Sustainable Forests for Wisconsin Wildlife

Sustainable Forests for Sustainable Wildlife

What is the relationship between sustainable forests and sustainable wildlife populations in our communities, both urban and rural? As deer season begins, explore the interrelatedness of healthy forests and healthy wildlife with your students. We can manage our land for both - with interdisciplinary teachable moments along the way.

Managing for Critters Within Our Forests

When you hear the word “forest management," what comes to mind? Many of us would say timber harvest, prescribed fire, or recreation. There are a variety of methods that land managers can use to manage forests and one is through multi-use management. Multi-use management is an effective strategy to meet several objectives by diversifying efforts for long-term forest sustainability. Managing forests for multiple uses can include environmental (e.g., forest composition, topography, endangered

species), social (e.g., laws, knowledge, recreation, aesthetics), and economic

(e.g., cost, return) factors that can influence management decisions.

One aspect of multi-use management includes managing for wildlife. The LEAF Habitat Assessment Lesson is a great way to introduce students to the use of wildlife habitat requirements including specifics of habitat components, developing a habitat assessment protocol, and conducting and analyzing their own habitat assessment.

Cover for wildlife is one of the main objectives in assessing wildlife habitat needs for a forest management plan. Snags and culls offer suitable cavities for many species such as a bear that utilizes the root mass under a tree or birds that can use the branches to perch and nest on top of. Dense conifer patches provide cover for deer, grouse, and small mammal species.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR) recently developed a new monitoring tool called the Forest Regeneration Metric that is designed to evaluate the regeneration of recently harvested forests. Forest regeneration is particularly important in regions of Wisconsin as it determines the structure and composition of stands, properties, and even landscapes.

While landowners may focus on increasing wildlife habitat, it should be noted that it isn’t always easy. Deer can be destructive when it comes time to regenerate forests, with the help of innovative ideas such as slash walls, forest stands can grow back without the headache of over-browsing from deer. Learn more about the Slash Wall technique discussed on the Fly on the Slash Wall WFC SilviCast episode. Endangered species can also add another level of complexity to your forest management work. For example, if a Northern Goshawk nest is spotted, a no-cut buffer of 660 feet is recommended by the WIDNR. Learn with the Wisconsin Forestry Center as they explore the ins and outs of slash walls with Peter Smallidge - New York State Extension Forester, Brett Chedzoy.

Slash Wall in-progress

Credit: Wisconsin DNR

“Forest management is about more than trees and every forester knows this. Wildlife habitat is the key to engaging landowners and students in thoughtful discussions about forest management.”

Bradley Hutnik, Forest Ecologist / Silviculturist WDNR

Another aspect to consider for managing wildlife is food, as it is crucial especially during the winter season. This is where mast comes into play. What is mast you may ask? Nuts are known as hard masts whereas fruits and berries are known as soft masts; both are food for wildlife that come from woody plants. During the winter, species like white-tailed deer rely heavily on hard mast food sources to keep nutrition high for survival. One of the major food sources for wildlife are acorns from oaks which deer, squirrels, chipmunks and turkeys depend on. Hard masts from birch, maple and aspen trees provide seeds to many songbirds while soft masts from juneberries and mountain ash also provide berries to other songbirds. LEAF’s Tree ID Kit is an excellent resource to bring into your classroom to identify these types of trees while discussing the food that these woody plants provide to wildlife.

While managing for wildlife may be tricky at times, the overall joy of seeing the diverse population of birds and mammals roaming your land is well worth it. 🐾

LEAF Lesson Spotlight: Forests and Wildlife

What is Management?

LEAF Lesson Guide - grades 5-6

In this lesson, students get an in-depth look at the different goals and techniques of forest management, including managing for wildlife needs.

Download Lesson

Animals Need Forests Too

LEAF Lesson Guides - grades K-1

In this lesson, students explore what the forest provides for its animal residents.

Download Lesson

NEW!

LEAF's Tree ID Kit

LEAF's tree ID tools are among our most popular resources as they help students make connections between our changing climate and the trees in your community.

This kit contains:

class set of LEAF's Tree ID Keys (winter and summer)
lesson plans
climate change field guides
WI DNR resources
See full content list

Reserve Kit

Ready for Advanced Tree Identification?

Our partners at the Wisconsin Forestry Center are offering an advanced Winter Tree ID Workshop next month with UWSP Professors Holly Petrillo and Rich Hauer.

This class is designed for natural resource professionals and educators with some prior knowledge of trees.

School Forests Seedlings Available to Order

One benefit of being a registered school forest is access to FREE seedlings from the DNR Nursery. Consult your management plan and DNR forester to find out which tree species are most suitable for your property. Available seedling types and descriptions can be found in the Nursery Seedling Catalog and DNR's tree and shrub inventory. Then complete either the online form or the paper form. You will see the section "4. Free Order"...choose Registered School Forest. One thing to note: school forests do not need to order the "bulk" amount of trees. You may order less than the "minimum requirements" listed; however, there is a maximum of 5,000 trees and 3,000 shrubs school forests can receive. If you have any questions, please email Carey Skerven at carey.skerven@wisconsin.gov, call 715-424-3700 or contact your local WDNR forester.

Attention 4th grade teachers: Arbor Day free tree orders will open in mid-November. Please wait to order tree seedlings until then.

Professional Development

Did you know that LEAF offers customized

in-services for schools? LEAF staff can help educators become more comfortable using your school grounds for teaching and learning, maximize the resources of your school forest, and everything in between.

For more information about customized PD from LEAF, contact Nicole at nicole.filizetti@uwsp.edu.

Online Professional Development Opportunities

Project Learning Tree Online Offerings

Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education PD Calendar

Have questions or need additional resources? Contact us at leaf@uwsp.edu. We are here to support educators and students with forestry opportunities.

Workshops

Kits

Curriculum

Published for November 2022