“ Wildlife Habitat Requirements”

““Wildlife Habitat Requirements”Wildlife Habitat Requirements”

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• ARRANGEMENT

These elements must bekept in a favorable balance

for Wildlife to survive.

Cover

• Nesting areaNesting area

• Breeding area

• Hiding place

• Resting place

• Safe place to sleepSafe place to sleep

• Feeding area; and

• Travel routeTravel route

Food• Animals must eat

• Three types:

Carnivores-meat eaters

Herbivores-plant eaters

Omnivores-consume both meat and plants

Water

• Essential to all life

• Some Wildlife require no free water (can get water from diet)

• Some Require lots of free water

• These must have permanent source in habitat

Water cont.

Space• Space or Territory

requirements vary greatly among animals

• Mountain lion=up to 150 square miles

• House Wren=few as 150 square feet

• Effected by migration, immigration (in), emigration (out)

ArrangementArrangement• Elements must be properly arranged for animal to Elements must be properly arranged for animal to

use habitatuse habitat• Proximity is the limiting factorProximity is the limiting factor• Each species has it’s own measure for distances Each species has it’s own measure for distances

between elementsbetween elements

Carrying CapacityCarrying 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

How can we help??How can we help??• Growing vegetationGrowing vegetation• Provide structuresProvide structures• Learn cover needsLearn cover needs• Plant trees and shrubs of various sizes and speciesPlant trees and shrubs of various sizes and species

• Nest boxes for wood ducksNest boxes for wood ducks• Conifer plantings for ruffed grouseConifer plantings for ruffed grouse

Can our help be harmful?• Problems arise when we do not help properly• Animals (deer) may become too dependant• May encourage overpopulations

Alternative to feeding…Alternative to feeding…

• Encourage growth of natural sources of food

• Plant trees– Wild apple trees

• Crops– Wild rice

• Plant crops that provide both food and shelter for animals and birds.

SummarySummary• Five elements of a

quality wildlife habitat are: cover, food, water, space and arrangement

• Any one can be a limiting factor

• Each species requires different types and amounts of each element

ReferencesReferences

• Instructional Materials Service book for AGSC 381

• Pictures taken from: dgl.microsoft.com