Minnesota Forest Wildlife Habitat Tips - My Minnesota Woods
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!