Establishing wildlife habitat and
natural food plots to aid a diminishing wildlife population is becoming
increasingly important. Each year, as mankind expands its cities,
land-fills, transportation systems, cemeteries, and agricultural endeavors,
thousands of acres of wildlife habitat are either being destroyed or altered to
such an extent that they will no longer sustain a healthy wildlife population.
Clearings or openings in wooded areas provide exceptional habitat, especially
when the clearings are planted to annual and/or permanent (perennial) materials,
which provide a source of food and cover as well as an environment conducive to
nesting and brood rearing. The trees and shrubs will provide a mast crop (nuts
and berries), which is extremely valuable to wildlife during the winter, as well
as providing necessary year-round cover. The clearings should provide nesting
habitat and additional sources of food. These clearings can also provide birds
with a tremendous insect population. Research has demonstrated that the diet of
most game birds consists primarily of insects and a variety of grass seeds. In
fact, several research projects have demonstrated that poults (young turkeys)
can and do survive for several weeks in the absence of standing water, evidently
from the moisture provided by insects.
Native
grass and forb plantings can provide permanent wildlife habitat. Native grasses
such as big bluestem, indiangrass, little bluestem, switchgrass, etc.; and forbs
such as showy partridge pea, Illinois bundleflower, Maxmillian sunflower, etc.;
can provide a large percentage of the seeds many species of wildlife depend upon
for winter survival.
The
bunch or clumpy growth of the warm-season native grasses provides excellent
nesting and brood cover for game birds and small mammals. While cover at ground
level is sparse, overhead the cover provided is dense, protecting wildlife from
avian predators (hawks, owls, etc.). These grasses provide a standing cover
that is one to three feet high and capable of withstanding a heavy buildup of
snow and ice, affording wildlife protection and warmth on the coldest of days.
Planting field borders, windbreaks, and strips of nut-bearing and fruit-bearing
trees and shrubs will greatly enhance wildlife habitat. Trees such as the oaks,
dogwoods, spruce, black locust, etc.; and shrubs such as barberry, Russian
olive, autumn olive, snowberry, etc.; provide excellent cover and a very
important source of food in the winter months. Quail and other game birds need
safe cover in close proximity to food sources, these plantings supply that
cover. Tree and shrub plantings can effectively increase quail, wild turkey,
pheasant, rabbit, and deer populations in a given area of land.
