WHO AM I ?

HABITAT: Succession 4, 5, & 6 but will use 3 if mature trees are aroundAlso found in riparian, and wooded urban areasFOOD: ants, beetle larvae, caterpillars and adult beetles, sometimes fruits/nuts, forage on tree trunks, stumps, snags, downed logs and the groundCOVER: Holes in mature and dying trees for nesting and snags for perching.WATER: dietMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, fish/wildlife survey, manage disturbance, plant trees, create snags, wildlife damage management

WHO AM I ? hairy woodpecker

HABITAT: found throughout U.S. Succession Stages 2, 3, & 4 primarily, grasslands or cleared timberland or in large cities or urban areas. Dens found in brush-covered slopes, steep banks, rock ledges, thickets, hollow logs. Active during the day but mostly early morning and around sunset. May live in packs, alone, or mated pairs.FOOD: birds, small mammals, deer, woodchucks, goats and watermelon. Livestock primarily eaten as carrion. Individuals can cause damage on sheep and must be controlled.MANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, decrease harvest, establish field buffers, establish native grasses/forbs, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, increase harvest, manage disturbance, plant shrubs, wildlife damage management

WHO AM I ? coyote

HABITAT: Succession Stages 3 & 4 – ideally 1/3 grassland, 1/3 cropland and 1/3 shrub cover all interspersed together. Also, parks, golf courses and stream corridors.FOOD: forbs & grasses from spring to fall; winter – bark of shrubs and trees often eatenCOVER: dense shrubs or thickets for hiding and resting; brush pilesWATER: from dietMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, decrease harvest, establish field buffers, establish native grasses/forbs, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, increase harvest, leave grain unharvested, manage disturbance, plant/manage food plots, plant shrubs, tillage management, wildlife damage management

WHO AM I ? Eastern cottontail

HABITAT: Stages 2 & 3 for feeding & stages 4, 5, & 6 for nesting. Large open areas where adequate nesting is available.FOOD: primarily insects & small mammals associated with open areasCOVER: Nest in tree cavities, holes in cliffs, canyon walls, artificial nesting boxesWATER: dietMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, establish field buffers, establish native grasses/forbs, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, manage disturbance, nesting structures, plant shrubs, plant trees, create snags, tillage management

WHO AM I ? American kestrel

HABITAT: Stages 2 & 3 plant succession with some shrubs and trees nearby; some agricultural areas for feeding often used; small areas of bare ground beneficial.FOOD: waste grain from cropland and livestock feed lots; various grass & forb seeds.COVER: tall shrubs & trees for nesting and loafing. Nests can be made on the ground also.WATER: require water daily, prefer ponds with open shorelines (no vegetation)MANAGEMENT: tillage management, establish native grasses and forbs, fish or wildlife survey, leave grain unharvested, manage disturbance, plant/manage food plots, plant shrubs, plant trees, tillage management, water development for wildlife

WHO AM I ? mourning dove

HABITAT: Stages 3, 4, & 5 of plant succession, all interspersed together, edges of agricultural fields unharvested, conifer trees in winter FOOD: shrubs, forbs, grasses, waste grain, acorns, nuts, conifer trees (winter)COVER: woodlands & tall shrubs for hiding and travel cover, brushy upland drainages, emergent (tall) aquatic vegetation in riparian areasWATER: drink free water when available, most from diet alsoMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, decrease harvest, delay crop harvest, establish field buffers, establish native grasses/forbs, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, increase harvest, leave grain unharvested, manage disturbance, plant/manage food plots, plant shrubs, plant trees, tillage management, water development for wildlife, wildlife damage management

WHO AM I? white-tailed deer

HABITAT: ponds, lakes, slow moving riversFOOD: zooplankton, insects, tadpoles, small minnows, & crayfishCOVER: sub-merged rocks, stumps, shrubs, aquatic vegetationWATER: adequate quantity & quality of waterMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, decrease harvest, , fish/wildlife survey, increase harvest, manage disturbance, Ponds: construction, Ponds: deepen edges, Ponds: fertilize/lime, Ponds: reduce turbidity, Ponds: repair spillway/levee, Ponds: restock, water control structures

WHO AM I? bluegill

HABITAT: stages 5 & 6, open deciduous and mixed forests with dense understory of saplings, wooded clearings, or borders of burns, upland and river bottom forests, urban areas with shade trees in a continuous canopyFOOD: mainly insects from leaf surfaces in canopies, spiders, snails, wild fruits, berriesCOVER: nest in deciduous or coniferous trees or shrubs, deep cup nests from a horizontal fork of a slender branch usually in dense foliage 5 – 10 feet above the ground, but sometimes as high as 60 feetWATER: from dietMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, plant trees

WHO AM I? red-eyed vireo

HABITAT: deciduous woodland in stages 5 & 6FOOD: forage on the ground for nuts, grains, acorns, seeds, mushrooms, and budsCOVER: nest in cavities in trees or build nests out of twigs and leaves usually in the crotch of a tree over 30 feet high, will use nest boxes when den sites are scarceWATER: generally met by dietMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, decrease harvest, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, increase harvest, manage disturbance, plant shrubs, plant trees, wildlife damage management

WHO AM I ? Eastern gray squirrel

HABITAT: Stages 2, 3, & 4 interspersed. Ideally, 1/4 grassland, 1/2 cropland, 1/8 shrub cover, 1/8 woodlandFOOD: Young eat insects, adults eat seeds, green vegetation (forbs mostly), insects, & small grainsCOVER: thick shrubs for hiding and roosting cover, brush piles, manage livestock grazing to preserve dense shrub and herbaceous cover (riparian areas also)WATER: from diet, but in arid regions free standing water is helpfulMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, decrease harvest, establish field buffers, establish native grasses/forbs, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, leave grain unharvested, manage disturbance, plant/manage food plots, plant shrubs, plant trees, tillage management

