James River

Soil Conservation District

 When planning improvements to landscape or other conservation efforts to improve your home, farm or habitat, be sure to consider the impacts to wildlife. Wildlife is an important part of our world, and with the changes made in the tourism landscape, it has become a profitable part as well.

Planning an area for wildlife habitat not only includes the horizontal landscape, the size of the lot or field you’re working with, but also the vertical landscape, the area from the soil to the top of the vegetation. The vertical area is composed of the canopy of the tree branches; understory vegetation, including smaller trees, shrubs and vines; the floor which includes groundcover; and the basement where a variety of organisms exist in the soil. Different species call each of these areas home, so you can plan for a variety of habitats on any area of land.

In the first steps for planning habitat for wildlife, you need to identify all of your existing plants, if any. Things to keep track of include: conditions of plants and locations, amount of shade provided, types of species and food value of each species.

It’s helpful to make a sketch of the area you’re looking at. This way you can plan which plants need to be moved, removed or which areas need improving. It’s easier to plan ahead than to try to replant something once taken out. Plan your new plants around the existing ones, paying close attention to species that complement each other and species that can be problems. You’ll want to strive for a balance of both food and cover. Diversity is a major key.

Native species can be a big help when attempting to diversify your habitat. Native species are well-suited for local soil, climate and wildlife conditions. Also think about the adult size of species considered, neighboring properties and its ability to flower or bear fruit. Fruit can be a benefit for wildlife food, but may add maintenance issues that will need to be considered.

You can fill in an understory area with smaller, shade-tolerant trees and shrubs. Adding color can be an aesthetic bonus, filling in areas with perennials and shrubs that flower or turn colors in the fall. Try to avoid straight lines and symmetry. Natural habitat doesn’t follow any “rules” and occurs mostly in curves and clumps of vegetation.

Besides vegetation, it’s important to include clean, fresh water for wildlife. Water in a saucer, bird bath or backyard pond is adequate for wildlife in a backyard setting. A water source is just as important in larger habitat, including streams, rivers and stockponds.

Also remember that when attracting wildlife, don’t be surprised that they find the area sooner than you’d like. Be sure to take into consideration the amount of damage these species can do to young plants, especially trees and shrubs. Deer and rabbits are a major factor in the failure of young shelterbelts. Many efforts to eliminate the damage created by these types of wildlife have been in vain. What may work at one site can be largely ineffective at another site. Some items that have been tried include human hair, bars of soap, reflective strips, fencing, chemical applications, tree protectors and dried blood. All have met some success, but many are challenges for large areas. There is no sure-fire solution and don’t let advertisements convince you that there is one.

For more information on office activities and programs, contact our office at (701) 349-3534, Ext. 3.  The NRCS is an equal opportunity provider and employer.