wildlife and your western washington department of natural...

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Wildlife and your WesternWashingtonForest Land

Ken Bevis

Wildlife Biologist, Washington State

Dept of Natural Resources

Washington Department of Natural Resources Forest Stewardship Program

[email protected]

Critters and stories

King of the Woods

I’m a woodpeckerKing of the treesI’ve got padded brainsI do as I pleaseHey HeyI’m the King of the woods

I’m a crazy red hammerI make cavitiesHomes for youAnd homes for meHey HeyI’m the king of the woods

I climb up the treesGoing tappy tapLookin for the insect caveWhen I find that hollow soundI ax my way inAnd stick in my my stickySticky tongueYum!



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I got rhythm in my bonesI’m synchronizedI bang in the highest Place I findI play my licksI do my tricksI whack on my tree drumAnd sometimes I singJust for fun!Hey!

(Break!)



Let’s go toThe forest

Washington state

Cascades Are volcanic

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Once fullyCovered withA mighty forest

Started cuttingIn late 1800s

Evidence throughout Cascades Foothills

Puget Troughtoday

VariedForests

Cascades Foothills

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Cascades Foothills

Living inThe woods

Why do we own forestland?

1. Privacy

2. Enjoy nature – Aesthetics

3. Protect Ecosystem

4. Wildlife Habitat

5. Utilitarian – products and income

Over 400 species of wildlife live in Washington’s forests

Legal Categories of Wildlife

1. Game or Furbearer – legally posess

2. Unprotected –kill at will.

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3. Protected – most spcs.

Most are native…. (Quiz)

Native?

Forest Ecology

Equator

Washington state

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Wet Forests

Canopy

Understory

Stem

Ground

All Forests are

Complex Habitats Full of Niches

Complex Habitatsshaped by history and time Complex Habitats with

varying species mix

Complex Habitats

Management changes habitats

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2nd-3rd growth forests 2nd-3rd growth forests

Wildlife has 4 basic needs –vary by species. Different limiting factors

Food

Water

Cover

Territory

Food

Water

Cover

Territory

Wildlife Management in one slide

Population Dynamics

Population Size determined by Limiting Factors

Pop size

Time

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Limiting Factor Example:

Blacktail deer needShrubs (food) and cover

Not so good

Limiting Factor Example:

Great Blue heron – nest in large trees (cover) near water (food)

Limiting Factor Example: Pileated woodpecker needs dead wood Douglas squirrels needs mature treesFor cones, and cavities to den

Let’s play“Spot theSquirrel!”

Pileatedterritory

AvailableHabitatWithinterritorycan be limiting

NutrionalScience AppliedToHumanTerritories

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Western WA forestsAre naturally heterogeneousAnd “gappy”

Forests change Predictably with time

SuccessionAll forest ages can be beneficial to wildlife.

Different stagesBenefit varied species.

Early

Mid

Late

Vole – (approx 8 spcs in WA)

Size:4-6”

Weight: ½ oz

Food: Grass, roots, fruits

Habits: Tunnel undergroundIn summer, winter make Burrows under snow at surfaceLike to live in grassy areasMajor prey item for manyRaptors and other predators“Meadow Mouse”

Early seral

Wildlife Examples

Rufous sided Towhee

Size:3-6”

Weight: ½ oz

Food: Seeds and insects

Habits: Lives in dense Shrubs and nests on lowBranches. Feeds on a varietyOf early seral foods. ScratchesWith both feet together. Many winterin our region

Early seralBlack-tailed deer Size:3-3.5 ‘ tall

Weight: 100 -400 lbs

Food: Browse shrubs

Habits: Wide varietyOf habitats. Black tails/mulieAre considered subsps.Forked antler tinesLimited Migratation.Tolerates people if conditioned.

Early-mid

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deer humor Black bear

Size: 5’ – 6’ long2’ -3’ shoulder ht.

Weight: 200 – 475 lbs

Food: Omnivorous

Habits: NocturnalSemi-hibernates,Seldom aggressiveRanges 15 milesColor varies from blondeTo black. Western WaMostly black

All

Red naped sapsucker

Size: 9.5”

Food: insect larvae, sipsSap from sap wells

Habits: Primary cavityExcavator,migratoryDrums and callsWidespread in conifer andhardwoodForests of western Washington

Creates rows of sapwells on Selected thin barked trees

Mid - late Western tanager

Size: 7”

Food: Insectivorous

Habits: Neo tropicalMigrantWinters as far south As Costa RicaSummer nesting in WABeautiful black,Yellow and orangeArrives Mid-May

Mid - late

Migratory bird examplesFrom our Washington Forests

FlycatchersVireosWarblersOspreyTurkey vulturesSwainson’s ThrushSwiftsRedstartHummingbirdsOriolesSwallowsAnd….

