Wildlife Management Practices #2 – Flashcards

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Decrease Harvest
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General description Regulated hunting, trapping and fishing regulations are primary tools used to manage many wildlife and fish species. State and federal wildlife agencies set regulations for hunting, trapping, and fishing seasons and bag and creel limits. Landowners can choose to take the maximum allowed or less than that, depending on local populations and personal management objectives. Gamebirds and mammals Decreasing harvest may be necessary when data indicate populations are declining, especially in areas with good habitat. However, harvest through hunting and trapping is seldom the reason for declining wildlife populations. Rather, habitat quality is usually the reason for widespread low or declining populations. If food, cover, water, or space is limiting, populations may remain low or decline. Appropriate habitat management practices should enhance habitat and allow populations to stabilize or increase. Disease and, less often, unsustainable mortality from predation are other reasons for low or declining populations. If populations are low or declining because of predation, it is likely related to habitat (poorquality cover) or possibly an abnormally high predator population. In this scenario, habitat management and possibly a reduction in the predator population can address low or declining gamebird or mammal populations. Possible examples, though relatively rare, include abnormally high predation rates on deer fawns by coyotes or abnormally high predation rates on wild turkey eggs and poults from raccoons. NOTE: Decrease Harvest is not an option for migratory species, such as waterfowl and mourning dove, because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sets bag limits and individual landowners cannot influence population levels of migratory species. Largemouth bass/bluegill Balanced bass/bluegill populations Documented via seine sampling: Young largemouth bass present. Many newly hatched bluegills and some intermediate (3-5 inches) bluegill present. Documented via angler sampling: Proportional Size Distributions (PSDs) - Between 40 percent and 70 percent of 8 inch or larger largemouth bass caught are at least 12 inches long and 40 percent to 60 percent of 3 inch or larger bluegill caught are at least 6 inches long. Decrease bass harvest when: Seine sampling reveals young bass may or may not be present, many intermediate-sized bluegills in poor condition but no recent hatch of bluegills. If angling reveals few bass present but > 60 percent of the bass caught are at least 12 inches long while < 50 percent of bluegill are at least 6 inches long, return all bass. The lack of bluegill reproduction and poor condition of intermediate bluegill suggests the bluegill population may be too high and food is a limiting factor. Reduce bass harvest (catch and release is ok) to increase predation pressure on intermediate-sized bluegills. Decrease bluegill harvest when: Seine sampling reveals no young bass present and many recently hatched bluegills but few intermediate bluegills present. If angling reveals 80 percent of bluegill are at least 6 inches long, return all bluegill. Assess if other species of fish (such as green sunfish) may be competing with bluegill and if so, consider draining or renovating pond and restocking. Channel catfish As angler catch rates of channel catfish decline, impoundments are usually restocked with additional fingerlings (rather than reduce harvest) in order to maintain angling opportunities. Coho salmon A number of populations of Coho salmon in the southern portion of its range are in decline and have been listed as federally endangered or species of concern; therefore harvest is not allowed. Cutthroat and Rainbow trout Decrease trout harvest when seine and fishing records of a pond reveal that fish are in good condition and there are few medium and large fish and many small fish.
