Urban Wildlife Management Plan

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Urban Wildlife Management Plan

• Students learn how to evaluate, improve or create
  small areas of wildlife habitat for selected
  species which may live near areas of human
  development.

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Why This Event Is Of Value

• Students learn that although many people live in
  or near urban development they can still enjoy
  backyard wildlife.
• Loss of habitat threatens many species.
• They learn that urban wildlife have the same
  basic habitat needs.
• Participants get a taste of landscape design
  with an emphasis on preserving habitat for
  wildlife.

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Urban Areas to Evaluate

• Urban landscapes include seven categories.
• 1. Urban forests
• 2. Corridors
• 3. Neighborhood parks, school grounds, and golf
  courses
• 4. Vacant land and open areas
• 5. Residential homes
• 6. Apartment and business lots
• 7. Inner city

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Urban Wildlife Species

• The species to be considered will be selected
  from a list of 16 animals, which are adapted and
  can survive near human development.
• Robins, Butterflies, Cottontails, Fox
  Squirrels, Frogs, House Finches, House Sparrows,
  House Wrens, Hummingbirds, Common Nighthawks,
  Flickers, Raccoons, Pigeons, Sparrows, Starlings,
  Bluebirds

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Urban WMPs - Event

• Wildlife Management Map (10 points)
• Draw a diagram of the site showing wildlife
  habitat and landscape features.
• Wildlife Management Plan (20 points)
• Write a one page management plan to explain your
  habitat recommendations.
• Team event - all 4 team members work together
• Time- 1 hour to complete

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Materials Provided

• Project site with well-marked boundaries
• Field Condition Sheet
• Landowner Objectives
• Target species
• Sketch of site showing existing features
• Scale of sketch map
• Special considerations (cats, children, etc.)
• Tools colored pencils, grid paper, symbol
  diagram, paper

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Urban Habitat Needs

• Food
• target species, seasonal availability, natural
  vs. artificial, hazards
• Water
• location, depth, aquatic plants
• Shelter
• nesting, resting, hiding and predator protection
• Corridors
• travel and safety
• Artificial feeders

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Urban Practices

• Brush piles
• Corridors
• Nesting boxes
• Plant food plots
• Plant mast trees
• Pond construction
• Water control structure
• Wildlife damage management

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Additional Urban-Only Practices

• Do not disturb nesting areas
• Plant flowers
• Rooftop / balcony gardens
• Use pesticide carefully

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Example From 99 National Event

• Area Park surrounding the Student Center on the
  Kansas State Univ. campus.
• Objectives
• The manager of the Center is a member of the
  Audubon Society and would like to see more
  Northern flickers and House wrens on the grounds.
• The President of KSU is a mammalogist and would
  like to provide habitat for cottontails, fox
  squirrels, and raccoons.

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Example (continued)

• Special Considerations
• The stream has a tendency to dry up during hot
  summers.
• The starling population has been increasing
  during the last five years.
• The Center wishes to maintain a visually-pleasing
  landscape while promoting wildlife.

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The Makings Of A Good Plan

• Restate the management objectives.
• Identify the target species.
• Determine which practices benefit each species.

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CONTINUED

• Make an assessment of the current condition of
  the site.
• Justify why you did or did not change existing
  vegetation.
• Discuss conflicts and compromises.
• How will you evaluate your success.

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Things to Consider

• Aesthetics Does it make an attractive
  landscape?
• Arrangement Is the food near cover, etc.
• Vertical habitat layers grass, shrubs, trees
• Access and human traffic trails, fences, etc.
• Timing growth of vegetation, blooming or
  fruiting season
• Plant characteristics deciduous/ evergreen,
  annual/ perennial

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Training the Team

• First must memorize the Urban Chart
• Organize a pattern or system for plan development
• Practice writing using correct terminology
• Writing and drawing should be neat and legible
• Practice on a variety of urban site
• Learn to work as a team and respect others
  opinions

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Everyone has an opinion..

• Why did the chicken cross the road?
• Captain Kirk To boldly go where no chicken has
  gone before.
• Einstein Its relative, the road actually moved
  under the chicken.
• Darwin Over great periods of time, chickens
  have been naturally selected to do this.
• Cowboy To prove to the armadillo that it could
  be done!
• Colonel Sanders Golly, I missed one!

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