Create Wildlife Habitat Anytime, Anywhere

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There were also many small clearings in which the grazing and browsing animals could feed. And—surrounding the glades—the all-important "edge environments" were visited by numerous creatures . . . who ate in the open areas but could quickly seek shelter among the protecting trees.

Each year, wildfires burned old forests and thus created new clearings. These blazes also caused some trees to release seeds and stimulated certain other seeds to germinate. It was an efficient cycle.

Today, we manage most of what's left of our forests for maximum timber harvest. Old growth stands are removed before they become "decadent" and lose their wood value, and only those species that provide the most (and most profitable) wood are replanted. For economic reasons, we often clear-cut large 125- to 100acre) tracts. There's still an edge environment around such areas, but-because the clearings are so large-the centers are all but useless as habitat for many species.

Where firewood is gathered, our forest floors are often left nearly bare. Snags are scarce, too, so the number of insect-eating birds is reduced, while the populations of harmful insects often increase to epidemic proportions . . . with disastrous results.

In some areas, logging is done right up to the edges of streams. The banks then cave in . . . creekside cover is destroyed . . . and the water temperature rises, killing game fish. The loose gravel in spawning areas becomes buried under silt and thus made unusable for fish that need such an environment for reproduction.

In the West, prime lowland wintering spots for deer and elk are often subdivided into small lots. People, dogs, and offroad vehicles harass the animals, and the winter range—for all practical purposes—is lost.

We probably can't stop cropping our forests (after all, I wouldn't want to live without 2 X 4's, toilet paper, and THE MOTHER EARTH NEWS®), but we can learn to manage our timbered regions to accommodate wildlife and wood production: a goal that my husband and his cohorts are working toward. However, those of us who live on small forested plots can do our part now! Here's how:

If you live in an area where big game animals feed, teach your dog to leave the beasts alone . . . or keep it inside.

When you gather firewood, don't clean the place out completely. If the wood seems a little rotten and probably won't put out much heat anyway, leave it. And, when you come across a big, dead standing tree, recognize what it means to wildlife . . . and leave it in place as a home and feeding ground for nuthatches, bluebirds, and woodpeckers.

If there are no snags in your area, you can encourage 'the nesting of "deadwood" birds by putting up shelters. The size of the box and the entry hole, along with the height at which the dwelling is placed, will determine what species makes use of it. [EDITOR'S NOTE: See "Put Birds to Work in Your Garden", MOTHER NO. 64,, page 32. The issue is available for $3.00 plus $1.00 for shipping and handling from THE MOTHER EARTH NEWS®, P.O. Box 70, Hendersonville, North Carolina 28791.]

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