds may be your biggestwildlife management challenges.

GY Shelter: Split-levels For Wildlife

Wildlife seek cover for the same reasons wedo—to protect themselves from predators andsevere weather, and to provide a safe place forrearing young. Wildlife shelter takes manyforms, just like our housing stock ofapartments, condos and split-levels. So, thinkcreatively as you walk along....

Imagine standing dead trees, or snags, asapartments for woodpeckers, chickadees andsquirrels; piles of brush or rock as split-levelsfor snakes, chipmunks and rabbits; hollowlogs as winter condos for bear and fox;downed trees as summer cottages forsalamanders, and dense shrubs, clusters ofhardwoods and conifers as winter havens fordeer and countless birds.

Gravel pits, cliffs, cut banks, caves, ravines,sand flats, barren gravel bars, and abandonedbuildings also provide valuable cover forspecial kinds of wildlife. Remember, whatappears brushy and unkempt, often makesvery good wildlife habitat, so resist the urgeto “clean” the wilder portions of yourproperty.

Remember that certain animals requiredifferent shelter types at different times ofthe year. Find out what animals areappropriate for your location then startcollecting specific habitat information aboutthese critters.

Wildlife and Your Land 3

FoodWaterShelterSpace

Y

Getting to Know Your Land

GY Space: Room to Roam

Most of us need a little “elbow-room” to livecomfortably. Animals are no different.Furthermore, the arrangement of that spaceis important. For example, the average graywolf pack requires a territory of 50 to 150square miles of northwoods wilderness(that’s about one-fifth the size of a typicalcounty). White-tailed deer need a habitatmix of woods and openings with young,brushy growth to satisfy their food and coverneeds. While this arrangement of habitat isavailable nearly everywhere in the state,your land may not be large enough to provideall habitat components within the deer’soptimal range of one-square mile. On theother hand, a wild turkey flock prefers a mixof oak/hickory woodlands interspersed withgrasslands or farm fields. Wild turkey rangeis variable—about 500 to 2,000 acres—and isgenerally restricted to the southern part ofthe state. On a smaller scale, red squirrelsrequire less than an acre of pines, spruces, orbalsam firs which provide them with seedsand den sites.

Understanding an animal’s space needs andhow your property fits into the equation isvery important. If your property isn’t largeenough to accommodate all habitat compo-nents for an animal, you will have to look atthe surrounding property to determine whichcomponent—food, water or shelter—wouldbest benefit the animal you wish to attract.The one thing you can’t change is space,unless, of course you have the resources topurchase your neighbor’s place....

The Big PictureAnd speaking of your neighbor’s property,take a look around you. What do you see?Farmland? Suburbs? Small woodlots? Tractsof forest? Whatever you find, your wildlifeplan must complement and enhance theneighboring landscape. For example, if yourland is in southern Wisconsin, chances areyou are surrounded by farm fields and smallwoodlots. It may make sense to manage forpheasants, wild turkeys, bluebirds, red-tailedhawks and rabbits. This could include aprairie or wetland restoration, oakmanagement and nestbox placement. Innorthern Wisconsin, where the landscape isforested with aspen, birch, pine, spruce, andmaple and other hardwoods, think aboutenhancing shelter types and food sources forgrouse, pileated woodpeckers or pinemartens, depending on the tree types andages, of course. The point is, complementwhat already exists, grow plants within theirnatural ranges, and your success inattracting wildlife will increase.


The Nitty Grittyof Soils and Topography

As you look over your property, take time tonotice soil type and land characteristics. Isyour soil mostly clay, sand, or a mixture? Isyour land high and dry or low and soggy?Are there steep hills or rolling fields? If so,what kinds of plants grow on the slopesfacing north and those facing south? Is therea difference? These observations will helpdetermine what kinds of vegetation tomanage for or to plant. If you are unsure,ask for help before making a largeinvestment in trees, shrubs, grass seeds orprairie flowers. Contact your county NaturalResources Conservation Service office,garden center or County Extension office formore information about soil testing,planting, or county soil survey maps.


