The Importance of Habitat for Wildlife

Jeff Eastman
Com/156

There has been a decline in many different species of animals because of the over harvesting of valuable
resources and over population. We need to protect habitat and sustain it to protect all species of
wildlife. The loss of essential habitat is detrimental to wildlife, so people need to do what they can to
preserve it. This is not something new; it has been around since the early 1900s. I put in many hours of
volunteer labor every year to help with this daunting task and want to encourage more people to get
involved. Without our help some species of wildlife could cease to exist.
Wildlife management is a science, and it is a wildlife managers job to conserve, restore and manage
wildlife species. Biologists use basic principles of ecology to develop plans and goals to maintain and
manage wildlife populations (Todays Hunter, 2011, pg.89). They need to keep the number of animals in
check with what the habitat can sustain (Todays Hunter, 2011, pg.89). Habitat can be improved by
using beneficial management practices like: creating brush piles, planting food plots, brush and grass
control, harvesting timber, creating water holes as well as invasive plant and animal control. These
practices are beneficial and worth the time and effort because they create food, cover, water, space and
a diverse arrangement of habitat, so all species can thrive. I help manage the land at the Chelsea Fish
and Game, and we have been using these management practices for about ten years. All of our time
and effort has had a positive effect on the property and others should do the same with their property.
If land is allowed to mature it will no longer be able to support wildlife.
Another way of sustaining habitat is to make sure wildlife stays in check with what the habitat can
support. Carrying capacity is the number of species a habitat can support all year long (Todays Hunter,
2011, pg. 88). Factors that affect the production of wildlife are: accidents, disease, hunting, old age,
pollution, predators and starvation, but if conditions stay favorable, wildlife populations produce a
surplus. This surplus can be controlled by hunting. This helps to lower the levels of wildlife, so personal
property and essential habitat is protected. Todays Hunter, states that, regulated hunting has never
led to threatened or endangered wildlife populations (2011, pg.88). Urbanization and competition with
introduced species are two major factors that cause animals to become threatened or endangered.
Hunters spend more time, effort and money on wildlife conservation than any other group in society.
They not only help in the harvesting of surplus animals, but also fill out surveys and questionnaires,
provide samples for testing and help fund wildlife management by purchasing licenses.
Wildlife managers attempted to preserve deer populations in certain areas, by banning hunting and
destroying the predator population. Only to realize, that it created overpopulation, habitat destruction
and starvation (Todays hunter, 2011, pg.88). The first place this was attempted was on the Kaibab
plateau in the 1920s. The population increased and then dropped abruptly (Sayre, 2008). The extent and
causes were disputed and accurate census techniques did not exist, so federal land managers ignored
the problems for decades (Sayre, 2008). These lessons taught wildlife managers that there was more to
conservation, than just protecting wildlife. The focus for of conservation should be about retaining as
much high quality natural and semi-natural habitat as possible (Hodgson, Moilanen, Wintle, Thomas,

2011). Population viability can depend on habitat area, quality and spatial arrangement. Some people
disagree with the importance of these landscape attributes and feel that variations of habitat area and
quality have bigger effects than variations in spatial arrangements of habitat (Hodgson, Moilanen,
Wintle, Thomas, 2011).
Wildlife habitat needs can be met by managing forests and agricultural lands. This method is usually very
cost affective and does not require much money. Most of the time it costs people a little time and effort.
When considering what to do with their property people need to think about the needs of wildlife. They
have to remember that in order to be good habitat, wildlife needs food, cover, water and space. The
quality and quantity of these determine the carrying capacity of the land, and people need to remember
that this changes by season and year because of the change in forest and farm habitat (Yarrow, 2009). A
mixture of brush land, woodland and non-forested land creates more diversity and edge than large
blocks of timber (Yarrow, 2009). Woodland sites go through successional growth when a cut is done and
vegetation is allowed to grow naturally. Each successional change is favored by different species of
wildlife. In the first three years it is desirable to song birds, after that it is favored by small game animals.
From years three to eight habitat is created to support and favor rabbits, deer, turkeys, and many
species of song birds (Yarrow, 2009). Cover is usually the best during this period, and they are used for
nesting sites and for hiding. From eight to 10 years the tops of the trees cover the understory and food
plants become limited because of shading (Yarrow, 2009). As the forest matures wildlife begins to leave
it because it no longer supports their needs.
Farming can have profound effects on wildlife habitat because farmers can efficiently manage wildlife
habitats along with agricultural operations. The key to keeping this practice profitable is to integrate
management practices beneficial to wildlife while sustaining agricultural productivity (Yarrow, 2009).
Recommended practices generally emphasize wildlife habitat as a complementary land use on crop and
pasture lands (Yarrow, 2009). Some of these practices are: maintaining hedgerows (strips of shrubs and
trees), creating field border strips, good tillage practices, limiting the use of herbicides, crop rotation and
field management. Hedgerows provide good habitat and cover, and managing the old ones is just as
important as creating new ones. Hedgerows should be managed, so a variety of different growth forms
that are valuable to wildlife occur (Yarrow, 2009). When creating field border strips they should be
about 20 feet wide and be allowed to grow native vegetation (Yarrow, 2009). The native vegetation
provides different foods like insects, seeds and vegetation as well as escape cover throughout the year
(Yarrow, 2009). Tilling practices that conserve both soil and moisture should be conducted (Yarrow,
2009). This practice is necessary to prevent erosion and save wildlife food and cover. You should
minimize the use of herbicides around hedgerows and border strips to maintain the food and travel
corridor for wildlife. Crop rotation and field management practices enhance diversity and year round
availability of food and cover (Yarrow, 2009). When feasible, farmers should break large fields into
smaller ones because smaller fields bordered by hedgerows are more attractive to wildlife than a large,
unbroken field (Yarrow, 2009).
Concerning marginal cropland farmers should consider removing that land from crop production and
reserve the area for wildlife. Many of these areas that I have seen have apple trees and berry bushes in
them. These areas are considered to be high value habitat and should be maintained and protected

because they provide wildlife food and cover. Things that should also be considered are ponds and
drainages. They should be planted with grasses and legumes that are beneficial for wildlife (Yarrow,
2009). If these grasses or legumes are mowed it should not be done during the nesting season of ground
nesting birds which is usually April through June (Yarrow, 2009). You should also establish a protected
brushy area around a pond because it creates a safe nesting area for ducks and geese as well as wetland
wildlife like amphibians, reptiles and aquatic furbearers (Yarrow, 2009).

By doing what we can to help we can ensure the longevity of wildlife to co-exist. Taking care of their
habitat is my way of giving back to them, for what they have given to me. Creating a healthy population
of wildlife and sustainable habitat is good for people no matter how they feel on the subject. Just
because someone does not believe this is important does not change my view and will not stop me from
continuing my work. Everyone should do their part even if they can only contribute a little; a little bit
goes a long way.

References

Hodgson, J. A., Moilanen, A., Wintal, B. and Thomas, C. D.

Habitat area, quality and connectivity: striking the
balance for efficient conservation. Journal of Applied
Ecology; Feb2011, Vol. 48 Issue 1, p148-152, 5p, 1 Chart.

Sayre, Nathan F. The Genesis, History, and Limits of

Carrying Capacity. Annals of the Association of American
Geographers; March2008, Vol. 98 Issue 1, p120-135, 15p
Todays Hunter in the Northeast a guide to hunting
responsibly and safety, (2011) p85-89

Yarrow, Greg, (2009) Providing Habitat Needs for Wildlife

Through Forest and Agricultural Management. Forestry
and Natural Resources, Fact Sheet 24