Managing Unique and Man-Made Habitats

Wildlife management may seem to be a straightforward concept; maintain and create enough high-quality habitat and wildlife species will prosper. “Build it and they will come” is a great and accurate motto. In reality, wildlife management attempts to balance the needs of wildlife with the needs of people using the best available science. Conflict occurs when wildlife impacts exceed the tolerance levels of people.

Most wildlife management takes place in rural areas or on large tracts of protected land. In this circumstance, wildlife has the opportunity to behave normally in its natural habitat. Viewing wildlife at a park or natural setting is a great experience and interactions between people and wildlife rarely are in conflict.

When it comes to backyard wildlife management, problems can escalate quickly. It may be fun to see a raccoon in your backyard for the first time, but it is never fun hearing a family of raccoons rummaging through your attic in the middle of the night.

Creating and managing habitat is crucial for all wildlife populations. In some circumstances, however, man-made structures seem to be preferred over natural habitat. This can be particularly true with nesting habitat, such as chimney swifts nesting in chimneys or barn swallows and barn owls nesting in barns. These species seem to prefer man-made “habitats” over natural habitat. Other wildlife species will simply take advantage of man-made structures. Cliff swallows will nest in the eve of a barn, fox snakes will hibernate in building foundations, and little brown bats will roost and raise their young in the rafters of barns. There are many other examples where wildlife has adapted and made our home their home.

Many people have such a strong passion for wildlife that they want to provide habitat in their own backyard. This is a great way to observe wildlife up close and on a daily basis. Backyard wildlife management also is a good way to learn about all aspects of wildlife management. We know that all types of habitat, both man-made and natural, will attract wildlife. Managing people and wildlife populations (and their negative impacts) also are important parts of the wildlife management equation.

Anticipating nuisance problems and becoming more tolerant of wildlife impacts can improve the “needs of people” aspect of the wildlife management equation. The University of Illinois Extension webpage Living with Wildlife in Illinois https://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/about.cfm will answer all sorts of wildlife-related questions and provide an abundance of life history information on the most commonly encountered wildlife species. Tips and ideas to minimize and avoid conflicts with wildlife also are provided.

Thank goodness so many different species of wildlife visit our birdfeeders, nest in our neighborhood trees, and utilize in our abandoned barns and foundations. It is important to learn all we can about our local wildlife so we can attract certain species and promptly discourage others. This will allow us to create habitat and protect our property in a way that is friendly towards wildlife.

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Brad Woodson is an Iowa State University graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. He is a Certified Wildlife Biologist and the Natural Resource Manager for the McHenry County Conservation District. Brad Woodson can be reached at McHenry County Conservation District, 7210 Keystone Road, Richmond, IL 60071; (815) 678-4532; bwoodson@mccdistrict.org