sign in sign up
<<
Home , American toad, American woodcock, Common redpoll, Eastern towhee, Indigo bunting, Luna moth

WILDLIFE IN YOUR Young

1 More Wildlife in Your Woods

CREATE YOUNG FOREST AND ENJOY THE WILDLIFE IT ATTRACTS

WHEN TO EXPECT DIFFERENT

his guide presents some of the wildlife you may used to describe this dense, food-rich are thickets, T see using your young forest as it grows following a shrublands, and early successional habitat. timber harvest or other management practice. As development has covered many acres, and as young The following lists focus on areas inhabited by the woodlands have matured to become older forest, the cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis), a rare amount of young forest available to wildlife has dwindled. native that lives in parts of east of the Having diverse wildlife requires having diverse on Hudson River, and in parts of , , the land, including some young forest. , southern , and southern . In this region, conservationists and landowners In nature, young forest is created by floods, , storms, are carrying out projects to create the young forest and and ’ dam-building and feeding. To protect lives and shrubland that New England cottontails need to survive. property, we suppress floods, fires, and activities. Such projects also help many other kinds of wildlife that Fortunately, we can use habitat management practices, use the same habitat. such as timber harvests, to mimic natural disturbance events and grow young forest in places where it will do the most Young forest provides abundant food and cover for , good. These habitat projects boost the amount of food , , , and . Both rare and available to local wildlife. They also provide dense cover common wildlife use young forest, and more than 60 where animals can rest, evade predators, and take shelter in the Northeast need it to survive. Other terms sometimes during inclement weather.

2 3 Will I See a ?

In young forest created by either a natural disturbance or through habitat management, New England cottontails may show up after three or more years of tree and shrub growth. They’ll be more likely to occupy a new habitat if it’s within a mile or so of an existing New England cottontail population. New England cottontails generally remain in the habitat until the forest is 15 to 20 or more years old, at which point trees shade out shrubs and other low plants that the need for feeding and hiding.

Your Forest is Unique . . . and Important

Remember, each habitat project will look a bit different because of soil characteristics, the amount of sunlight a Native goldenrod, aster, and Virginia rose site receives, or the types of plants and sources present. Also, the years when various animals appear may How to Use This Guide differ from site to site. Different animals may use the habitat at different times of the day, including at night. Some will Animals that require young forest at some time during breed and feed there in spring and summer, while others their lives are listed in boldface; many are rare, and their will rely on food and cover resources during spring and fall populations are declining. Notes in parentheses following a migrations or in winter. species’ name indicate a certain season in which an is likely to use young forest, or a different name by which the animal is known.

The following lists are only partial; you will likely see other kinds of wildlife as well, or discover signs of their presence, such as tracks and scats (droppings). Not all of the species listed are found throughout the geographic area covered by this publication; consult a reference book to be sure of a correct identification.

Throughout the New England cottontail’s range, many young forest habitats are quickly occupied by the (Sylvilagus floridanus),a non-native rabbit introduced to the region many years ago. The eastern cottontail is now more abundant than the New England cottontail. It is not included in the following species lists, although it can be found in all of the forest ages described.

Forests are important habitats. Creating enough young forest will let us help the New England cottontail and other wildlife now and in years to come.

New England cottontail

4 5 THE First YEAR... Checklist OF WILDLIFE IN A FOREST’S

Spot-winged glider FIRST YEAR

Insects Bumble Honey Solitary bees Crickets Red-spotted purple Fireflies Hoverflies Tiger American lady butterfly Red-spotted purple butterfly Spring azure butterfly Blue dasher dragonfly Green darner dragonfly

merican use newly cleared areas as singing Box turtle Skimmer A grounds in spring. Mourning doves, dark-eyed Reptiles and juncos, white-throated sparrows, and other birds find food Amphibians on the exposed ground. Bees emerge from winter nests in American soil, plant stems, and cavities in wood. Turtles and Spadefoot toad bask in the sunlight and lay eggs in sun-warmed soil. As the Box turtle growing season progresses, caterpillars feed on leaves, and wildflowers provide nectar and pollen for bees, , and Black racer Black rat American toad Brown snake . Dragonflies, Garter snake birds, and bats hunt Hog-nosed snake for flying insects Milk snake above fresh clearings, Ring-necked snake and hawks perch nearby to watch for Worm snake prey. and other predators may find the patch and add it to their hunting circuits.

