Rural System's

Modern Wild Faunal Resource System Management

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The Wild Animal Resource Action-List

The following action-list is for wild animal populations in general. These are things to do that rarely harm any species but tend to benefit one or more species that seem important to many people. One reason for presenting the list is to show the complexity of one of the wildlife management decisions. Another reason is to provide a checklist. (Consider making a paper copy of this list and putting a number from 0 to 10 indicating (approximately) whether the practice is being or has been done to a high standard.) Watch the changing score over time. On an area when 80% of these are well implemented, the area should be "rich with wildlife" implying that it has many species and that they are abundant. The practices need to be maintained, replaced, replanted, etc. Often the location and arrangement of the practices is more important than the amount of each practice. Timing and sequence may be more important than the arrangement. A large database now exists and custom work may be done Through The Trevey for landowners with specific interests.

The list is presented in no particular order. (Insights can be gained by trying to organize the list.) It should be used creatively and preferably with a wildlife resource manager for maximum understanding and custom-fitting for each unique ownership. Actions proposed here are used within The Trevey. They are based on the best application of the most sound technical, managerial, and scientific principles and concepts available. The actions are intended to assure optimum social, economic, ecological, and energetic benefits. Every action has both positive and negative consequences in one or more of these areas. In general, it can be said that the actions need to be applied so that they will not be significantly detrimental to the environment. There are actions in the list clearly good for wildlife but bad for the environment. The list is long and growing.

Another list of action guidelines and standards is available.

1. When driving, avoid striking animals
2. Use trained dogs to increase hunting recoveries
3. Use selection method in forest timber cutting
4. Use improved timber sale contracts
5. Use classical timber stand improvement (TSI) techniques
6. Use boats for wildlife observation
7. Survey and mark boundaries
8. Support sound legislation
9. Strategically place large downed woody debris in streams
10. Stock animals only when other techniques fail
11. Spread seed
12. Sponsor positive laws and regulations
13. Sponsor and help others with stream improvement projects
14. Sponsor an award or memorial for superior work
15. Sponsor "slow-down zones" to protect animals at known road crossings
16. Selectively girdle trees to form snags and nest areas
17. Seed firebreaks and powerline corridors with perennial grasses and other plants useful to wildlife
18. Scarify the land on the contour to encourage native plants

    Many actions can be used within the forest opening or "clearing" to benefit or deter many specific life groups. Planning, creating, maintaining, protecting ... are all related actions for such areas.

