Wildlife Management for Late Successional

SpeciesBrian Donahoo, Kirsten Jedd, Frank Sicignano, & Jon-

Michael Tokar

Importance of Management on Private Lands

Human values

Creates balance between humans and wildlife.

Majority of late successional forests in the Northeast are on private land.

nature.org

Late Successional HabitatMore mature or old growth

forests

Old growth and mature forests are rare in the Northeast

About 5-15% of old growth forests in the Northeast are on public land

asergeev.com

Target Species

zooparis.wikispaces.com dailymail.co.uk factzoo.com

audubon.org

● Erethizon dorsatum

● Vulpes vulpes

● Tamias striatus

● Strix varia

InventoryTree Species: American Ash, American Beech, Black Cherry, Hemlock, Sugar Maple, Striped Maple, White Birch, and Yellow Birch.

No signs of threatening invasives

Signs of wildlife observed: Squirrel nests, buck rubs.

Total basal area of property: 1,055 meters squared.

Most of the trees fell into the size classes 0-10, 10.1-20, and 20.1-30 cm DBH. Second plot showed higher number of trees in 30.1-40 cm DBH size class.

Management OptionsGoal 1:

1. Provide a healthy environment for late successional plant species to grow in

Objective 1:

2. Decrease early successional plant species by 75% in 1 year

3. Increase the amount of shade tolerant plant species by 25% in 1 year

Strategy 1:

4. Selective Cutting

Action 1:

5. Marking and cutting early successional plant species

6. Planting shade tolerant plant species

Management OptionsGoal 2:

1. Create a healthy habitat for late successional animal species to live in

Objective 2:

2. Increase the amount of North American Porcupines by 75%, Red Foxes by 50%, Eastern Chipmunks by 50%, and Barred Owls by 40% in 2 years

Strategy 2:

3. Educate the private landowner on the different types of habitats and food resources that late successional species use

Action 2:

4. Snag trees

5. Maintain Hemlock Trees

Management Options Goal 3:

1. Pass over management plans practices to private landowner

Objective 3:

2. Increase education resources by 50% with in 1 year

Strategy 3:

3. Educate the private landowner and the surrounding landowners

Action 3:

4. Private landowner starts taking actions that would maintain the late successional forest on the property

Monitoring RecommendationsUse two models, one to check existing habitat suitability, and one for

use during management plan execution stage.

Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP): indices of habitat quality where quality is measured by vegetation structure, composition and spatial arrangement. Used to determine current suitability.

Habitat Suitability Index (HSI): numeric value that assesses the capacity of a habitat to support a species. Use to ensure management plan is working.

Multivariate-statistical model: identify habitat variables that have the greatest affect on wildlife. Determine which Variables to keep eye on and manipulate.

Results

Increased wildlife presence on the property

Hunting or Aesthetic Values

Be more at one with nature

Increased Privacy from Neighbors

Heating and Timber from Harvested Early-Successional Trees/ SNAG’s

TimelineYear: 1-5

HEP (beginning) then HSI every 6 months

Cut Down early successional species (year 2, then as needed)

Plant Late Successional Species (Year 2, possibly 3)

Cut down SNAGs and replenish Coarse Woody Debris (as needed)

Habitat Inventory (Year 2/3)

Wildlife Survey (Year 4)

Year: 6 onwards

Wildlife Survey (year 6, then every 2-4 years)

Cut down SNAGs and replenish Coarse Woody Debris (as needed)

Literature Cited“Chapter 4: Old-growth Forests and Biodiversity.” Conserving Biodiversity Through Sustainable Forestry: A Guide to Applying

NCSSF Research. District of Columbia: National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry, 2007. Web.

Kays, Roland W., and Don E. Wilson. Mammals of North America. Second Edition ed. Princeton: Princeton University Press:

Princeton and Oxford, 2009. 48, 72, 174. Print.

Peterson, Roger Troy., and Virginia Marie. Peterson. Birds of Eastern and Central North America. Fifth Edition ed.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. 204. Print.

Mahan, Carolyn G., Amanda D. Rodewald, and Richard H. Yahner. “Managing Forest for Wildlife.” 2012. 55-73. Print.

Bolen, Eric G., and William L. Robinson. “Chapter 1: What is Wildlife Management.” Wildlife Ecology and Management. Fifth

Edition ed. 1-6. Print

Bogan, Daniel. “Understanding the Management Hierarchy: Goals, Objectives, Strategies, and Actions of Your Management

Plan.” ENVA 420: Wildlife Conservation Forests. Roger Bacon, Albany. 2015. Lecture.