Wildlife Habitat Management on State Land

Aspen, Paper Birch

Aspen and paper birch are typically managed by using even-aged management (clear cutting) with retention of scattered older trees or patches within the clear cut. Approximately 80 wildlife species use aspen and paper birch upland deciduous forests including chestnut-sided warble, gray wolf, bobcat and featured species American woodcock, northern goshawk, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse, beaver, black bear, moose and white-tailed deer.

Bank Stabilization

Stabilization can include both hardened structures (rock) and softer vegetation or other materials engineered to rehabilitate lakeshore or streambanks. Project benefits will include reduced erosion and sediment input into the adjacent waterbody and improved riparian zone habitat and function. This fosters the development of aquatic biological communities by protecting spawning and rearing habitats of fishes and aquatic organism. Bridge or Culvert Replacement

Activity will involve replacement of failed, damaged, or under- sized bridges or culverts. Project benefits will include improved or restored system connectivity, which enhances fish and aquatic organism passage, sediment and organic material transport, and reduced erosion near the structure. Properly sized bridges and culverts also enhance public safety, have a longer life expectancy, and require less maintenance over time.

Dam Removal or Modification

Removal or modification will typically result in complete removal of an existing dam and support structures. Benefits will include restoration of or improvements to a free- flowing condition that will normalize water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and sediment transport, and restore aquatic habitat connectivity and fish and aquatic organism passage within the system. If complete dam removal is not possible, dam modification, such as installation of a rock ramp, will improve free-flowing conditions within the river system.

Grass, Upland Brush

Grass openings and upland brush sites are created, maintained or enhanced by a combination of controlling tree growth and changing herbaceous plant composition. When woody vegetation encroaches, timber sales, prescribed burns or mechanical equipment may be used to set back forest development and maintain open conditions. Mechanical equipment may be used to prepare a suitable seedbed for growing desired grasses and herbaceous species. About 100 wildlife species use grass openings and upland brush sites including sandhill crane, fox snake, sharp-tailed grouse, rufous-sided towhee, red and gray fox and Featured Species Canada goose, mallard, wild turkey, American woodcock, gray wolf, black bear, upland sandpiper and white-tailed deer.

Habitat Rehabilitation (lake or stream)

Activity includes rehabilitation or enhancement of aquatic habitats in lakes or streams using hard or soft material. Projects include re-establishment of riparian vegetation, bank stabilization, in-stream or near-shore spawning habitat, lunker structures, and installation of large woody structure. Project benefits include increased natural reproduction and survival of fish and aquatic organisms.

Hemlock

Due to difficulties associated with regeneration, little hemlock acreage is harvested due to its importance to wildlife. Approximately 70 wildlife species use the hemlock cover type. Hemlock is important to permanent resident wildlife during winter, and is especially important to white-tailed deer. Hemlock is favored by the red squirrel, gray wolf, bobcat, northern red-bellied snake, fisher and Feature Species, black bear, blackburian warbler, American marten, moose and northern goshawk.

Jack Pine

Jack pine is generally managed by clear cutting with some trees or patches retained to provide diversity. At least 66 wildlife species use jack pine forests including bobcat, common porcupine, common raccoon, red fox, red squirrel, black-backed woodpecker and featured species American marten, black bear, northern goshawk, spruce grouse, , red crossbill, snowshoe hare and the endangered Kirtland’s warbler.

Mixed Northern Hardwoods

Mixed northern hardwoods are managed to maintain a mixed stand of hardwoods and conifers by manipulating tree species through single tree and group selection. More wildlife species use mixed conifer-hardwood stands than stands composed of pure hardwood or conifer. Consequently, at least 120 wildlife species use mixed hardwood forests include bobcat, cedar waxwing, coyote, and red fox and featured species including black bear, moose, northern goshawk, pileated woodpecker, red- headed woodpecker, red-shouldered hawk, white-tailed deer and wood thrush.

Mixed Swamp Conifers, Black Spruce, Tamarack

These species may be managed using a variety of methods including small clear cuts or using silvicultural techniques to thin stands to a desired stocking level. About 90 wildlife species are associated with the lowland conifer forest cover types. Common species include; spruce grouse, yellow-bellied flycatcher, gray jay and golden-crowned kinglet. Featured species include gray jay, white-tailed deer, bobcat and American marten.