Complement the habitat that already exists on your land, grow plants within their natural ranges, andyour success in attracting wildlife will increase.

cropland

pond grassland

woodlot

streamcropland

wetland

The Big Picture


But what is it???Not sure about that leafy plant with the red berries?? Not to worry. Many good fieldguides are available at your local library or bookstore to help you. You can also clip asample or note its characteristics and contact your county Extension office, DNR foresteror wildlife manager for help.

Throughout summer, wildlife find an abundance of food: fruits, berries, grain, seeds,nectar-rich flowers, grasses, legumes and aquatic plants. Many animals also feed oninsects, fish, frogs, snakes, worms, small mammals and birds, so look for signs of theseanimals on your property: chewed leaves, cocoons, small tunnels in matted grasslandscreated by field mice, and exposed soil rich with earthworms. During fall, nuts andacorns, late ripening berries and waste agricultural crops abound. In winter and earlyspring, food is scarce. Woody twigs and buds, weed seeds, waste field crops not coveredby snow, backyard bird feeders and, in some cases, food plots help keep animals alive. Soseek out those oaks, hickories, walnuts, black cherries, blackberries, alders, blueberries,raspberries, hawthornes, sumacs, wild roses, red cedars, service berries, elderberries anda host of other wildlife shrubs and trees that may be growing in some corner of yourproperty.

Hickory

BlackCherry

Butternut

Blackberry

Brome grass

Elderberry

Foxtail

Acorns

WildRose

Where Two Habitats Meet

Most people have lived on the “edge” at onetime or another in their lives. While it can beunpredictable, life on the edge also offers lotsof variety and excitement. Wildlife edge isvery similar. Edge is where two or moredifferent habitat types—such as an old fieldand woodlot or wetland and woodland—meet.

At the edge, there’s a wider variety of foodand cover; this means that edge habitat willattract more varieties of wildlife, especiallygame animals, than either type of habitatalone. This is an important concept given theamount of edge habitat in Wisconsin.

The Drawbacks of More Edge

But not all wildlife need edge. Many birds,some mammals, and a few reptiles,amphibians and invertebrates prefer theinterior of large (100 acres or more) tracts offorests, grasslands or wetlands. For them,the edge means less space for breeding andnesting, greater threats from edge-lovingpredators and parasites, and moredisturbance from humans.

For example, goshawks, gray wolves, fishers,red-bellied snakes, pileated woodpeckers,ovenbirds, and solitary vireos prefer large,mature, unbroken tracts of forest. They needthe seclusion of the woodland interior forraising their young, and some need maturetrees for nest cavities. If this same tract ofland were clearcut, aspen, birch and othersun-loving trees and shrubs would spring up.As a result, animals which prefer thishabitat, such as deer, ruffed grouse, snow-shoe hares, indigo buntings, and humming-birds would move in, but the goshawks,

wolves, red-bellied snakes and companywould be forced to move on.

The point is, any wildlifemanagement activity youundertake will affectwildlife—for better orworse. Every actionencourages or dis-courages wildlife.Keep this in mindas you develop yourwildlife plans.


Life On The Edge

Wildlife at the woodland/grassland edge is diverse, but risk of predation can be high for groundnesters such as the meadowlark and mallard.


Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of animals that canlive comfortably on a given parcel of land iscalled the land’s carrying capacity. Too manyindividuals of any given type of animal canresult in a lot of damage: trees, shrubs andother plants may be severely browsed,animals that are being crowded out of anarea can cause collisions with cars, or watersources can become fouled and disease-ridden. When the land has too many animalsto support, we say that the animal’spopulation has exceeded the land’s carryingcapacity. The carrying capacity also changesfrom season to season, with late winter andearly spring having the lowest capacity tocarry animals.