6 7 Black racer

Checklist OF WILDLIFE IN A FOREST’S FIRST YEAR

(CONTINUED)

Birds

Broad-winged hawk Whip-poor-will Northern flicker Cooper’s hawk Red-tailed hawk sparrow (winter) Bobwhite quail Song sparrow American woodcock White-throated sparrow Mourning dove Common nighthawk Mammals Whip-poor-will Opossum Chimney swift Big brown bat Ruby-throated hummingbird Little brown bat Ruby-throated hummingbird Northern flicker Eastern phoebe Barn swallow Mink Cooper’s hawk Short-tailed Tree swallow (ermine) Eastern bluebird Baltimore oriole Red fox Dark-eyed junco White-tailed deer

Mourning dove Tree swallow

Bobwhite quail

Bobcat White-throated sparrow Red fox 8 9 IN 1 to 5 YEARS... Checklist OF WILDLIFE IN 1-5 YEARS

Bumble bee Insects Ants Bumble bees Honey bee Solitary bees Hoverflies Flower beetles Crickets Grasshoppers Smooth green snake Fireflies Great-spangled fritillary Monarch butterfly Silver-spotted skipper Spicebush swallowtail Tiger swallowtail single summer can yield a lush growth of grasses Reptiles and A and wildflowers. In succeeding years, vines and Yellow-breasted chat Amphibians shrubs spread, and saplings spring up. A wide range of birds on the ground or in American toad feed themselves and their young on increasing numbers of low shrubs. Turtles, Spadefoot toad insects, especially butterflies and moths and their caterpillars. Box turtle snakes, and use Wild turkeys, field sparrows, and blue-winged warblers nest Spotted turtle the site for basking, (near wetlands) Wood turtle feeding, and breeding. Black racer The expanding food Black rat snake and cover resources attract mammals, Brown snake including small Garter snake rodents, such as mice Milk snake and voles, and the Ring-necked snake Smooth green snake , foxes, and that hunt Worm snake them. In areas of new habitat near existing New England cottontail populations, these native rabbits may show up after around three years. Monarch butterfly

10 11 Wood turtle

Yellow-breasted chat Baltimore oriole Checklist Northern OF WILDLIFE bunting IN 1-5 YEARS Purple grosbeak Coyote (CONTINUED) (winter) Common Birds (winter) Broad-winged hawk American goldfinch Eastern Cooper’s hawk Red-tailed hawk Chipping sparrow Sharp-shinned hawk Field sparrow Wild turkey Fox sparrow Snowshoe Blue-winged warbler (winter) Song sparrow Bobwhite quail Dark-eyed junco American woodcock Mourning dove Mammals Yellow-billed cuckoo Opossum Great horned owl Big brown bat Screech owl Little brown bat Whip-poor-will New England cottontail Ruby-throated hummingbird Wild turkey Eastern kingbird Deer mouse Eastern phoebe Meadow jumping mouse Meadow vole Yellow-bellied flycatcher White-footed mouse (spring, fall) Southern red-backed vole Barn swallow Coyote Tree swallow Gray fox Red fox Gray catbird Raccoon Long-tailed weasel Yellow-billed cuckoo Black Hermit thrush Mink Cedar waxwing Short-tailed weasel (ermine) Northern shrike (winter) Bobcat White-eyed vireo Black bear Blue-winged warbler White-tailed deer Common yellowthroat Brown thrasher Golden-winged warbler Mourning warbler Nashville warbler Yellow warbler

Opossum Ruffed grouse 12 13 IN 5 to 10 YEARS... Checklist OF WILDLIFE IN 5-10 YEARS

Monarch caterpillar Insects Ants Bumble bees Honey bee Solitary bees Hoverflies Bush crickets Grasshoppers Fireflies Sphinx Buck moth Showy emerald moth Sphinx moths Promethea moth Mourning cloak butterfly Monarch butterfly Viceroy butterfly nsects abound, including , bees, , and Spicebush swallowtail I caterpillars and their adult-stage butterflies and moths. Common yellowthroat Tiger swallowtail Reptiles and amphibians feed on insects, vegetation, and Reptiles and in older forest – such , and find shade during summer’s heat. Wild turkeys, Amphibians as scarlet woodcock, and ruffed grouse nest on the ground, and many and rose-breasted American toad other birds nest in shrubs and small trees. Birds that breed grosbeaks – visit the Fowler’s toad Box turtle site and catch insects Black racer to take back to their Black rat snake nestlings; when the young birds leave the Brown snake nest, their parents Garter snake bring them to the Hog-nosed snake dense habitat, where Milk snake they learn to feed Ring-necked snake themselves. Mammals Worm snake from mice to black take advantage of the plentiful food and thick hiding cover. New England cottontails become more abundant. Song sparrow