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Increase Harvest
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General description Regulated hunting, trapping and fishing regulations are primary tools used to manage many wildlife and fish species. It is the responsibility of state and federal wildlife agencies to set hunting, trapping, and fishing seasons and bag and creel limits. Landowners can choose to take the maximum allowed or less than that, depending on local populations and personal management objectives. Gamebirds and mammals Increased harvest of gamebirds and mammals may be needed when animals show signs of stress and overpopulation, such as destruction of habitat by overgrazing or overbrowsing, poor body condition and weight loss, low reproductive rate, and increase in prevalence of parasites and diseases. Regulated hunting and trapping is the most effective and efficient practice to remove surplus animals and keep wildlife populations in balance with available habitat. When scientific data indicate animals are above carrying capacity, it is often necessary to increase harvest. Increased harvest through regulated hunting or trapping also can be used to reduce numbers of a particular game species if that species is causing damage to another species. Examples may include increased harvest of raccoon if they are limiting wild turkey recruitment, increased harvest of coyotes if they are limiting white-tailed deer recruitment, or increased harvest of white-tailed deer if they are degrading habitat for various forest songbirds. See NOTE: under Wildlife Damage Management Techniques on page 243 for discussion on determining whether to recommend Increase Harvest or Wildlife Damage Management Techniques. NOTE: Increase Harvest is not an option for migratory species, such as waterfowl and mourning dove, because bag limits are set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and individual landowners cannot influence population levels of migratory species. Largemouth bass/bluegill Balanced bass/bluegill populations Documented via seine sampling: Young largemouth bass present. Many newly-hatched bluegills and some intermediate (3-5 inches) bluegill present. Documented via angler sampling: Proportional Size Distributions (PSDs) - Between 40 percent and 70 percent of 8 inch or larger largemouth bass caught are at least 12 inches long and 40 percent to 60 percent of 3 inch or larger bluegill caught are at least 6 inches long. Increase bass harvest when: Seine sampling reveals young bass may or may not be present, but there are many recently hatched bluegills and few or no intermediate-size bluegills. If angling reveals 50 percent of bluegill are at least 6 inches long, increase harvest of bass < 12 inches beginning with 10-20 per surface acre per year. The increase in bass harvest will reduce competition for food among small bass and allow the remaining small bass to grow more quickly making more of the forage resource available to them (bass can only swallow bluegill about one-third of their length, for example, a 12-inchlong bass can only consume bluegill < 4 inches long). NOTE: This existing pond scenario is desirable if the pond owner is willing to sacrifice bass size for a primary goal of producing large bluegill. Channel catfish Increase channel catfish harvest when angler-caught catfish are extremely thin (underweight), which is indicative of a population exceeding carrying capacity of the impoundment. Also, increase harvest whenever thetotal weight of channel catfish nears or exceeds 1,000 pounds per surface acre during the summer months.
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Wildlife/ Fish Survey
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Wildlife surveys Monitoring trends of wildlife populations and physical attributes (such as body weight) is important for wildlife managers. Data on various species are routinely collected by wildlife biologists using observation counts, roadside counts, call counts, point counts, check-in stations, infrared-triggered cameras, transects, questionnaires, and other techniques. These data are used to prescribe future harvest or land management strategies. Wildlife Survey Techniques Observation counts: species and number of animals are recorded as they are seen. Counts may be made while conducting other activities or during official observations, such as counting ducks on a wetland Roadside counts: usually involve driving a predetermined route and counting the number of individuals of a species while driving the route Call counts: recording the number of individuals or groups (such as a northern bobwhite covey) of a species while waiting and listening at a specific location Point counts: recording the numbers of a species observed or heard at specific, predetermined points along a transect Check-in station: data are collected from game animals when hunters bring the animals to an official check-in station, which may be at various places, such as a Wildlife Management Area or local country store Infrared-triggered cameras: "trail" cameras are placed in areas where animals frequent and the pictures are used to estimate population density, sex ratio, age structure, etc. Transects: predetermined routes are used to collect observation data, point counts, dropping ("pellet") counts, call counts, etc. Questionnaires: groups of people, such as hunters or school bus drivers, are asked about their observations of animals Harvest Trends: if hunting/trapping efforts remain relatively constant, trends in annual harvest rates can be used to estimate trends in populations. Fish surveys Pond balance should be checked during early summer by seining at intervals around the pond. Balance is determined by comparing age groups, condition, and numbers of bass and bluegill caught in the seine during the summer months, and from year-round angler catch records. Recent young-of-the-year fingerlings of both bass and bluegill collected in the seine indicate the fish population is balanced (see Decrease Harvest and Increase Harvest sections under WMPs for more information). Angler catch records should be used to record the numbers, total lengths, and weights (fish caught in the fall only) of all bass and bluegill harvested. Fish caught by hook-and-line can be evaluated on body condition or Relative Weight (fat, skinny, size of head in relation to body) and population size structures based on Proportional Size Distributions. Trotlines, rod and reel, and gill nets can be used to sample channel catfish. Seining is usually not effective for collecting fish in streams. Fish in streams are usually collected by electroshocking or by fishing. Electro-shocking involves running a small electrical current between two conducting rods, which are moved up and down the stream. Stunned fish float to the surface and the age, condition, and numbers are recorded to determine stream balance. The fish are then returned to the stream. Trout do not often reproduce in ponds, so overall health of the fish is used as an indicator of pond balance. Unwanted species (such as bullheads and crappie) also may be caught in the seine or when fishing, indicating the fish population may be killed (with Rotenone) or drained. NOTE: Although information from wildlife and fish surveys is always important, surveys should not be recommended if information is provided by contest organizers that indicate a survey is ongoing or has been completed recently.
