Wildlife

Wildlife habitat is any land that wild animals can use as shelters, breeding grounds, or food sources. Use Penn State Extension’s resources to increase your knowledge of habitat management, landscaping for wildlife, and more. Discover additional information and advice to help you control wildlife nuisances and damage.

Wildlife Habitat Management

A primary threat to wildlife populations in the US is the loss of habitat due to land conversion to other uses or changes in ecosystem management. It is, however, possible to enhance wildlife habitat with sound habitat management practices. The result is that you improve the habitat quality for wildlife and, at the same time, increase wildlife viewing and opportunities for recreation.

Four components are essential for optimum wildlife habitat – food, water, cover, and space. Their amount and distribution will determine the type of wildlife that survives in the area.

Wetlands are highly productive ecosystems that provide habitat for a diversity of wildlife species. Management of this type of area involves manipulating water levels and vegetation. It’s possible to use riparian buffers to protect the water quality of rivers, streams, large lakes, and ponds.

Wildlife enhancement is possible for the farmstead and other farmland areas. Methods include the provision of natural and artificial perches, management of cropland, and pasture.

Forest stewardship is the wise management and use of forest resources to ensure their health and productivity, yet it can also help with the conservation of biological wealth in forests.

Attracting Wildlife

As well as protecting wildlife that already inhabits an area, it’s also crucial to attract new wildlife. This can be done with sympathetic landscaping and choosing trees, shrubs, and vines that provide a welcome habitat.

An increasing number of homeowners are looking for ways to garden for nature. Practices include the diversification of plantings, reduction of lawnmower noise, air and water pollution, and yard waste.

If you want to create a quality habitat for wildlife, you must provide food, water, cover, and a place to raise their young. Strategies include the planting of a variety of flowering annuals and perennials. Include nectar plants and host plants to attract butterflies, and shrubs and trees to provide food and cover throughout the year.

In forested areas, food plots are used as a supplementary food source for wildlife. Penn State Extension’s Wildlife Food Plot Series of webinars provides all the information you need if you want to start one.

Wildlife Nuisance and Control

While animals play an essential role in a healthy ecosystem, landowners in Pennsylvania also have rights with regard to the control of nuisance wildlife. Wild animals can cause serious damage to your garden.

A key step in controlling nuisance wildlife is to determine the culprit of the damage. If you have raised tunnels in your lawn, for example, one possible culprit is the mole. Moles are often confused with voles and shrews, but they are specialized for life underground.

Crows can be a nuisance when their roosts number in the thousands. Nuisance problems include the accumulation of droppings on the sidewalk, cars, and buildings. They are also boisterous neighbors when they arrive at night and depart in the morning.

Bats are considered nuisance wildlife by many people, but these mammals are very misunderstood and have an important role to play in our environment. They are the only major predator of night-flying insects and play an essential role in controlling many insect pests. If you’re uncomfortable with bats in and around your home, there are things you can do to discourage them.

Skunks can be a problem when their feeding and burrowing activities conflict with man’s interest. However, they are usually considered a nuisance because of their odor.

For the farmer, a wide variety of birds are considered a nuisance. When large numbers of birds congregate around barns, livestock and poultry facilities, and farm buildings, they can cause damage and unsanitary working conditions. The birds might also consume and contaminate food and water, potentially transmitting diseases to livestock and poultry.