Within your geographic and soil limitations,you can increase your land’s carryingcapacity for certain animals by manipulatingthe amount of food, water and cover on yourproperty. For example, if you would like morecottontails, consider planting shrubs forwinter food and shelter, or build a brush pileor two. If you’d like to encourage herons,frogs or salamanders, you’ll need to enhanceor restore wetland habitat. But remember,the one thing you can’t change (withoutconsiderable expense), is space. This meansthat you must consider the size of yourproperty and surrounding property whensetting your wildlife goals.

Too Much Of A Good Thing

Severe browsing is a sign that your land hasexceeded its carrying capacity for deer.


SuccessionNothing ever stays the same. The naturalworld, just as the human world, grows inpredictable stages over time. While humansgrow from infant, toddler, adolescent,teenager, young adult, mature adult andfinally elderly adult, so, too, do naturalcommunities mature. A typical Wisconsinwoodland, for instance, proceeds throughthese growth stages: grassland, shrub,sapling, young woods, mature woods andfinally old growth. The whole process iscalled succession.

Succession occurs in all naturalcommunities, including wetlands, lakes andponds. As lakes age, they fill with sedimentsand turn into marshes which are invaded byalder, willow and other wet-loving trees suchas white cedar, black spruce or tamarack.How fast this occurs depends on the depth,width, and location of the lake or pond.

Every acre of soil and water has a definitesequence of plant cover that occurs over

time. Each stage grows into the next—if notset back to an earlier stage by fire, logging orwindthrow—until a final stage, or “climax,”is reached. Climax stage vegetation tends tobe stable and remains the same for longperiods of time. In Wisconsin, forest climaxvegetation includes sugar maple, hemlockand beech. If disturbed by human or naturalcauses, parts or all of the climax forest willreturn to an earlier stage, where the cyclebegins again.

Succession is a very important wildlifemanagement concept. By manipulating thevegetation on your property through timberharvesting, mowing, or controlled burning,you can set back or maintain your propertyat a certain successional stage. By plantingtrees and shrubs, you can speed up theprocess. By doing nothing, you allow thenatural, never-ending cycle of succession tomove along at its own deliberate pace. Sincedifferent animals prefer different stages ofsuccession, when you turn back or speed upthe succession clock, you will be affecting thetypes of animals you find on your property.

A Never-Ending Cycle

Forest succession is illustrated by a plowed field surrounded by a forest. The field is invaded quicklyby annual weeds, then, in time, perennial flowers, grasses and shrubs. These, in turn, are replaced bysaplings and pole timber until a mature stand develops. Adapted by permission from material providedby the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.


What to do?

If you want a wide variety of common birdsand mammals that prefer edge habitats, thenyou will need to encourage as many differentstages of succession as possible. Creatingopenings and trails, improving fencerows andhedgerows are some techniques.

If you are interested in managing for earlysuccessional animals, such as grasslandsongbirds, ground squirrels, or butterfliesthen you will need to constantly workagainst the forces of succession. Dependingupon where you live in the state, you couldmanage for meadowlarks, bobolinks, uplandsandpipers, or northern harriers bymaintaining a regular schedule of burning,mowing or spot treatment of herbicides.

If your interests and land lean towardmanaging for animals found in oldwoodlands, you may consider simplywatching wildlife populations change as aresult of natural succession or adopt a low-impact timber cutting strategy.

Now that you know some of theimportant wildlife managementconcepts and you’ve looked your landover to see what habitat componentsexist, you’re ready to develop a wildlifemanagement plan for your property.

Notes


Wildlife and Your Land Staff: Mary K. Judd, Project Director;Diane Schwartz, Project Assistant; Todd Peterson, Agriculturaland Rural Land Use Specialist. Graphics and layout, KandisElliot. Funding for this project was provided in part through theFederal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act and through the NaturalResources Foundation of Wisconsin, Inc., P.O. Box 129, Madison,WI, 53701. Published by the Bureau of Wildlife Management,Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7921,Madison, WI, 53707.

Federal Aid Projectfunded by your purchase of

hunting equipmentPUBL-WM-216