Habitat...

Some GREAT articles the DNR recently posted.

December 18, 2008
Create some holiday cheer for wildlife in cold weather

With the rich bounty of the season surrounding them, people are constantly reminded of the gracious plenty of the holidays. But what of wildlife—will their holidays be merry?

"For a lot of birds and some mammals, winter is a critical time," said Laurel Barnhill, wildlife biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "Winter is a culling-out time for many animals—a time when mortality is the highest through predation and the lack of food."

Cold weather, and its deadly effect on insects, is the main reason many birds leave the state and go south to find an area where insects are more active, according to Barnhill. Birds staying in South Carolina year-round are mostly seed and berry eaters, like cardinals, titmice, chickadees and mockingbirds, or predatory birds that feed on rodents, birds and other small animals. Carolina wrens and a few other species, which feed primarily on insects but remain here in winter, are the exception.
"Somehow Carolina wrens find enough insects to survive during the cold months," Barnhill said.

"Wrens really have to work at it when the temperature drops below freezing, but they search bark and crevices and look under dead leaves and in spider webs trying to pick up bugs." Some foods that people can put out to help wrens through a hard winter include mealworms, crushed nuts, hanging suet and peanut butter.

Not all types of wildlife are scrounging for a living during the winter—some are busy with a blessed event of their own. Great horned owls mate around Christmas time in South Carolina, and December through January represents one of the two major breeding periods for gray squirrels. Bald eagles also nest in December.

Barnhill finds it appropriate that many South Carolina residents remember wildlife in their thoughts and deeds during the holiday season. Pinecone ornaments packed with peanut butter and seeds are tempting treats, and strings of fruit made with apples, raisins, figs or cranberries make tasty decorations. Suet or beef fat is also a good choice for winter birds.

While feeding birds and other types of wildlife is ingrained in the consciousness of many South Carolina residents, other important considerations for animals are often overlooked. During cold snaps, or when snow and ice are on the ground, adequate cover for wildlife can be the difference between survival or death from exposure. "During winter the best cover is provided by evergreens," said Barnhill. "Most people have evergreen azaleas or camellias in their yard, but that's not really prime wildlife habitat. For birds, you need a plant that gets up there in the 10- to 20-foot range, like hollies, cedars, wax myrtles and cherry laurel." Many berry-producing evergreens such as hollies and cedars serve as a sort of combination shelter-supermarket, providing cover and a much-needed source of food.

Animals also need a dependable source of water, especially when the mercury dips below freezing and shallow drinking spots freeze. "Birds are in some cases more attracted to water than they are to food," Barnhill said. Bird bath heaters prevent water from freezing, and recirculating water systems keep water moving.

For more information on helping wildlife, write Wildlife Section, DNR, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202, or call (803) 734-3886.
DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.


December 19, 2008
'Snags' important to wildlife for food, nesting and roosting

Standing dead trees may appear to be useless eyesores, but a state wildlife biologist says actually they are important components of wildlife habitat and frequently in short supply.

"That ugly snag may provide a secure home for many kinds of animals and a virtual smorgasbord of insect food," said Laurel Barnhill, wildlife biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "Downy, hairy, red-bellied, pileated and red-headed woodpeckers all feed heavily on wood-boring larvae of beetles and other insects and invertebrates found in snags."

View or print out a wildlife management (Pdf file) guide on snags and downed logs or call the Columbia DNR office at (803) 734-3886.

Woodpeckers are also the primary excavators of nesting cavities in snags, Barnhill said. These cavities are later used by other species. Bluebirds, wrens, titmice, flycatchers, chickadees, nuthatches, barred owls, screech owls and kestrels all depend on cavities for successful nesting.

Mammals such as bats, squirrels, flying squirrels and raccoons also use cavities in snag trees. A single snag tree may contain many cavities useful to several different species, as well as providing a food supply.

"The value of snags to both wildlife and people are countless," Barnhill said. "Many snag-dependent species control insects and pests, and birds of prey prefer the vantage point snags afford for hunting rodents. The woodpecker's diet is filled with many insects that can be harmful to our interests."

There are two kinds of snags, according to Barnhill. A "hard" snag may be only partially dead, with many limbs remaining and sound wood. This kind of snag will be beneficial for many years. A "soft" snag is more decayed, with no limbs left and advanced heart rot. Wildlife species make use of both kinds of snags, but larger snags have more value.

In woodlots, at least four to five snags per acre should be maintained, according to Barnhill. Snags left in open areas over water will also provide hunting perches for flycatchers, bluebirds, hawks and kingfishers. Osprey may nest in large snags near open water.

"Snags may not appear very attractive, but their value to wildlife is clear," said Barnhill. "Wildlife enthusiasts should take a second look at dead or dying trees on their property and include snags in their wildlife management or landscaping plans."

DNR protects and manages South Carolina’s natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state’s natural resources and its people.