Establishing Wildlife Habitat
Wildlife management strategies, in addition to effective conservation, has led to much success where certain wildlife populations are concerned, especially Ohio's wild turkey and whitetail deer.
Wildlife management strategies, in addition to effective conservation, has led to much success where certain wildlife populations are concerned, especially Ohio's wild turkey and whitetail deer.
In order for wildlife to survive and flourish, good habitat is essential in both quality and quantity, the later dictated by the species you wish to attract and maintain. There are lots of ways that habitat can be configured, so the best place to start is by setting some goals and objectives.
There are numerous agencies and resource professionals that can provide you with information, program opportunities, technical and possibly even financial assistance. Contact the Wildlife Specialist at the Erie SWCD office, your NRCS District Conservationist, or the ODNR Division of Wildlife, Private Lands Biologist at the District Two office for fact sheets or further assistance.
For habitat considerations, you can download the fact sheet, "Wildlife Habitat Management (PDF, 140KB)".
Wetlands - One of Ohio's Natural Wonders
What is a wetland? Basically as the name implies, a wetland is an area greatly influenced by the presence of water at or near the surface, throughout the year or intermittently. Wetland comes in various shapes, sizes and names - swamps, marshes, fens, bogs, peatlands, oxbows, sloughs, wet meadows, vernal pools, or potholes.
Prior to European settlement, over 200,000,000 acres of wetlands are said to have existed in the 48 contiguous United States. Today, only about half of that amount remains. Ohio at one time was comprised of approximately 5 million acres; currently there are only about 800,000 acres that still exist.
Wetlands are a vital natural resource. Consider just a few of the many benefits wetlands provide:
- Filter pollutants via surface runoff
- Reduce flood damage by creating extra storage
- Recharge aquifers
- Provide countless educational opportunities
- Provide recreational opportunities (hunting, fishing, bird watching, etc.)
- Provides necessary habitat for plants, invertebrates, mammals, and waterfowl
A wetland is a diverse area of plant and animal life. Did you know that a third of all species of birds, 190 species of amphibians, and nearly all of the ducks and geese known to us depend on wetlands for survival? And nearly 5,000 species of plants are found in our wetlands throughout the country.
Partnering agencies like the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) have proven time and again that "if you will build it, they will come".
Programs that allow for the restoration of wetlands include the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP, CREP) and the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP).
In addition to your local SWCD or NRCS counterparts, other partnering agencies and organizations who are able to provide assistance include the ODNR Division of Wildlife, Ohio EPA (319 grants), and Ducks Unlimited. For more information contact any of the resource professionals mentioned or check out the complete details of each program online.
For those that currently have a wetland on their property or are considering building one, check out the DU publication, "Wetland Habitat Management: a guide for landowners (PDF, 3.02MB)". The 44-page guide will help you understand wetlands better, offer criteria for site selection, explain regulations and permits that may be needed, and provide design and construction options, in addition to wildlife habitat management considerations.
