TAKING CARE OF YOUR FOREST

"Forest and Wildlife Management Go Hand In Hand"

Roger Merchant, Extension Educator
Piscataquis County Extension Office

Wildlife includes all things large and small, birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and invertebrates. These creatures spend their entire life in the outdoors, in all seasons. Wildlife species in the Maine Woods use the forest in many different ways across the seasons. Managed forests, protected wetlands and riparian zones, open spaces, all support and benefit wildlife by providing these life giving, essential elements:

• Food: Forests produce seeds, leaves, twigs, berries, nuts, fruits, insects, and animals consumed by predators, all of which provide food for a wide variety of wildlife species at different times of year.
• Cover: Trees and shrubs provide nesting and den sites, shelter and protection from predators, cold winter winds and snow, hot summer heat.
• Water: Nearby streams, ponds and wetlands provide an essential source of water for all forms of wildlife, large and small.
• Living Space: Woodlands include a variety of areas that provide for the basic needs of wildlife on a daily basis; food, cover, water, nesting, brooding, rearing of young. Some species may cover a large territory in their daily activities; others need only a small territory to meets their basic needs.

"Enhancing wildlife habitat in your forest or around your home provides benefits to you and to wildlife. Carefully planned wildlife projects offer landowner families increased opportunity to view and study birds, as well as small and large mammals in the forest. Some folks simply enjoy hunting and eating wild game. Others want to increase insect- consuming birds around garden areas to reduce produce damage."

People living in rural and urban areas care a great deal about forests and wildlife, the local and global environment. With a few tools and some time individuals, families, or youth-groups can undertake wildlife projects in their urban backyard, or out in the rural "back 40" of a farm or family forest.

"Creating the proper balance and arrangement of food, cover, water, and living space on your landscape is a key to enhancing wildlife habitat on your property. However, this work is complex. You have to be specific about particular wildlife species, and you need to take a planned, informed approach to doing this work in your forest."

• First: Be clear about your wildlife values and goals in taking care of your forest. If your interests lie with birds, what kinds of birds? If your interests lie with mammals, what kinds? Are your wildlife purposes about observation and study, hunting and game foods, or other purposes?
• Second: Gather information about your forest, the kinds of trees in it, how they are arranged on your landscape, the ages and stages of forest trees and plants. Uncover the kinds of soils supporting your forest habitat, as well as the location and nature of wetlands, water bodies, bogs, and vernal pools.
• Third: Even with all of this information, there is more to understand about the needs and requirements of a particular species of wildlife, and the forest cover and habitats in your ownership. What to do, and how to enhance a particular habitat is another complex series of decisions and actions.

"At some point you might want to link up with a natural resource professional; a wildlife biologist, or a forester with wildlife management experience. They can provide you with wildlife habitat information specific to your forest, and, they can help you frame out a plan of activities for the wildlife goals and forest conditions in your ownership."

If you want to read further for more understanding about forests and wildlife, go to the University of Maine Cooperative Extension on-line catalog and order:

"Habitats: A Fact Sheet Series on Managing Lands for Wildlife", bulletin # 7146 (4-part set of fact sheets).  The following list of "Habitat" fact sheets are available on line:

• Components of a Backyard Wildlife Habitat (#7137)
• Planning a Backyard Wildlife Habitat (#7133)
• Principles for Creating a Backyard Wildlife Habitat (#7132)
• Why a Backyard Wildlife Habitat? (#7131)
• Beneficial Insects in Your Backyard (#2490)
• Keeping Your Yard Safe for Birds (#7145)

"Enhancing Wildlife Habitats: A Practical Guide for Forest Landowners", bulletin #7120.  Cost:  $25.

References: This general information sheet on forest and wildlife management was written from these extension resources:

• Enhancing Wildlife Habitats, NRAES-64
• Enhancement of Wildlife Habitat on Private Lands, Cornell Bulletin #181
• The Coverts Project in Maine-Workshop Handbook
• A Forester's Guide to Managing Wildlife Habitats in Maine,  #7000
• UMaine Cooperative Extension Publications Catalog.

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Last Modified: 01/11/08
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