14 New England cottontail 15

Nashville warbler Prairie warbler Checklist Yellow warbler OF WILDLIFE Yellow-breasted chat IN 5-10 YEARS Scarlet (CONTINUED) Purple finch Birds Pine grosbeak Cooper’s hawk (winter) Sharp-shinned hawk Rose-breasted grosbeak American woodcock Common redpoll Bobwhite quail (winter) Ruffed grouse American goldfinch Eastern towhee Wild turkey Black-billed cuckoo Chipping sparrow Yellow-billed cuckoo Song sparrow Dark-eyed junco Great horned owl Saw-whet owl Mammals Screech owl Opossum Whip-poor-will Big brown bat Ruby-throated hummingbird Little brown bat Eastern kingbird New England cottontail Prairie warbler Willow flycatcher Snowshoe hare Yellow-bellied flycatcher Beaver (near water) (spring, fall) Barn swallow Deer mouse Tree swallow Porcupine Brown thrasher Southern red-backed vole Gray catbird White-footed mouse Northern mockingbird Hermit thrush Coyote Gray fox Swainson’s thrush White-tailed deer Eastern kingbird (spring, fall) Red fox Cedar waxwing Raccoon Northern shrike Fisher (winter) Long-tailed weasel White-eyed vireo Mink Blue-winged warbler Short-tailed weasel (ermine) warbler Striped skunk Chestnut-sided warbler Bobcat Common Yellowthroat Black bear Golden-winged warbler Moose Ovenbird White-tailed deer Mourning warbler

Indigo bunting Wild turkey nest 16 17 IN 10 to 15 YEARS... Checklist OF WILDLIFE IN 10-15 YEARS

Tiger swallowtail Insects Ants Bumble bees Honey bee Solitary bees Hoverflies Crickets Tree crickets Grasshoppers Garter snake Buck moth Imperial moth Polyphemus moth Luna moth Sphinx moth Banded hairstreak butterfly Monarch butterfly rees have grown taller and begun shading out some Spicebush swallowtail T lower plants, but the habitat remains thick, providing Chestnut-sided warbler Tiger swallowtail ample food and cover. Populations of tree-feeding caterpillars Weevils fall migrations or find increase. Birds peak in abundance and diversity: ruby-throated Reptiles and important food in hummingbirds, black-and-white warblers, veeries, and eastern Amphibians winter. In areas near are a few of the many birds you may see during the water, beavers may American toad breeding season, while others show up during spring and Black rat snake cut regrowing trees for food and dam-building Garter snake material. New England Milk snake cottontails continue to Ring-necked snake use the habitat, with populations peaking toward the end of this forest stage. Landowners may start planning future young forest projects to renew habitat and provide a home for this rare rabbit and other wildlife.

Southern red-backed vole

18 Cedar waxwing 19

Prairie warbler Yellow warbler

Checklist OF WILDLIFE Scarlet tanager IN 10-15 YEARS Northern cardinal Pine grosbeak (CONTINUED) (winter) Purple finch Birds Rose-breasted grosbeak Broad-winged hawk Common redpoll Cooper’s hawk (winter) Sharp-shinned hawk Chipping sparrow Eastern towhee American woodcock Ruffed grouse Song sparrow Yellow warblers White-throated sparrow Wild turkey Black-billed cuckoo Mammals Yellow-billed cuckoo Opossum Short-tailed shrew Great horned owl New England cottontail Saw-whet owl Snowshoe hare Screech owl Beaver (near water) Ruby-throated hummingbird Chipmunk Northern flicker Deer mouse Mink Yellow-bellied sapsucker Porcupine Great crested flycatcher Southern red-backed vole Willow flycatcher White-footed mouse Yellow-bellied flycatcher Woodchuck (spring, fall) Woodland jumping mouse Brown thrasher Coyote Gray catbird Gray fox Northern mockingbird Red fox Hermit thrush Raccoon Swainson’s thrush American woodcock Gray catbird (spring, fall) Fisher Veery Long-tailed weasel Wood thrush Mink Short-tailed weasel Cedar waxwing (ermine) American redstart Striped skunk Black-and-white warbler Bobcat Blue-winged warbler Black bear Moose Scarlet tanager Canada warbler Chestnut-sided warbler White-tailed deer Golden-winged warbler Mourning warbler Nashville warbler

Hermit thrush Raccoon 20 21 IN 15 to 20+ YEARS... Checklist OF WILDLIFE IN 15-20+ YEARS

Luna moth Insects Ants Bumble bees Banded hairstreak butterfly beauty moth Imperial moth Polyphemus moth Sphinx moths Luna moth Red eft Beetles Crickets Grasshoppers Weevils Reptiles and Amphibians Red-spotted newt (red eft) his age of woodland generally offers less food and Redback salamander Wood T cover than younger or older growth. Most trees aren’t American toad mature enough to produce abundant nuts, and understory supports the moist Spring peeper plants, including -bearing shrubs, thin out in the trees’ conditions they need. Gray tree frog shade. Abundant forest insects, including butterfly and moth New England cottontail Wood frog caterpillars, provide food for birds and other animals. Several Black rat snake numbers drop off kinds of woodland salamanders return as the increased shade until the rabbits no Ring-necked snake longer live in the forest patch. Landowners can “refresh” the habitat through another management action, such as a noncommercial timber cut, or, to meet the goals they set for their woodland, create a Beaver new patch of thick young forest elsewhere on their property.