19. Scarify (harrow, disc, etc.) areas in irregular patterns
20. Save den trees
21. Re-survey and clarify boundaries
22. Report violations of wildlife laws to wardens or conservation officers
23. Remove tree culls
24. Remove pests
25. Remove non-native plant species
26. Remove key predators
27. Remove diseased trees
28. Regulate water depths to encourage some plants (specified), discourage others
29. Reforest in conifer strips to provide runways and long cover patches
30. Reduce use of herbicides that reduce weed seeds
31. Reduce streambank erosion and soil and debris sluffing
32. Reduce pollutants of all types
33. Reduce number of miles of permanent roads in areas
34. Reduce erosion (all types)
35. Put up posts for raptor perches
36. Put up nest boxes
37. Prune and manage fruiting trees
38. Provide literature on select species
39. Provide guided tours
40. Provide field trips
41. Obey the wildlife laws
42. Report violators of such laws
43. Reduce hunting season accidents (The International Hunter Education Association has compiled statistics on hunting accidents nationwide. Their web site http://www.ihea.com/incidents/index.php3 has data from 1994-2001. A large number of fatal accidents are either self-inflicted or are skill and aptitude related (such as being caused by horseplay with guns, improper crossing of obstacles, or careless handling of the firearm) and would not be affected by changes in season structure to reduce the number of people in the woods at any one time.)
44. Improve hunter accident data (there is no indication how complete (or accurate) accident rate data (cited above) are. In 2001, for example, they do state that only 41 U.S. agencies provided reports. Alaska, where there may be a particularly high percentage of hunters, is one state for which no data are available, which is not to say that no hunting accidents occurred there.)
45. Require blaze orange to be shown on hunter clothing
46. Require hunters to pass a test demonstrating knowledge of safety and skill
47. Provide easy access to year-around water for animals
48. Provide boat or canoe rental
49. Provide binoculars, telescopes, and night vision equipment at observation points
50. Provide (or rent) equipment (binoculars, boots, rain gear, field manuals)
51. Protect tree nests by metal bands (inverted funnel) around tree base
52. Protect one or more seeps
53. Protect forests and brush land from wildfire
54. Protect caves and dens
55. Protect bird houses from predators
56. Protect areas used by bats
57. Protect a part of the pond for wildlife
58. Present useful ideas and plans for wildlife resource projects to clubs and organizations
59. Practice soil conservation farming, for example, strip cropping, terracing, contour plowing, and controlled grazing
60. Practice moist-soil management
61. Plant trees that benefit wildlife
62. Plant riparian vegetation
63. Plant powerline and other rights of way into wildlife food plants
64. Plant or encourage understory fruiting shrubs
65. Plant or encourage fruiting trees or shrubs
66. Plant fruiting trees and shrubs
67. Plant conifers in small patches in hardwood forests
68. Plant annual grains in diverse patterns
69. Plant annual food crops (food patches) near desirable cover; plant in the spring where you plan to hunt or observe in the autumn
70. Place wooden pallets to encourage burrows beneath them
71. Place signs to encourage certain practices (obey law, close gates, etc.)
72. Place signs to encourage (or discourage) area use
73. Place perpetual feeders
74. Place permanent photo points to record changes
75. Place out or prepare grouse and turkey dusting areas
76. Place out bird houses and den boxes
77. Place log barriers in small streams to create pools
78. Place high quality grit for birds in widespread patterns
79. Place gates to protect areas from poachers and roads from destruction
80. Place fence-crossing devices
81. Place crowing posts for birds in open fields
82. Place cover-boards in shaded forested areas for salamanders
83. Place boundary and other helpful signs for users
84. Place "crowing posts" for birds in open fields
85. Participate in litter cleanup of all waterways
86. Obey the laws
87. Mow open areas in irregular patterns
88. Monitor use rates in hunting, fishing, mushroom collecting, berry picking, camping and picnicking, and bird study
89. Mark den trees to protect them
90. Manage hedge rows
91. Make track counts along roads
92. Make grass and legume plantings
93. Make detailed maps of animals and ecological factors including some for key neighbors and within the landscape
94. Make clump plantings in odd areas using shrubs, vines, and perennials
95. Maintain existing hedgerows or fencerows and plant others
96. Maintain a notebook on progress/changes made
97. List the access allowed and prohibited
98. Leave young animals where found; do not try to raise them (illegal in many states)
99. Leave slash piles for nests and den cover
100. Leave den and food trees in forest
101. Leave borders of crop fields un-harvested for wildlife
102. Leave areas to develop naturally in native plants (fallow areas)
103. Leave a portion of crops (hay and grains, especially at the edges) for wildlife
104. Learn all that you can about the wildlife resource and seek ways to implement or use your knowledge
