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Managing for wildlife on privateforests in WashingtonPresented as part of the Coached Forest Management Planningcourse for WSU extension and WA- DNR
Presenters:Jim Bottorff, Stewardship biologist,
Washington Dept. of Natural ResourcesJanean Creighton, Wildlife extension
coordinator, Washington State University Extension
Habitat is the “key” to wildlife?
Habitat is only part of the story
Habitat is 1 of 3 keys to wildlife:
Habitat & EnvironmentLife History
PopulationStructure
Direct: Removal; either relocation or lethalIndirect: Control of resource availability
Wildlife “Management”
What do wildlife want?
•Acquisition of resources• Reproduction
Habitat Characteristics
Plant succession/Edge
Limiting factors: food, water, cover, space
Vegetative diversity
Level of disturbance
Stand and landscape scales
Considerations at the Landscape Scale
Horizontal Diversity:Succession
Time in years0 200
Primary successionSecondary Succession
After a forest fire
After a volcanic eruption
Horizontal diversity
Vertical diversity
The thing about succession is….
“Whenever you alter the environment to benefit one species you will impact another.”
Inherent
Induced
Edge Effect
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Edg
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Landscape Fragmentation
Wildlife responses increased diversity attracts edge
dwelling species Increased predation?
Elk/deer
Red fox
Cougar
Rodents
Ravens/crows
Kestrel
Brown-headed cowbird
Wildlife responses Decreases in interior
forest habitat impacts edge-sensitive
species
Lynx
Fisher
American (Pine) martinNorthern goshawk
Hermit thrush
Boreal owl
FoodCoverWaterSpace
Limiting Factors
All an animal needs is…a space of one’s own
-Juvenile dispersal-Seeking mating opportunities-Seasonal movements
Which patch has a potentially viable population?
How much space does an animal need?
Forest management approaches to improve wildlife habitat
General Habitat Requirements for Wildlife
Food and water Areas to breed and rear young Areas to hide and rest Areas to escape adverse weather Areas for travel
Species of cavity users:
39 birds+ 23 mammals 62
Excavators:
16 birds+ 0 mammals 16
Occupy existing cavities:
30 birds+ 23 mammals 53
What do wildlife want?
•Acquisition of resources• Reproduction
What do we want ?•Continued use of natural resources•Clean water and air•High quality of life
Are they compatible?
Guidelines for landowners
1. Define objectives: Human: harvest value, stand improvement,
visual enhancement, fire prevention Wildlife: diversity, game species
Wildlife outcome depends on patch size, site productivity, and species present.
Human and wildlife values can be compatible!
Make a vegetation and wildlife inventory. Define site productivity, or potential for
expected change after treatment. Identify habitat elements present or
possible – i.e food, cover, water. Appropriate for target species?
2. Evaluate your stand(s)
Will target wildlife be able to find, use, and persist at site?
Can you work with adjacent landowners to meet needs of wide-ranging wildlife?
3. Put stands into landscape context.
4. Actively manage for structure
Variable-retention thinning to maximize diversity. Snag & defective tree retention or creation
critical. Nest boxes a good short-term option for some
cavity dwelling species. Leave large woody debris, or scattered slash
piles. for cover and foraging sites. Under-planting vegetation for forage, fruit & seed.
Wildlife habitat is messy!!
Good wildlife management is a commitment tolong term management…
1 year
5 years
3 months
10 years 50 years
