Developing Approaches to Reduce Wildlife Damage to Forest Resources

Authors

Dale L. Nolte, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife ServicesFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

July 2003

Comments

Published by WESTERN FORESTER : JULY/AUGUST 2003.

Abstract

Wildlife impacts on forest resources can be extensive. Although damage is generally considered in terms of reduced productivity or delayed harvest cycles, attempts to replace trees after a harvest or a fire can fail because of foraging wildlife. Wildlife, particularly mammalian herbivores, can impede attempts to establish native plants to increase forest diversity, improve riparian areas, re-vegetate disturbed sites, restore endangered or threatened plants, or to create or improve habitat for wildlife. Foraging wildlife can be extremely detrimental if animals browse on plants before seedlings are well established, or if foraging is continuous or intense. Native plant projects are often destined to fail because target locations fall amongst animals with limited foraging options.