Moose

22 American redstart 23

Checklist OF WILDLIFE IN 15-20+ YEARS

(CONTINUED) Chipmunk

Birds Canada warbler Chestnut-sided warbler Broad-winged hawk Cooper’s hawk Hooded warbler Yellow-rumped warbler Sharp-shinned hawk Downy woodpecker American woodcock Scarlet tanager Ruffed grouse Northern cardinal Rose-breasted grosbeak Wild turkey Eastern towhee Barred owl Great horned owl Mammals Saw-whet owl Opossum Screech owl Short-tailed shrew Ruby-throated hummingbird New England cottontail Downy woodpecker Snowshoe hare White-footed mouse Hairy woodpecker Beaver (near water) Northern flicker Chipmunk Pileated woodpecker Deer mouse Yellow-bellied sapsucker White-footed mouse Eastern phoebe Woodland jumping mouse Eastern wood pewee Gray Great crested flycatcher Red squirrel Least flycatcher Porcupine Coyote Black-capped chickadee Gray fox White-breasted nuthatch Red-eyed vireo Red-breasted nuthatch Red fox White-breasted nuthatch Fisher Brown creeper Long-tailed weasel Hermit thrush Short-tailed weasel (ermine) Veery Striped skunk Wood thrush Bobcat Blue-gray gnatcatcher Black bear Eastern phoebe Ruby-crowned kinglet Moose Cedar waxwing White-tailed deer Red-eyed vireo American redstart Black-and-white warbler

Black-capped chickadee Barred owl 24 25 You ng Forest WILDLIFE NEEDS IT

PEOPLE VALUE IT

any kinds of wildlife need the dense, highly productive The young forest needed by New England cottontails and M habitat known as young forest. The New England many other animals doesn’t last forever – generally around cottontail is considered an “umbrella species.” This means 10 to 20 years, after which it returns to being older forest. For that when people create young forest for this rare regional that reason, management activities must be fairly frequent and rabbit, they’re also making food and cover for a host of other ongoing to keep a healthy amount of young forest available to wildlife. The preceding pages list a selection of those animals. wildlife both locally and regionwide.

People own land for many different reasons. Some cut timber Want to make some young forest? Contact your state’s to provide a financial return or to heat their homes. Others wildlife agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners view their properties as natural retreats where they can enjoy for Fish and Wildlife Program, the USDA Natural Resources peace and quiet. Many landowners have a strong desire to Conservation Service, or a certified forester for details. provide a living place for wildlife – and seeing animals, or For some projects, full or partial funding may be available. finding evidence of their presence, brings a thrill to the hiker, Find contacts at www.newenglandcottontail.org, hunter, birder, or snowshoeing enthusiast. www.youngforest.org, and www.timberdoodle.org.

26 27 Enjoy being a steward of your land and wildlife!

Make a trail so you can walk past a habitat area quietly, upping your chances of seeing wildlife.

Set up trail cameras to take photos of animals using your young forest.

Make jams and jellies from grapes, , blackberries, and other wild fruits.

Build brush piles where wildlife can shelter from the elements and escape predators.

Keep a journal recording animals you meet and where and when you see them.

Sign up for eBird or iNaturalist and record sightings and photos of wildlife.

Host a seminar where natural resources professionals can explain how young forest is important to overall forest health and to a wide range of wildlife.

Photographers: Tom Berriman, Kelly Boland, Chris Buelow, Bill Byrne, Charles Fergus, Tim Flanigan, Paul Fusco, Dave Govatski, Ed Guthro, Richard Martin, Jonathan Mays, Art McKenzie, Phil Myers, Kate O’Brien, Jim Oehler, Marianne Piche, Robert Royse, Ray Thiel, Victor Young, USDA, USFWS

THE NEW OR F EN R G E L H A T N E D The Wildlife and Sport G C O O

T

T

T T

G Fish Restoration Program . . .

O O

N N

I I

N N

K K

T T

R R A A

O O

I I

L L

W W Partnering to fund conservation

CT I R ME NY and connect people with nature. 28 MA NH