Northern Hardwoods

Northern hardwoods are managed to perpetuate the uneven-aged condition of the stand. Approximately 114 wildlife species are associated with northern hardwood types. Eastern wood peewee, least flycatcher, pileated woodpecker, scarlet tanager, southern flying squirrel, coyote, ovenbird, red-eyed vireo, red fox, black bear, red-back salamander, wolves and white-tailed deer.

Northern White Cedar

Cedar may be managed by clear cutting and burning or employing thinning practices. About 52 wildlife species use the northern white cedar forest type. Cedar is especially important as shelter for wildlife species over-wintering in Michigan. Species using cedar types include ruby-crowned kinglet, gray jay, northern flying squirrel, red-backed vole, coyote, gray wolf, white-tailed deer and bobcat.

Oak

Acorns from oak trees are an import food source for many wildlife species. Key objectives include regenerating oak species and stimulating mast production for food using clear cutting and shelterwood systems. About 96 wildlife species use oak dominated hardwood forests including, eastern gray squirrel, blue jay, northern flicker, red fox, woodchuck and featured species American woodcock, black bear, northern goshawk, ruffed grouse, wild turkey and white-tailed deer.

Planting: Forage Crops

The development and maintenance of forage crops for wildlife is an important management tool on state forest land. Enhanced forage production improves the physical condition of wildlife, especially white-tailed deer, elk and turkeys. Exotic Species Control: Phragmites Non-native phragmites is an aggressive exotic species that out competes native phragmites and other marsh vegetation. The control of non-native phragmites is achieved by herbicide followed by cutting and mowing.

Planting: Hemlock and White Pine

The amount of white pine and especially hemlock, has decreased dramatically from about 100 years ago. Management efforts are emphasizing increasing the presence of white pine and hemlock in future forest stands. Hemlock is especially important as winter deer habitat for white-tailed deer.

Planting: Oak

Areas that field staff have identified for increasing the amount of oak for acorn production, are usually hand planted with two or three year old seedlings. Under normal growth conditions, oaks may produce acorns when about 30 years old.

Prescribed Fire (Prescribed Burn) Prescribed fire is an important management technique for maintaining the open character of a tract of land for wildlife species dependant on the open land to provide their life requirements. Burning may also be used to clear debris and prepare the site prior to planting to species such as jack pine. The endangered Kirtland’s Warbler is dependant on young jack pine stands for breeding and nesting.

Red Pine

Red pine is generally managed through different types of shelterwood system. Approximately 54 wildlife species use natural red pine forests. Characteristic species include bobcat, coyote, ermine, pine warbler, red fox and featured species black bear, blackburnian warbler, northern goshawk, red crossbill and snowshoe hare.

Sand Trap Maintenance

Maintenance involves the mechanical removal of sand and other sediments from streams that carry a higher-than-normal sand bed load. The primary benefit is an increased availability of gravel and cobble streambeds to provide spawning and rearing habitat for fishes. Further, the increased availability of gravel and cobble fosters the development of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities, which serve as food sources for fishes.

Spruce and Fir

A variety of silvicultural techniques including clear cutting or shelterwood may be used and depends on the presence of advanced regeneration. Approximately 80 wildlife species inhabit the upland spruce and fir cover type. Golden-crowned kinglet, northern parula, magnolia warbler, blackburnian warbler, red crossbill, hoary bat, northern flying squirrel, pine siskin, and featured species including snowshoe hare, wolf, white- tailed deer and moose.

Swamp Hardwoods, Lowland Poplar

Lowland aspen and hardwoods may be managed by clear cutting, single tree selection or group harvesting, depending on the desired future stand composition. About 75 species utilize the lowland poplar and swamp hardwood cover types. Typical species include great blue heron, downy woodpecker, Acadian flycatcher, eastern newt, yellow warbler and featured species including black bear, white-tailed deer and red- shouldered hawk.

Wetland Management: Water and Marsh

Much of the natural marsh complexes that were once present in southern Michigan have been lost or severely degraded. Manipulation of water levels in wetland communities of marsh and open water enhances the complexes for breeding and migratory waterfowl. Approximately 100 wildlife species use open water habitats and about 85 wildlife species use marsh type. The wetland-marsh complexes are especially important to waterfowl and reptile and amphibian species.

White Pine

At least 57 wildlife species use white pine forests including bald eagle, bobcat, coyote, gray wolf, red fox, pine warbler and featured species including black bear, blackburnian warbler, northern goshawk, red crossbill, snowshoe hare and white-tailed deer.