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Understand the elements of wildlife habitat - cover, food, water, and space. Learn how to maintain a favorable balance for wildlife survival, including carrying capacity and providing cover and food. Discover ways to help wildlife by growing vegetation, providing structures, and planting diverse trees and shrubs. Find out about the importance of nesting areas and food sources for different wildlife species.
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What is Wildlife Habitat? The kind of place where an… • Animal • Bird • Fish • or plant live in a natural state.
Elements of Habitat • COVER • FOOD • WATER • SPACE These elements must be kept in a favorable balance for Wildlife to survive.
Balance means… • Elements are available in adequate amounts • Are of high enough quality to meet the needs of animals • Are distributed where animals need them
Carrying Capacity • Number of animals a habitat can support over a given period of time • Not a constant number • Changes as the condition of the habitat changes
Providing Cover • Breeding area • Nesting area • Hiding place • Resting place • Safe place to sleep • Feeding area; and • Travel route
How can we help?? • Growing vegetation • Provide structures • Learn cover needs • Plant trees and shrubs of various sizes and species • Nest boxes for wood ducks • Conifer plantings for ruffed grouse **Provide vegetative travel lanes between types of cover
Providing food • Animals must eat • Get food by grazing • Killing • Eating other animals • Bird feeder (small scale) • Larger feeding stations
Can be harmful? • If not done properly • Animals (deer) may become too dependant • May encourage overpopulations
Alternative to feeding… • Encourage growth of natural sources offood • Plant trees • Wild apple trees • Crops • Wild rice • Plant crops that provide both food and shelter for animals and birds.