A unit of Lasting Forests Sustained forests; sustained profits evolving since March 30, 1999

The following action-list is for wild animals 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. As interests mature, information on species of high interest will be provided. A large database now exists and custom work will be done 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 are designed so that they will not be detrimental to the environment. The list is long and growing.

1. Leave slash piles for nests and den cover
2. Designate areas where vehicles (snowmobiles, etc.) are prohibited
3. Survey and mark boundaries
4. Mark den trees to protect them
5. Place wooden pallets to encourage burrows
6. Install scent post areas for monitoring tracks
7. Place wood duch bnest boxes
8. Change area juxtaposition for a species
9. Change interspersion for a species
10. Cut tops of conifers to increase cover
11. Spread seed
12. Provide binoculars, telescopes, and night vision equipment at observation points
13. Provide literature on select species
14. Create salt licks in strategic areas
15. Privide guided tours
16. Provide field trips
17. Provide boat or canoe rental
18. Provide (or rent) equipment (binoculars, boots, raingear, field manuals)
19. Create tree cavities
20. Protect tree nests by metal bands (inverted funnel) around tree base
21. Develop and use a mowing schedule
22. Put up posts for raptor perches
23. Create a pond or waterhole
24. Creat a seep or wet area
25. Protect one or more seeps
26. Reduce erosion
27. Do prescribed burning
28. Place cover-boards in shaded forested areas for salamanders
29. Install bat boxes
30. Encourage ephemeral pools in sunny areas for toad egg laying/hatching
31. Strategically place large downed woody debris in streams
32. Install bird feeders in highly visible areas
33. Conduct annual bird counts (xmas or BBS)
34. Conduct spring calling/singing.drumming surveys
35. Reduce number of miles of permanent roads in areas
36. Remove pests
37. Remove predators
38. Remove non-native plant species
39. Use selection method in forest timber cutting
40. Leave borders of crop fields un harvested for wildlife
41. Plant trees that benefit wildlife
42. Remove diseased trees
43. Conduct herpetofaunal surveys
44. Practice moist-soil management
45. Create dispersal corridors
46. Conduct migratory bird surveys (especially hawk surveys)
47. Place signs for various users
48. Build trails (also as firebreaks)
49. Girdle 1-2 trees to form a gap in the forest
50. Plant conifers in small patches in hardwood forests
51. Do group-selection tree harvests
52. Place log barriers in small streams to create pools
53. Place out or prepare grouse and turkey dusting areas
54. Built teepee-shaped brush piles
55. Increase the edge (by developing grassy areas in long thin strips cut from within the forest)
56. Increase field corners (using triangle and hexagon patterns)
57. Selectively girdle trees to form snags and nest areas
58. Place out bird houses and den boxes
59. Erect squirrel and duck nest boxes
60. Create ground dens
61. Protect bird houses from predators
62. Place perpetual feeders
63. Build platforms and pits for observing wildlife
64. Erect cameras and TV devices for observing and counting animals
65. Scarify the land on the contour to encourage native plants
66. Use improved timber sale contracts
67. Use boats for wildlife observation
68. Protect caves and dens
69. Protect areas used by bats
70. Eliminate feral cats and dogs
71. Use trained dogs to increase hunting recoveries
72. Place permanent photo points to record changes
73. Analyze the changes
74. Assist researchers in data analysis and in publishing results
75. Maintain a notebook on progress/changes made
76. Create rodent-breeding areas (for feeding raptors)
77. Create crayfish breeding/feeding areas
78. Create shrew areas (high soil insects using livestock manure)
79. Reduce use of herbicides in croplands that reduce weed seeds used by quail and other animals
80. Reduce pollutants of all types
81. Place high quality grit for birds in widespread patterns
82. Plant fruiting trees
83. Plant or encourage understory fruiting shrubs
84. Prune and manage fruiting trees
85. Make track counts along roads
86. Create ranges and shooting areas
87. Place gates to protect areas from poachers and roads from destruction
88. Place fence-crossing devices
89. Plant annual grains in diverse patterns
90. Fertilize food supplies
91. Irrigate (or water) wildlife food plantings
