FOREST WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA Daniel Ray Forest Stewardship Biologist NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Forest Stewardship Values Timber or Wildlife What about the other forest resources? Soil and Water Quality Recreation Aesthetics Cultural Resources Plants, fungi, minerals
Responsible Forest Management IS Wildlife Management
Wildlife Management in Pine Forests
Wildlife Management Stages within a Pine Rotation Early Rotation: harvested-seedling stands 1-9 years Mid Rotation: sapling-chip n saw 9-18 years Late Rotation: sawtimber-final harvest 18-??? years
Wildlife Management at Early Rotation Early Rotation = Old-field/shrub habitats Productive habitats for small game/big game/nongame species Challenges: Rapid Plant Succession! Fast-growing pines = shade Hardwood competition = shade Loss of herbaceous diversity and cover
Early Management Practices Natural regeneration or tree planting? Tree species by site (Longleaf? Shortleaf? Loblolly?) Site prep? Tree spacing? Fireline planning! Wildlife openings Disking / fire / herbicide release
Wildlife Management at Mid-Rotation Mid Rotation = Forested habitats Small game (quail, rabbits) fading out Primarily big game (deer, turkeys) Challenges: Sunlight! Canopy closure Pine growth slowing down Increased litter/duff; loss of groundcover
Putting Light Back On The Site
Mid Rotation Thinning Thin heavy Target Basal Areas by species/objectives. Commercial operations = $$ Thin frequently Every 5-7 years Monitor changing habitat conditions and timber markets.
Burn! Winter burns Mid Rotation Practices Alternate summer burn 1-2 years post-thin thin Plan a burn rotation Enhance vegetation Seed skid rows / logging decks Manage openings / meander edges Continue practices into late rotation stage
Wildlife Management in Hardwood Forests
Hardwood Forests are packed with Diversity Species rich Multi-aged Variably structured Layered Canopy Mid-story Forest floor Respond well to disturbance Canopy Forest Floor Mid-story
Timber Stand Improvements Upland Oak-Hickory Stand Manage for crop trees (timber vs. wildlife) Reduce crowding in the canopy Remove damaged, diseased, crooked and forked trees Protect and enhance the remaining trees in the stand
Forest Openings (Canopy Gaps)
Streamside Management Zones Protect for water quality Critical wildlife habitat
Basic Wildlife Management Practices
Food Plots
Promote Native Groundcover
Encourage Mast Producers Wild plum Blackberry Acorns Blueberry
Prescribed Fire
Forest Edges Persimmon Red cedar Wild plum Dogwood Holly Black cherry Red bud Blackberry Sassafras Sumac Blueberry Grape Greenbrier NWSG
Daylighting Roads Fire lines Increases plant diversity (species, age, structure) Seed, browse, bugging opportunities Cover for fawning, nesting, brooding and escape
Retain Snags / Dens Protect existing snags / den trees!! Create new snags Size: 10 12 dbh X 25 30 tall Tree species: hardwood vs. pine snags 3-6 snags per acre Wildlife nest boxes?
Wildlife Nest Boxes Bat House Bluebird Wood Duck Screech owl
Vernal Pools and Small Wetlands Shallow ponds Upland depressions
Helpful NC Websites North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (www.ncwildlife.org) NC Division of Forest Resources (www.dfr.state.nc.us/managing_your_forest/managing_y our_forest.htm) NC Cooperative Extension Service (www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wild/wildlife/habitat/index) Partners In Flight (www.faculty.ncwc.edu/mbrooks/pif) Going Native: Urban Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants (www.ncsu.edu/goingnative/ www.ncsu.edu/goingnative/)
Enjoy the Fruits of your Labor!