Wildlife Management for Small Properties

by?

Michael Foster?Associate Consultant Davey Resource Group

The majority of the land in our state—as it is in most southeastern states—is privately owned?with the bulk of those private lands being smaller than 100 acres. Managing land for wildlife?habitat has been gaining rapid popularity in the past several years, with property owners focusing on trophy whitetail, quail, wild turkey, and songbirds. However, wildlife habitat management on?these smaller properties is quite challenging.??

Many times small acreage owners assume that wildlife will remain on their property permanently?if they improve food or cover areas on the property. While the implementation of habitat?improvements on a small property can provide a home to small mammals, song birds, reptiles,?and amphibians, the home ranges of large mammals and several birds often encapsulate?several hundred acres and these species often travel great distances to meet their seasonal habitat?needs. These management efforts are not in vain: small acreages may not forever hold a flock of?turkeys, covey of quail, or a trophy buck, but they often become important parts of these animals' range.?

Oftentimes landowners wonder whether or not they should manage their lands or if they should?allow it to remain in a “natural” state. The answer to this question is that it depends: it depends?on what habitat type currently exists on the property, the surrounding land's habitat types, and the?species’ of animal the landowner is trying to manage for. Species like whitetail deer and wild?turkey need a mixture of successional stages and habitat types with sufficient amounts of space for?survival and reproduction. There is no way that a small property can have all of these in adequate?amounts to hold these animals for long periods of time. However, by looking at a small property?as a part of much larger landscape wildlife managers can determine the most limiting factor for?the desired species and focus management efforts on increasing that particular resource;?therefore, every small acreage can benefit from some form of habitat management.??

To manage wildlife on small properties the first step is to determine the wildlife species’ of?interest: this may be a single species focus or a species diversity focus. After determining the?focal species it is important to define the habitat requirements and home range size for that?species. Next, determine what habitat type dominates not only the small acreage being worked?with but the surrounding properties as well. These steps will help in determining the limiting?factors for the focal species.??

Once the limiting factor has been delineated it is time to develop a management plan. A?management plan is designed to create a step-by-step outline for managers to execute?management practices to improve the chances of wildlife routinely utilizing a given area. These?plans are rarely static and practices may be added or omitted depending on results. Within the?management plan there should be a written description of the property including location,?acreage, soil types, land use, habitat types, and the current wildlife populations that are using the?property—this is especially important if there are unique habitat types being utilized by?threatened or endangered species. It is also a good idea to briefly describe the lands surrounding?the property: an aerial photo can be quite helpful for making these determinations.??

Management plans should state an obtainable goal that is specific, measurable, and realistic. The?goal is broken down in to objectives—mini-goals—that are designed to achieve the end result.?The plan also needs to outline what tools you have available—both physical and financial—to?help what management practices can be implemented. Within the management plan create a sub plan that will outline how and when management practices are to be implemented. Wildlife?management plans also allow managers to keep records of their management practices. For small?properties it is a good idea to keep a record of the land management practices taking place on the?surrounding properties because these practices may call for management plan modification.?

Wildlife management on small acreages can be quite challenging, but it is not impossible. It?takes proper planning, implementation, education, and maybe some technical assistance.?