105. Keep informed on wildlife and related natural resources, especially on timely local issues
106. Issue special permits for authorized vehicles
107. Irrigate (or water) wildlife food plantings
108. Invest in research
109. Install scent post areas for monitoring tracks
110. Install bird feeders in highly visible areas
111. Install bat boxes
112. Increase the edge (by long thin strips)
113. Increase the edge (by developing grassy areas in long thin strips cut from within the forest)
114. Increase field corners (using triangle and hexagon patterns)
115. Improve trails
116. Limit night riding in areas to reduce disturbance (areas campers as well as game) and poaching
117. Improve shooting accuracy; avoid crippling losses
118. Implement timber stand activity which benefits wildlife
119. Help stabilize soil on streambamks (riparian areas), roadsides, gullies, dams, etc. with plantings of wildlife foods and other practices
120. Help save a local swamp, marsh, or wetland; achieve permanent protection for it
121. Help establish a community forest, park, natural area, or sanctuary
122. Girdle 1-2 trees to form a gap in the forest
123. Get signatures for cooperative agreements for species management
124. Form local hunting and youth clubs that use the area(s) of work
125. Fight point and non-point pollution in any way possible
126. Fertilize food supplies
127. Fertilize and lime areas in irregular patterns
128. Erect squirrel and duck nest boxes
129. Erect cameras and TV devices for observing and counting animals
130. Erect and maintain these structures
131. Engage in planning
132. Encourage grape vines and other soft-mast producers
133. Encourage field safety of all types
134. Encourage ephemeral pools in sunny areas for toad egg laying/hatching
135. Eliminate feral cats and dogs
136. Drain marsh and then seed or plant stock, then flood for waterfowl
137. Drain impoundments, plant wildlife foods, then re-flood
138. Drain and burn marshes
139. Do shelterwood harvest
140. Do selective timber cutting
141. Do pulpwood cut
142. Do prescribed burns under carefully controlled conditions
143. Do prescribed burning
144. Do pre-commercial thinning
145. Do patch clearcut tree harvests
146. Do group-selection tree harvests (hereinafter "harvest" always implies an associated regeneration strategy or set of tactics)
147. Do fuelwood cut
148. Develop marshes for waterfowl and furbearers
149. Develop and use a mowing schedule
150. Designate areas where vehicles (snowmobiles, etc.) are prohibited
151. Deaden cull trees (create snags) to benefit woodpeckers and other wildlife that feeds on wood boring insects
152. Daylight roads to dry them and provide grassy or softmast-producing borders of roads
153. Cut tops of conifers to increase cover
154. Cut back woods border for a few feet (50?) to provide browse and diverse conditions
155. Create tree cavities
156. Create shrew areas (high soil insects using livestock manure)
157. Create salt licks in strategic areas
158. Create rodent-breeding areas (for raptors)
159. Create ranges and shooting areas
160. Create ground dens
161. Create dispersal corridors
162. Create crayfish breeding/feeding areas
163. Create a pond or waterhole
164. Create a seep or wet area
165. Control the water levels to encourage species; decrease or kill others (by flooding)
166. Control cattails
167. Conduct spring calling/singing drumming surveys
168. Conduct migratory bird surveys (especially hawk surveys)
169. Conduct herpetofaunal surveys
170. Conduct conservation education sessions
171. Conduct annual bird counts (e.g., Christmas)
172. Change interspersion for a species
173. Change area juxtaposition for a species
174. Built teepee-shaped brush piles
175. Build trails (also as firebreaks)
176. Build shallow water impoundments for waterfowl, other birds, and many other species
177. Build platforms and pits for observing wildlife
178. Build one or more ponds or waterholes (very small year-around water)
179. Build observation platforms and pits
180. Build birdhouses, den boxes, and wildlife shelters and feeders
181. Blast a hole in a marsh to create vegetation-free water areas
182. Be sure everyone on the area knows the wildlife laws
183. Avoid molesting wildlife during the nesting season
184. Assist researchers in data analysis and in publishing results
185. Analyze the changes
186. Actively feed wildlife, especially in urban areas

This list is presented almost at random. An effort has been made to reduce duplicates but some remain. Use a key-word search. Selection of an action is dependent upon the species, the objectives, the context, and the time and cost requirements or limits. Consider the patterns that might be developed for a well-ordered list of potential actions. Later presentations of actions related to predicable transitions in plant and animal communities may be helpful. The fundamental units of life-group populations, faunal space, and people may be a basis for organizing options from which decisions can be made.

Actions: Simultaneous, not sequential!

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This Web site is maintained by R. H. Giles, Jr.
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Last revision January 10, 2004.