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Wildlife Damage Management
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General description Wildlife managers often have to manage wildlife to control damage. Wildlife damage management is most common in urban and suburban areas where wildlife and humans frequently interact. Examples of wildlife damage include woodpeckers hammering on the side of the house; bats or squirrels in the attic; snakes in the house; deer eating ornamental plants in the yard or depredating soybean crops; bobcats, coyotes, and owls preying on livestock or pets; rabbits and raccoons eating vegetable gardens; beavers killing trees or flooding crops and roads; red-winged blackbirds eating crops; bird strikes at airports; rock pigeons defecating on buildings; starlings roosting in urban trees and defecating on sidewalks; and Canada geese loitering on lawns and golf courses. Wildlife managers use both lethal and nonlethal methods to control these problems. Fencing and other exclusion devices, habitat modifications, harassment techniques, scare tactics (such as propane cannons, dogs), and taste and odor repellents are examples of nonlethal methods. Changing human activity also can be effective. For example, removing the dog food or bird feeder from the deck is the easiest way to keep raccoons, rodents, and other wildlife off the deck. Often, nonlethal methods do not work and lethal methods are required. Lethal methods are intended to kill wildlife quickly without suffering and may include body-gripping traps, trapand-euthanize (put to death without pain or suffering), shooting, and poisoning. There are advantages and disadvantages to both lethal and nonlethal management methods. One advantage of lethal methods is they can immediately decrease the numbers of animals in a population that are causing damage or health hazards, thereby immediately reducing the damage or hazard. In some cases, only one or a few animals are causing the problem, and lethal methods can then eliminate the damage once the individual(s) causing the damage is eliminated. Nonlethal methods typically cause the animals causing the problem to move to another location. Although nonlethal methods may reduce or eliminate the problem at one location, the animal(s) causing the problem may relocate and cause the same problem at a different location. An advantage of nonlethal methods is the public better accepts them versus lethal methods and they can be more easily used in areas with high human density. Education can help the public understand the efficacy and sensibility of many lethal methods. Regardless of the method used, there are some general guidelines that can increase the success of a wildlife damage management program. It is important to identify the species causing the damage. An integrated wildlife damage management program that employs two or more methods is strongly recommended, especially when using nonlethal methods. It is imperative to know all the local, state, and federal laws related to the species causing the problem and the wildlife damage management method(s). NOTE: For the purposes of this contest, it sometimes can be confusing when deciding whether to recommend Increase Harvest or Wildlife Damage Management Techniques. If the problem is related to an overabundant population of a gamebird or mammal and hunting or trapping is allowed on the property, Increased Harvest should be recommended. If the problem is related to a nongame animal, or if regulated hunting or trapping is not allowed on the property, or if control is necessary outside the regulated hunting and trapping seasons, or if the problem is related to one or a few individual animals (whether game or nongame), then Wildlife Damage Management Techniques would be the appropriate practice to recommend. For example, if cottontails were causing problems in a garden, control would be necessary outside the regulated hunting or trapping season (fall and winter). Thus, Wildlife Damage Management Techniques could be recommended during spring or summer when the problem is occurring. Wildlife Damage Management Techniques should be used to control nongame and nonnative species for which there is no hunting or trapping season, such as woodpeckers damaging a building or house sparrows outcompeting bluebirds. Although not common, Wildlife Damage Management Techniques also could be required if increased harvest has not been effective. Situations can occur where local regulated hunting and trapping pressure is not able to effectively lower a population and professional wildlife damage management specialists are needed to address the situation. Examples may include population reduction for white-tailed deer, raccoon, coyote, and American beaver. The person in charge of the contest will give you clues as to which WMP (Increase Harvest or Wildlife Damage Management Techniques) would be most appropriate.
