Regenerating clearcuts can provide excellent shrubland habitat to wildlife.
Amanda D. Rodewald, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor of Wildlife Ecology,
School of Natural Resources,
The Ohio State University
Open and shrubby habitats usually follow disturbances like fire, timber harvesting, and farming. Although frequently overlooked as important wildlife habitat, these open areas can provide habitat to a diverse group of animals. Several different types of valuable wildlife habitats are found in open habitats; examples include odd areas that are not cultivated (e.g., seeps, bogs, ditches), abandoned or fallow fields, old orchards, field edges and hedgerows (especially if they contain trees and shrubs), patches of native shrubs, and prairies.
Avoid converting open or shrubby areas to turfgrass. Naturally-maintained open or shrubby areas provide food and cover resources to wildlife and are great habitats for a variety of plants. In contrast, turfgrass offers little habitat structure and food to wildlife, and many of the management practices associated with turf can degrade the environment via chemical and mechanical disturbance. Allow open areas to naturally regenerate. Consider actively managing open areas as prairies or shrubfields by planting native species and then periodically burning, mowing, or cutting.
Create hedgerows. This can be accomplished either by planting trees and shrubs or reducing mowing frequency of odd areas, field borders, and edges of lawn. As wildflowers and other plants grow in these areas, hedgerows will become more valuable to wildlife. If you want to establish woody plants in the area, dense clumps of fruiting species like sumac, wild plum, dogwoods, hawthorns, chokecherry, and sassafras will provide food and escape cover for wildlife.
Try strip or mosaic mowing to increase habitat diversity. In areas where open fields are maintained without grazing or haying, strip mowing (30- to 50-foot-wide strips) or mosaic mowing (small patches in irregular patterns) can increase habitat diversity by allowing woody plants to establish in unmowed strips.
Consider disking to promote abundant herbaceous growth in some areas. A variety of annual grasses and forbs will grow in areas recently disked. When disking for wildlife, the goal is not to uproot and turn under all existing plant matter. Instead, vary the disking intensity to expose bare soil in certain areas and stimulate stem growth in others.
Use prescribed burns and fires, when appropriate. If done properly on a periodic basis, burning can improve the quality of grassland and brushland habitats. Fires remove accumulated dead material and encourage the growth of valuable seed-producing plants and herbs and stimulate legume germination. The abundant herbaceous growth that follows a burn provides browse and cover for deer, grouse, and rabbits and attracts insects and the songbirds that feed on them. Small controlled burns are recommended for areas too steep for tillage or mowing. Burns should be kept small and controlled with firebreaks plowed around the perimeters. BE CAREFUL! Not only is fire dangerous, but it can do more harm than good if applied incorrectly or in the wrong season. See a professional forester, biologist, or natural resource manager before implementing plans, and be sure to obtain the proper permits first.
Create brush piles. Brush piles can provide dense cover for ground-nesting birds, rabbits, and other small mammals. Stack layers of logs at right angles to each other to make a base for the pile. Place treetops, old Christmas trees, limbs, stones, or stumps on top of the base to complete the pile. Ideal piles are 4 to 8 feet tall and from 10 to 20 feet in diameter. Place piles close to other food and cover sources, preferably along forest edges, field corners, or along streams and marshes. Isolated piles may receive little use or could be detrimental if long distances between piles and suitable habitat make animals vulnerable to predators.
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