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Understanding Wildlife Habitat. 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….
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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.