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Construct Fish Pond
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General description Fish ponds can be created using dams, dikes, and levees to provide relatively permanent water for fish. Pond design varies, depending on the purpose for constructing the pond and the ecoregion where it is constructed. Ponds with a high-shoreline length to surface-area ratio provide maximum access to the pond by anglers. The local Extension office or Natural Resource Conservation Service office can provide design details. This practice should be recommended when creating new fish ponds with relatively permanent water or when an existing old pond has filled in with sediment and no longer holds sufficient water. When constructing ponds, artificial reefs can be included for additional cover. These structures are usually constructed of rock piles, sections of plastic or cement pipe (a minimum of 6 inches in diameter and 18 inches long), and brush piles. Artificial reefs are normally recommended only for ponds larger than 10 surface acres. NOTE: Restock Fish Pond should not be checked when Construct Fish Pond is recommended. Effect of practice • Ponds provide habitat for some fish and wildlife species. NOTE: Although many wildlife species may use ponds for various reasons, this practice and the other Fish Pond practices are intended primarily for fish habitat. For the purposes of this contest, when additional water or wetland habitat is needed for wildlife species, Water Developments for Wildlife should be recommended. This distinction avoids management conflicts when both fish and wildlife species are managed on the same property. For example, steep-sloping sides help reduce aquatic vegetation and favor balanced fish populations, whereas gentle-sloping banks with abundant emergent aquatic vegetation benefit various wildlife species, such as American bittern or wood duck.
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Control Aquatic Vegetation
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General description Aquatic vegetation should be controlled when it begins to limit use of a fish pond for recreation or interferes with access. As surface area coverage by vegetation exceeds 33 percent, the ability of predator species (such as largemouth bass) to access forage species (such as bluegill) may become reduced and therefore negatively impact the balance of the fish populations. Prevention of rooted aquatic vegetation growth can be accomplished two ways: 1) deepening the edges of the pond to a minimum of two to three feet with steep side slopes, which minimizes shallow water areas exposed to sunlight. Pond edges can be deepened in drained ponds with a bulldozer or tractor with rear blade or in existing ponds with a backhoe. The soil removed can be piled on the bank or levee and smoothed for planting with native grasses and forbs, and 2) initiating a spring-through-fall fertility program, which reduces light transmission and prevents rooted submerged plants from becoming established (see Fertilize/Lime Fish Pond for more information). Existing aquatic vegetation can be controlled chemically, biologically, or mechanically. Chemical control is accomplished by applying a labeled aquatic herbicide following identification of the targeted plant species. Biological control also is plant species specific. Potential biological control agents for aquatic vegetation include fish species (such as white amur/ grass carp, tilapia) and insects (such as salvinia weevil). Regulations as to which biological control agents may be used vary from state to state. Mechanical control includes physically removing existing vegetation by seining, dragging with chains or ropes, cutting, raking and pulling up rooted vegetation. NOTE: Control Aquatic Vegetation includes nonnative vegetation. Thus Control Nonnative Invasive Vegetation is not applicable for fish ponds. Effect of practice • Reduces aquatic vegetation within and around the edge of a pond, making prey more easily available to predator fish.
