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Minnesota Forest Wildlife Habitat Tips - My Minnesota Woods

Minnesota Forest Wildlife Habitat Tips - My Minnesota Woods

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Related Websites to Visit:<br />

• <strong>Forest</strong> Stewardship Program - www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/forestmgmt/stewardship.html<br />

• Property tax relief programs - www.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu/2011/03/property-tax-relief-minnesota-forest-landowners<br />

• Land protection options - www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/pubs_protect.html<br />

• Woodworking for <strong>Wildlife</strong> book – www.comm.media.state.mn.us/bookstore/mnbookstore.asp<br />

• Identification & control of common invasives - www.dnr.state.mn.us/invasives<br />

• Shoreline management - www.dnr.state.mn.us/shorelandmgmt<br />

• Rare Species Guide - www.dnr.state.mn.us/rsg<br />

• DNR <strong>Wildlife</strong> staff - www.dnr.state.mn.us/privatelandhabitat/index.html;files.dnr.state.mn.us/contact/wildlife_managers.pdf<br />

• DNR Ecological & Water Resources nongame wildlife staff - www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/index.html<br />

• Financial resources - Natural Resource Conservation Service - www.mn.nrcs.usda.gov<br />

• Educational resources – <strong>My</strong> <strong>Minnesota</strong> <strong>Woods</strong> - www.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu<br />

<strong>Minnesota</strong><br />

<strong>Forest</strong> <strong>Wildlife</strong><br />

<strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>Tips</strong><br />

Thank you for being a<br />

thoughtful land steward!


Top 10 <strong>Forest</strong> <strong>Wildlife</strong> <strong>Habitat</strong> <strong>Tips</strong><br />

1. Develop a long-term plan - Thoughtful planning<br />

for the habitats and wildlife on your land will<br />

increase your success. Development of realistic<br />

goals is important. Consider your values, life<br />

stage, landscape, ecosystem and its characteristics<br />

(climate, geology, topography, soils, hydrology,<br />

vegetation) to determine your goals and the<br />

most appropriate and effective management<br />

practices. A great place to start is the <strong>Forest</strong><br />

Stewardship Program.<br />

2. Maintain large, unfragmented, undeveloped<br />

habitat patches – Subdivision and subsequent<br />

development of forest tracts and fragmentation<br />

and degradation of habitat is a major negative<br />

pressure on forest ecosystems. Utilize incentives<br />

such as property tax relief programs and other<br />

land protection options.<br />

3. Encourage native plants & animals – Learn<br />

to understand, appreciate and manage the native<br />

plants, habitats and wildlife that occur on your<br />

land. They evolved with and are adapted to<br />

conditions in your landscape. Encouraging<br />

natives will be less costly and time consuming vs.<br />

non-native species, and result in greater success.<br />

Native trees and shrubs that produce mast (nuts,<br />

seeds, buds, catkins, fruits) are especially<br />

attractive to wildlife.<br />

4. Maintain forest structure & diversity of<br />

forest types, ages and plants – All forest layers<br />

(from soil, leaf litter, woody debris, herbaceous<br />

plants, shrubs, subcanopy to canopy layer)<br />

provide food, cover and space for wildlife. More<br />

structure and greater variety of forest types, ages<br />

and native plants equals more wildlife species.<br />

Conserve patches of old growth forest. Do not<br />

graze forest. Appropriately place and maintain<br />

nest boxes and platforms for additional structure<br />

and diversity.<br />

5. Prevent & control invasive plant & animal<br />

species – Invasives have become a huge problem,<br />

negatively impacting forest health. The key is<br />

prevention and early detection. Ensure all equipment<br />

such ATVs, mowers, logging equipment, etc.<br />

is thoroughly clean before it arrives at or leaves<br />

your land. Use only local or DNR approved<br />

firewood. Never dump unwanted bait worms in the<br />

forest.<br />

6. Preserve wetlands & riparian areas - Wetlands<br />

(such as vernal or ephemeral ponds) and riparian<br />

areas (transition zone between land and water<br />

along rivers, lakeshore and wetlands) add to<br />

habitat diversity. All types, from temporary to deep<br />

water, provide important functions. For example,<br />

temporary wetlands are first to warm in spring,<br />

providing invertebrates for waterfowl and breeding<br />

habitat for amphibians. Buffer wetlands and avoid<br />

draining, filling, or rutting them. Keep disturbance<br />

of riparian areas to a minimum to prevent soil<br />

compaction and erosion. Natural shoreline is best.<br />

Avoid mowing to the lake edge and rip rap. Leave<br />

trees and woody debris that fall in the lake. They<br />

provide structure and cover for fish and wildlife.<br />

7. Retain sufficient dead & live standing trees &<br />

woody debris when harvesting your forest –<br />

Remaining trees provide perches, cavities, barkforaging<br />

sites, and representative forest patches<br />

(genetic material). Older, large diameter (15-20<br />

in.) trees provide den sites, especially aspen and<br />

oak. Remaining woody debris and small brush<br />

piles provide food and cover for invertebrates,<br />

small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and<br />

fungi, and nurse logs. Leave all standing dead<br />

trees possible. Leaving live trees in clumps (5% of<br />

site, ¼ acre or larger) is preferable. Retain<br />

downed logs and stumps, and at least 20% of tops<br />

and limbs (scatter).<br />

8. Maintain small wildlife openings where<br />

appropriate – In landscapes where forest<br />

openings naturally occur from disturbance (such<br />

as wildfire, wind, flooding, insects or disease), if<br />

sufficient openings do not already exist (5-10<br />

acres of openings per 100 acres forest), consider<br />

cutting trees and brush to clear 0.5 -5 acre<br />

openings with irregular edges. This will allow<br />

sunlight to native shrubs, grasses and forbs,<br />

stimulate new growth and provide mast, cover<br />

and insects. Several smaller openings are<br />

preferable to one large opening. Do not create<br />

openings where enough already exist (such as<br />

hay fields, right of ways, timber harvest landings,<br />

food plots, yards) and large, contiguous, mature<br />

forest patches are desired, or wildlife and habitat<br />

of special management concern may be harmed<br />

(such as goshawks, red-shouldered hawks and<br />

deer yards). Light maintenance methods such<br />

as mowing, hand cutting or prescribed burning<br />

outside the primary nesting season (May 15 -<br />

Aug. 1) are preferred.<br />

9. Consider wildlife of special concern –<br />

Certain wildlife in your landscape may be of<br />

special management concern. Learn what these<br />

species are and how you can provide habitat for<br />

them. See the DNR Rare Species Guide and/or<br />

visit with your local DNR <strong>Wildlife</strong> and Nongame<br />

<strong>Wildlife</strong> staff. Keep household pets such as cats<br />

indoors to protect wildlife, especially ground<br />

nesting birds.<br />

10. Implement your plan – Actively manage<br />

your land. Follow through on plan recommendations.<br />

Stay in touch with your local natural<br />

resource professionals. Utilize financial and<br />

educational resources. Feel good about your<br />

accomplishments. Enjoy your land and wildlife!

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