Bird Migration

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Size: 16”

Food: Omnivorous Predator. Birds, smallMammals, fish, insects,amphibians

Habits: Resident inForested habitats withSome complexity.Recent arrival in WA,First documented in1970s. Competitor withSpotted owl. Loud and Aggressive, with greatVocalizations!“Who Cooks For YooooU!”

Mid - lateBarred owl Flying squirrel

Size: 7”

Food: Mushrooms andlichens

Habits: NocturnalResident cavityAnd nest dweller. Lives inOld, complex forestsWith dead trees andBig limbs. Goes to Ground to dig up And then caches Mushrooms.Main food of spotted owl.

Late

We have a lot of INTERESTING WILDLIFE!

What is a tree?

Mostly dead tissue

Disturbance –Kills trees

Natural Forest Ecology

One at a time

Lots at once

West side - Wind throwA few at a time

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Results of crown fire 1990

Point: WOOD always Persists.

Ecologically, Logging is a like a windstorm (except some wood goes away)

Natural forests are very diverse with trees in many different conditions

Each is unique

Life cycle of dead trees

Becomes a soft snag

Hard snag

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Becomes a Log

Becomes soil

Dead Trees are Essential Forest HabitatsPrimary Cavity Excavator -Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

PrimaryCavityExcavator

Sapsucker

Hairy woodpecker

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Downy woodpecker

Red-breasted nuthatch

Nest cavities

PileatedWoodpecker Nest Cavity

Abandoned cavities are Prime Real Estate

Tree swallowsSecondaryCavity Species

bluebirds

Cavity users –Small birds-Chickadee, wren andNuthatch

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Pygmyowl

Saw whet owlSmall owls use cavities

Cavity nesting ducks

Mammals in cavities

Flying and Douglas squirrels& bats

Little Critter Highway

Salamanderhome

Down Logs are Great habitat

Thanks!

Down Logs lastA long long time

2017

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Logged around turn of 20th

century

Butt log left.Soft, but intact

after 100 + years

Rotting woodFeeds everything

Including bears eating termites!Log denizens

Red backed vole

Rubber boa

Rough-skinned newt

Moist!***Wildlife Tree Associated Species***

Almost half (40%) of forest vertebrate species are dependent on Wildlife Trees!!!Pileated woodpecker, flying squirrel, Douglas Squirrel, pygmy nuthatch, red tree vole, marten, Little brown bat, bald eagle, goshawk, barred owl, Screech owl, Red breasted sapsucker, N. flicker, Vaux’s swift, ruffed grouse, blue grouse, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed chickadee, Brown creeper, House wren, marbled murrelet, Bufflehead, Barrow’s goldeneye, Mountain and Western bluebird, Cooper’s hawk, W. red backed Salamander, Rough-skinned newt, rubber boa, Raccoon, black bear, Long tailed weasel, Bushy Tailed woodrat, deer mouse, Townsend’s chipmunk, Ermine, sasquatch, California myotis, Yellow pine chipmunk, Tree swallow,And many more…..

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The Best Snags

10-50’ tall

Broken top

Dead Wood =Great habitat!

Did I mention Dead wood

provides great habitat!! Let’s Take a break

True Bear

I been sleepin’For four monthsMan, I’m kind of a messGotta get above groundGotta find somethin’ to eatI’m hungryHungry as a bear

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Got little roundEyes and earsA sleekShiny black coat

Yeah I look kinda cuteBut I’m really orneryAnd mostlyI keep to myself

Cuz I’m a bearA black bearThe American bearThe True Bear

Ursus americanaI ain’t no horribilisDon’t eat no bambooDon’t sleep on the iceDon’t do no circus tricks


Bears

Ya’ll got Yogi and SmokeyI don’t look nuthin like themThey’re in cartoons Yeah, I go in the woods,(It’s true)Cuz I’m a bearAnd I don’t care

Crusin in the autumn sunshineLookin for something to eatOld rotten carcassDry choke cherriesI don’t careCuz I’m a bear

Ursus americanaI ain’t no dang grizzly bearDon’t eat no bambooDon’t sleep on the iceDon’t do no circus tricks


What can you do with your forest to provide the best habitat?

What do you want?

(Might I suggestA diversity of habitatsThat will support theHighest number of species)

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Consider: What are you starting with?Early successionalWith low diversity?

Young and brushy?Noxious plants? Mature and multi-layered?

Manage for diversity accordingTo size of property and scale

A mix?

Where do I begin?Gather information

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Include habitatFeatures inYour inventory

Small stream

Wet Area

Snag patch

Young standw/ no snagsOr logs

Gather Info: Record Observations

Systematic by season – species, approx numbers, BehaviorsLocation on your property

There’s one!

Become an expert on your property – use good information

Scientific publications

Get Detailed Observations

Be sure to get out there and observe!

Trail CamerasAre a great tool

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What can you do for Wildlife Habitat on your property?