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Fertilize/ Lime Fish Pond
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General description Fish ponds can be fertilized to increase natural food organisms (phytoplankton and zooplankton) and prevent rooted aquatic weeds from becoming established. However, every pond should not be fertilized. Fertilization should not be used in ponds infested with weeds, ponds with excessive water flow, turbid (muddy) ponds, or ponds that will not be fished heavily. If ponds are infested with weeds, fertilization will only increase weed growth and spread. If ponds have excessive water flow, fertilization will be diluted. Suspended mud in ponds blocks sunlight, and prevents an algae bloom. If ponds are not fished sufficiently, the fish population will become out of balance and growth will become stunted. Fertilization is needed in fish ponds with water clear enough that you can see clearly to 18 inches below the water surface. Total alkalinity (the measured of total bases expressed as carbonates) and pH of the pond water should be tested before beginning a fertilization program. Total alkalinity should be at least 20 parts per million (ppm) with a pH of 6.5 to 9.0. Total alkalinity and pH can be assessed by collecting water samples; pH also can be measured by collecting samples of the pond bottom (substrate) and having them tested. Agricultural limestone (calcium carbonate) should be applied evenly over the pond surface area per recommended rate. Fish ponds should be fertilized in the spring when the water temperature reaches 60 F. For ponds with moderate hardness (50 mg/l to 100 mg/l calcium hardness), apply 15 pounds of 12-52-4 (or its equivalent) powder, or one gallon of 11-37-0 liquid fertilizer, or 15 pounds of granular 0-46-0 per acre at two-week intervals, or until a good green color (phytoplankton bloom) develops in the pond. Make additional fertilizer applications (at the same rate per surface acre) every three to four weeks, or if/when the water clears (becomes less green). Fertilization may be continued until water temperatures drop below 60 F in the fall. Methods for applying fertilizer vary with the type of fertilizer used. Granular fertilizer must be distributed from a fertilizer platform. Liquid fertilizer should be mixed with pond water and broadcast from a boat for large ponds or from the bank of small ponds. Water-soluble powdered fertilizers can be broadcast from a boat or from the bank. Ponds that are extremely turbid because of clay particles should not be fertilized. Effect of practice • Pond fertilization stimulates phytoplankton production, which is the first step in the food chain of a fish pond.
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Reduce Turbidity in Fish Pond
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General description Turbid or muddy water limits fish production because natural food organisms need sunlight to grow. Turbidity can be caused by sediment being washed in from the pond banks or watershed, cattle using the pond, feeding activities of bottom-dwelling fish, such as carp or buffalo fish, or negatively charged clay particles suspended in the water column. Turbidity is most often caused by sedimentation (erosion) from the watershed or the pond bottom (cattle or fish) and will usually clear in a relatively short period of time. Reducing erosion in the watershed is best accomplished by reseeding relatively large bare areas of soil around the pond where there is evidence of erosion. Turbidity from pond sediments can be controlled by restricting cattle to a small area of the pond and eliminating bottomdwelling fish. Ponds managed for channel catfish may be turbid because of action from the catfish. This practice should be recommended for catfish ponds only when it is obvious that erosion and sedimentation are causing or contributing to turbidity. Turbidity from suspension of negatively charged clay particles is a more difficult problem. The addition of positively charged compounds, such as limestone, gypsum, or alum crystals, can cause the clay particles to settle. NOTE: if cattle are causing turbid water, Livestock Management should be recommended, not Reduce Turbidity in Fish Pond. Effect of practice • Improves water quality by removing or settling silt. • Allows sunlight to stimulate phytoplankton.
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Restock Fish Pond
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General description Restocking a fish pond is a drastic measure and should only be considered after other management approaches have been attempted. Ponds containing wild fish species, such as carp, shad, green sunfish, or bullhead catfish, should be restocked with a balanced predator-prey combination. Restocking should be done only after all fish in the pond have been removed, either by draining or applying a fish toxicant. In warm-water ponds, bluegill fingerlings should be stocked in late fall and bass fingerlings are stocked the following June. Although various states have different stocking recommendations, typical stocking rates are 1,000 bluegill and 100 largemouth bass per surface acre if the pond is to be fertilized, or 500 bluegill and 50 largemouth bass per surface acre if the pond will not be fertilized. Channel catfish stocking rates vary from 100 to 300 per surface acre depending on whether the pond is unfertilized or fertilized. Effect of practice • Draining ponds and using fish toxicants remove unbalanced fish populations and allow establishment of desirable balanced fish populations.
