Managing for wildlife on private forests in Washington Presented as part of the Coached Forest Management Planning course for WSU extension and WA- DNR Presenters: Jim Bottorff, Stewardship biologist, Washington Dept. of Natural Resources Janean Creighton, Wildlife extension coordinator, Washington State University Extension

Habitat is the “key” to wildlife? Habitat is only part of the story

Habitat is 1 of 3 keys to wildlife: Habitat & Environment Life History Population Structure

Direct: Removal; either relocation or lethal Indirect: Control of resource availability Wildlife “Management”

What do wildlife want? Acquisition of resources Reproduction

Habitat Characteristics Plant succession/Edge Limiting factors: food, water, cover, space Vegetative diversity Level of disturbance Stand and landscape scales

Considerations at the Landscape Scale

Horizontal Diversity: Succession Time in years 0 200

Primary succession Secondary Succession After a forest fire After a volcanic eruption

Horizontal diversity Vertical diversity

The thing about succession is…. “Whenever you alter the environment to benefit one species you will impact another.”

Inherent Induced Edge Effect

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Landscape Fragmentation

Wildlife responses increased diversity attracts edge dwelling species Increased predation? Elk/deer Red fox Cougar Rodents Ravens/crows Kestrel Brown-headed cowbird

Wildlife responses Decreases in interior forest habitat impacts edge-sensitive species Lynx Fisher American (Pine) martin Northern goshawk Hermit thrush Boreal owl

Food Cover Water Space Limiting Factors

All an animal needs is… a space of one’s own -Juvenile dispersal -Seeking mating opportunities -Seasonal movements

Which patch has a potentially viable population? How much space does an animal need?

Forest management approaches to improve wildlife habitat

General Habitat Requirements for Wildlife Food and water Areas to breed and rear young Areas to hide and rest Areas to escape adverse weather Areas for travel

Species of cavity users: 39 birds + 23 mammals 62 Excavators: 16 birds + 0 mammals 16 Occupy existing cavities: 30 birds + 23 mammals 53

What do wildlife want? Acquisition of resources Reproduction

What do we want ? Continued use of natural resources Clean water and air High quality of life Are they compatible?

Guidelines for landowners 1. Define objectives: Human: harvest value, stand improvement, visual enhancement, fire prevention Wildlife: diversity, game species Wildlife outcome depends on patch size, site productivity, and species present. Human and wildlife values can be compatible!

Make a vegetation and wildlife inventory. Define site productivity, or potential for expected change after treatment. Identify habitat elements present or possible – i.e food, cover, water. Appropriate for target species? 2. Evaluate your stand(s)

Will target wildlife be able to find, use, and persist at site? Can you work with adjacent landowners to meet needs of wide-ranging wildlife? 3. Put stands into landscape context.

4. Actively manage for structure  Variable-retention thinning to maximize diversity.  Snag & defective tree retention or creation critical.  Nest boxes a good short-term option for some cavity dwelling species.  Leave large woody debris, or scattered slash piles. for cover and foraging sites.  Under-planting vegetation for forage, fruit & seed. Wildlife habitat is messy!!

Good wildlife management is a commitment to long term management… 1 year 5 years 3 months 10 years 50 years