- Special features (esp. wet areas)

#1. Protect existing habitats

- Big and “defective” trees

- Snags and Logs

- Fruit bearing Shrubs

Protect Existing Features

Especially Water

Provide water

“defective” trees


Bald eaglenest


Cavity Trees

Live Cedar Live Maple


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Doug fir Cavity TreesKeep big trees

SometimesYou justKnow

Old wood- snags, stubs,stumps, logs

Legacies persist Whidbey Island – cedar stump about 100 years old

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Esp. bigger ones

Protect snags Gather firewood from small diameter trees And as a part of thinning

Protect Old Logs Provide a healthy Shrub Layer

Wild Rose

Cascara

Currant

Elderberry

Serviceberry

Chokecherry

Hawthorne

Huckleberry

Salmonberry

Favor Plants that bear fruit

Learn what grows On your property!

Fruiting Shrubs are wildlife favorites

Serviceberry

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the good stuff

Salmonberry

Huckleberry

Wonder where the berries went?

- Habitat piles

- Seeding

- Thin

- Nest Boxes

- Plant

#2 Manipulate Habitats

- Create snags

Closed canopy plantations are generallynot good habitat – lack diversity

Thinning is good

Habitat Management

This stand was thinned repeatedly over 50 years

Consider variable density management

Habitat Management

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Thin carefully to avoid blowdown

Gather firewood as a part of thinning

Shrub enhancement and underplanting

cedar

Wild rose

Plantings

Habitat Piles

Habitat Pile fromMy collegeTextbook!

Larger logsLayered 3-5On bottom

Cave in center

Branches piledOn top

*** Easy and Valuable to many species****

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Habitat Pile

Create Snags

Girdling

Topping2002

Crown removal -2014 my house

Snag Creation with Machine

Snag CreationWith Hot Saw

Do this Always whenButt has defectMake part ofContract. 2/ac.

Bluebird nesting inSnag created by fellingmachine(13 years prior)

IT WORKS!!

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“ A Tall stump is a short snag”

Seed mixes on disturbed soils

Water – if you need it (but do it legally)

Boxes: Go for it! (but make them the same) Nest Boxes My Tree swallow

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Wood duck boxes nearSmall wetland

Maintain Nest Boxes!

Nest box installed 1990Photographed 2013Not cleaned out in 5+ years

All based on Science!

What were those things again?

Protect Existing Habitats

-Wet areas-Snags/logs-Big/defective trees-Preferred shrubs

-Thin-Plant-Make snags-Seeding-Piles-Nest boxes

Habitat Management

Mature Patches

Shrubs

Logs

Openings

Manage for Habitat Diversity

Wetland

Horizontal Scale Schematic

Mature trees

Shrubs

Logs

Openings

Manage for Habitat Diversity

Vertical Scale example

Snags

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- Use variable Density

- Units of 1-5 acres

- Leave areas with No machine entry

Harvest in small patches to provide habitat diversity

- Create snags

- Spread largeWoody material

Example: Wild Thyme FarmOakville WA

Let’s Do it!!! Consider your property

And your habitatsConsider your scale – how big is your place?

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At what scaleDo you act? What does it need?

Thinning?

Thin with Variable Density?

Native shrubs, snags?

What does it need?

What does it need?

Perhaps underplant cedar?

What does it need to enhance habitat diversity?

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You Decide!

Goal: Diverse forests meeting YOUR objectives

Enjoy your forest!

Enjoy your HABITAT!!

Thank you.

Questions and

Discussion?

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Two categories

Love em! Gimme More! Ick. Get rid of em(or keep em out)

Nuisance Wildlife

Problem WildlifeWhat to do?

- Barriers

- Repellents

- Good habits

- Removal

Barriers

Skirt

BearDamage onsaplings

Animal Damage or nuisance wildlife

Armor, repel, tolerate or as a last resort, kill.

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Wildlife Biology and Management 101:

What is Wildlife?

- Usually refers to wild, or semi-domesticTerrestrial vertebrates

Examples?

Wildlife Biology and Management 101:

What is Wildlife Management?

“The science and art of making decisions and taking actions to manipulate the structure,dynamics, and relations of populations, habitats and people to achieve specific human objectives via wildlife populations”

Giles, 1978

What is the basis for Wildlife Management as we know it?

English common law – Magna CartaHolding that wildlife was the property of the state,Not the landowner.

(some considered international property – ex. waterfowl)

Wildlife Management Focuses on Populations, Habitats and People

Populations are identifiable groupings of a species subjectTo a similar set of factors.

Populations -How to determine?

Range maps

Surveys and population estimates

Lead to

And state (or federal)management plans…….

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Habitats are groupings of particular vegetation orGeological features that directly effect the success or survivalOf a population


People is us. All of us. (Gets complicated.)

Douglas fir

Grouse drumming log

Started from nothingQuick word about Streams and Fish

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Streams and Fish

Critical habitat

Provide buffers forShade and root mass

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