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University of Wisconsin-Madison - Maximizing Wildlife in Your Yard · 2017-07-17 · 2/24/2015 1...
Transcript of University of Wisconsin-Madison - Maximizing Wildlife in Your Yard · 2017-07-17 · 2/24/2015 1...
2/24/2015
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Maximizing Wildlife in Your Yard
David Drake
UW-Madison Dept. of Forest and Wildlife Ecology
Univ. of Wisconsin Extension
Wisconsin’s Vertebrate Wildlife
• 408 avian species
• 71 mammal species
• 36 reptiles
- 21 snake sp.
- 11 turtle sp.
- 4 lizard sp.
• 19 amphibians
- 12 frog sp.
- 7 salamander sp.
Backyard Wildlife
• Nocturnal (and diurnal)
• Fragmented habitats
• Adaptable
• Opportunistic
Habitat
• Food
• Water
• Shelter
• Space
Food Food
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Habitat
• Food
• Water
• Shelter
• Space
Habitat
• Food
• Water
• Shelter
• Space
Habitat
• Food
• Water
• Shelter
• Space
Forbs & Shrubs Young woodlands Mature woodlands
Grasses
TIME >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Habitat Diversity = Wildlife Diversity
Habitat Quality & Quantity
• Amount of turf
• Snags
• Brush piles
Habitat Arrangement
• Percent of open space
• Size and shape of open space
• Fragmentation and edge
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Additional Space Considerations
• Neighbor cooperation
• Regional and landscape context
Wildlife Corridors
• Travel
• Refuge
Wildlife Management Plan
• Identify objectives
• Habitat assessment
• Implement management plan
• Evaluate plan
Landscaping Tips
• Develop a plan
• Budget and timeline
• Go native!
• Consider all 4 seasons
Landscaping Tips
• Conifers
• Nut and acorn
producing plants
• Grasses and legumes
• Nectar-producing
plants
Landscaping Tips
• Summer-fruiting
plants
• Fall-fruiting plants
• Winter-fruiting plants
• Vines
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Additional Resources
• wildlife.wisc.edu
• dnr.state.wi.us
• Wildlife guides
• Landscaping for Wildlife by Carrol
Henderson (MN DNR)
• Wisconsin’s Native Plant Society
(http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/BCW/)
Wildlife Damage Management
• Correct species identification critical
• Develop a wildlife damage management
plan
• Estimate annual economic loss
Wildlife Damage Management –
Keys to Success
Wildlife Damage Management
Keys to Success
• Integrated approach
– randomness
– diversity
Wildlife Damage Management –
Keys to Success
• Integrated approach
– Do nothing
– Non-lethal
– Lethal
Non-Lethal Management
• Exclusion
• Harassment (noise, visual, or both)
• Repellents (taste and area)
• Trap and relocate
• Habitat modification
• Cultural modification
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Lethal Management
• Shooting
• Body-gripping traps
• Trap and euthanize
• Toxicants • Be proactive and persistent
• Be tolerant of others’ opinions and attitudes
• Tailor management approach
Wildlife Damage Management
Keys to Success
Regulations and Laws
• Federal
• State
• Local
Resources
• Mammal Tracks and Sign
Mark Elbroch
• Bird Tracks and Sign
Mark Elbroch
• Wildlife identification guides
Resources
• Websites
http://wildlifedamage.uwex.edu
http://icwdm.org/
www.dnr.state.wi.us/
Identifying Rabbit Damage
• Browsing
• Girdling
• Droppings and tracks
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Rabbit Damage Prevention and Control
• Exclusion
– Fencing
– Tree guards
Rabbit Damage Prevention and Control
• Habitat modification
– Remove cover
– Manage habitat for predators
• Repellents
– Contact (Thiram-based) or area (mothball)
Rabbit Damage Prevention and Control
• Trapping
– Home-made/commercial live traps
• Shooting
– Seasons set by WI DNR
Identifying Chipmunk Damage
• Burrows
• Eats seeds, bulbs, seedlings
Chipmunk Damage Prevention and Control
• Exclusion
- ¼-inch hardware cloth
- chicken wire
• Habitat modification
- avoid certain landscaping features
- placement of bird feeders
Chipmunk Damage Prevention and Control
• Repellents
- Napthalene
- Taste repellents
• Fumigants
- Aluminum phosphide
- Carbon monoxide
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Chipmunk Damage Prevention and Control
• Trapping
- live traps
- snap traps
• Shooting