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Stream - Create Pool
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General description Pools and riffles are important habitat features for various fishes that inhabit streams. Stream flow varies with elevation change and width of channel. Stream flow is faster where there is more elevation change and tends to be slower where the stream channel is wider. Flowing water carries material, such as gravel, sediment, and debris, and redistributes them along the stream course. Where the stream is wider and the water flow is reduced, the material is deposited and forms riffles. Riffles are preferred areas for spawning for many fish species and some fish species occur primarily in riffles. Topography restricts stream channels and causes a stream to bend. Where this occurs, pools are created. Pools are deeper than the stream channel and the water flow is slower. Pools provide areas for fish to feed and find refuge from fast-moving water that requires more energy for swimming. Some fish species occur primarily in pools. Large boulders, rocks, or logs can be placed strategically in streams to create pools and enhance habitat for some fish species where there are considerably more riffles than pools and the amount of pools in the stream is limiting for a species. Rocks must be large enough so small floods will not move them. Any structures put in a stream have the potential to alter stream currents in an undesirable manner. It is important that fish have the ability to move freely between pools and riffles. The placement and design of such structures should be done with advice from experts. Although some species can complete their life cycle within a small portion of the stream, other species, such as salmon, must migrate to the ocean and return to the stream to spawn. Effect of practice • Used to create pools for various fish to hide, feed, and rest. • If designed properly, can be used to reduce some kinds of stream erosion.
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Stream - Remove Fish Barriers
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General description Remove or replace culverts or dams that prevent fish passage upstream. Culverts with great drops below them or with water flowing too fast through them can block fish from going upstream. These culverts can be replaced with arched or bottomless culverts or with bridges. In some cases, "fish ladders" or steplog structures can allow fish passage around barriers. Effect of practice • Allow fish to access and migrate within the stream system and between the stream and ocean to complete their life cycles.
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Artificial Feeder
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General description Artificial feeders are used primarily to feed songbirds and butterflies for viewing purposes. A wide variety of feeder designs, methods, and foods are available. Most bird species prefer black-oil sunflower seeds and white proso millet. Species such as hairy woodpecker prefer suet (fat) rather than seeds. Some species, such as mourning dove and song sparrow, prefer to eat on the ground than on an elevated feeder. It is important to realize artificial feeders can be hazardous to birds. Disease transmission is often problematic because feeders draw birds close together. Salmonellosis, aspergillosis, and mycoplasmal conjunctivitis are fatal diseases among songbirds and are readily transmitted at heavily used bird feeders. Feeders should be cleaned periodically with hot soapy water and a mild bleach solution. In addition, feeders pose danger via nonnative predators, specifically house cats. Although house cats may be fed, they continue to hunt and kill millions of birds and small mammals each year. It is irresponsible to own a cat and leave it outside because of the unnatural pressure they put on native wildlife. Feral cats should be reported to local animal control officials, removed from the area, and euthanized. Effect of practice • Provides supplemental food source, primarily for viewing purposes.
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Plant Flowers
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General description Annual and perennial forbs can be planted to attract a number of wildlife species. A variety of species will flower over a longer period. Species and varieties should be selected to provide food and cover throughout the year where possible. Forbs should be planted in proximity to other cover sources to make them readily available. Effect of practice • Provides a supplemental source of food and cover.
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Rooftop/ Balcony Garden
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General description Residential green space is limited in urban areas. Urbanites can create rooftop or balcony gardens to provide additional food, water, and viewing opportunities. Although limited in space, the goal of rooftop or balcony gardens is to create habitat; thus, rooftop or balcony gardens should provide food, water, and cover for species that are adapted to the space restrictions. Moving water, such as a small waterfall, may attract more wildlife than stationary water. Effect of practice • Provides food, cover, and water, though in small amounts, for wildlife in urban areas.
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