92. Place crowing posts for birds in open fields
93. Manage hedge rows
94. Mow open areas in irregular patterns
95. Fertilize and lime areas in irregular patterns
96. Scarify (harrow, disc, etc.) areas in irregular patterns
97. Remove key predators
98. Be sure everyone on the area knows the wildlife laws
99. Obey the laws
100. Encourage field safety of all types
101. Build birdhouses, den boxes, and wildlife shelters and feeders
102. Erect and maintain these structures
103. Encourage grape vines and other soft-mast producers
104. Avoid molesting wildlife during the nesting season
105. Leave young animals where found; do not try to raise them (illegal in many states)
106. Engage in planning
107. Help establish a community forest, park, natural area, or sanctuary
108. Help save a local swamp, marsh, or wetland; achieve permanent protection for it
109. Provide easy access to year-around water for animals
110. Build shallow water impoundments for waterfowl, other birds, and many other species
111. Drain impoundments, plant wildlife foods, then re-flood
112. Build one or more ponds or waterholes (very small year-around water)
113. Protect a part of the pond for wildlife
114. Actively feed wildlife, especially in urban areas
115. Protect forests and brushland from wildfire
116. Sponsor positive laws and regulations
117. Report violations of wildlife laws to wardens or conservation officers
118. Plant powerline and other rights of way into wildlife food plants
119. Leave a portion of crops (hay and grains, especially at the edges)for wildlife
120. Control cattails
121. Practice soil conservation farming, for example, strip cropping, terracing, contour plowing, and controlled grazing
122. Reduce erosion (all types)
123. Sponsor and help others with stream improvement projects
124. Reduce streambank erosion and sluffing
125. Help stabilize soil on streambamks (riparian areas), roadsides, gullies, dams, etc. with plantings of wildlife foods and other practices
126. Participate in litter cleanup of all waterways
127. Fight point and non-point pollution in any way possible
128. When driving, avoid striking animals
129. Sponsor "slow-down zones" to protect animals at known road crossings
130. Improve shooting accuracy; avoid crippling losses
131. Implement timber stand activity which benefits wildlife
132. Leave den and food trees in forest
133. Deaden cull trees (create snags) to benefit woodpeckers and other wildlife that feeds on wood boring insects
134. Cut back woods border for a few feet (50?) to provide browse and diverse conditions
135. Daylight roads to dry them and provide grassy or softmast producing borders of roads
136. Plant or encourage fruiting trees or shrubs
137. Reforest in conifer strips to provide runways and long cover patches
138. Seed firebreaks and powerline corridors with perennial grasses and other plants useful to wildlife
139. Plant annual food crops (food patches) near desireable cover; plant in the spring where you plan to hunt or observe in the autumn
140. Make clump plantings in odd areas using shrubs, vines, and perennials
141. Make grass and legume plantings
142. Mow areas
143. Develop marshes for waterfowl and furbearers
144. Blast a hole in a marsh to create vegetation free water areas
145. Control the water levels to encourage species; decrease or kill others (by flooding)
146. Maintain existing hedgerows or fencerows and plant others
147. Do prescribed burns under carefully controlled conditions
148. Leave areas to develop naturally in native plants (fallow areas)
149. Stock animals only when other techniques fail
150. Monitor use rates in hunting, fishing, mushroom collecting, berry picking, camping and picnicking, and bird study
151. Conduct conservation education sessions
152. Get signatures for cooperative agreements for species management
153. Make detailed maps of animals and ecological factors including some for key neighbors and within the landscape
154. Form local hunting and youth clubs that use the area(s) of work
155. Present useful ideas and plans for wildlife resource projects to clubs and organizations
156. Issue special permits for authorized vehicles
157. List the access allowed and prohibited
158. Keep informed on wildlife and related natural resources, especially on timely local issues
159. Support sound legislation
160. Invest in research
161. Sponsor an award or memorial for superior work
162. Learn all that you can about the wildlife resource and seek ways to implement or use your knowledge

Last revision April 23, 2001.