WHO AM I? Northern bobwhite

HABITAT: wetlands with open water, harvested grain crops and riparian areas with open waterFOOD: waste grain from agricultural areas, aquatic plants, invertebrates, oak woodlands in winterCOVER: rest on open water bodies (lakes, rivers, warm-water sloughs that are not frequently disturbed), winter – ice in the middle of lakesWATER: as listed aboveMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, fish/wildlife survey, leave grain unharvested, manage disturbance, nesting structures, plant/manage food plots, tillage management, water control structures, water development for wildlife

WHO AM I? mallard

HABITAT: Stages 2 & 3, interspersed with 5 & 6FOOD: insects, spiders (large percentage of diet), limited amount of fruit, animal forages in open areas (like pastures)COVER: nest in natural cavities and old woodpecker holes, will use bird houses for nesting (4-5 ft high) in or adjacent to open areas. Boxes placed more than 200 ft apart, roost in treesWATER: mostly from diet, but will use other water sources when availableMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, establish field buffers, establish native grasses/forbs, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, manage disturbance, nesting structures, plant shrubs, plant trees, create snags

WHO AM I ? Eastern bluebird

HABITAT: 1/3 TO 2/3 of range in stages 5 & 6, interspersed with 3 & 4FOOD: forages on the ground for herbaceous plant seeds, nuts, acorns, and insects. Will eat grain from cropland if next to woodlandsCOVER: tall trees for roosting, thick shrub land for nesting (shallow depression on the ground lined with leaves & grasses usually within 1/2 mile of water source)WATER: Uses free standing waterMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, decrease harvest, establish field buffers, establish native grasses/forbs, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, increase harvest, leave grain unharvested, manage disturbance, plant/manage food plots, plant shrubs, plant trees, tillage management, water development for wildlife, wildlife damage management

WHO AM I ? wild turkey

HABITAT: ponds, lakes, and slow moving riversFOOD: young eat insects & other invertebrates (worms, crayfish, & zooplankton), adults eat other small fish such as bluegill, tadpoles, crayfish, ducklings, minnowsCOVER: submerged rocks or stumps, shrubs, aquatic vegetation where prey is hidingWATER: adequate quantity and quality of waterMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, decrease harvest, , fish/wildlife survey, increase harvest, manage disturbance, Ponds: construction, Ponds: deepen edges, Ponds: fertilize/lime, Ponds: reduce turbidity, Ponds: repair spillway/levee, Ponds: restock, water control structures

WHO AM I ? largemouth bass

HABITAT: occurs in a wide variety of forested habitats, mainly open woodlands of stages 5 & 6, interspersed with areas of stages 2, 3 & 4 including orchards, farm woodlots, and city parks. Occasionally found in rocky canyons away from forest coverFOOD: hunts open areas near woodlands, such as marshes or meadows, widely varied diet, but prefers small to medium-sized mammals and birds. Also eats reptiles, amphibians, large insects, and fish – rarely carrion Use selective timber cut or clear cut to keep areas open for small mammals (forbs/grasses).. COVER: abandoned nests of hawks, herons, or crows, large tree cavities, crotches, stumps, caves and ledges; will use nesting platforms when other natural trees are limited.WATER: from their dietNote: may prey on free ranging poultry; wildlife damage management may be needed MANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, establish field buffers, establish native grasses/forbs, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, manage disturbance, plant shrubs, plant trees, create snags, tillage management, wildlife damage management

WHO AM I ? great horned owl

HABITAT: most abundant near water and lands adjacent to wetlands, also urban areas; prefer areas interspersed with different successional stages; stages 5 & 6 are ideal (can become a pest in urban area or wetlands where waterfowl nesting is important; also prey on quail & turkey nests)FOOD: garbage, birds, eggs, fish, small mammals, insects, crayfish, grains, seeds, fruits, and foods prepared for humans and pets.COVER: nest & rest in natural tree cavities, dens in the ground, under brush and junk piles, in old abandoned buildings and rocky cliffs and ledges; like deciduous trees near riparian areas and wetlandsWATER: require water frequently during warm seasonsMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, decrease harvest, establish field buffers, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, increase harvest, leave grain unharvested, manage disturbance, plant/manage food plots, plant shrubs, plant trees, create snags, tillage management, water control structures, water development for wildlife, wildlife damage management

WHO AM I? Northern raccoon

HABITAT: stage 5 woodlands flooded with water and open water adjacent to stages 5 & 6 or stages 3 & 4 wetlands dominated by trees (especially deciduous trees) adjacent to stage 2 wetlandsFOOD: fruits, nuts of woody plants, water lily seeds, some grains, some insects (especially young who eat mostly insects). COVER: nest in cavities in trees of flooded woodlands or adjacent to water. They use stage 2 & 3 wetlands with an abundance of aquatic vegetation to raise young.Use artificial nest boxes if natural nest sites are not availableWATER: required as listed aboveMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, leave grain unharvested, manage disturbance, nesting structures, plant/manage food plots, plant shrubs, plant trees, create snags, tillage management, water control structures, water developments for wildlife

WHO AM I? wood duck

HABITAT: nests in hardwood forests (stage 6) near water, primarily in the southern U.S., found in forested wetlands such as cypress swamps, and bottomland hardwoods. Large over mature trees & standing dead trees important because they are cavity nesters, winter in Central & South AmericaFOOD: primarily insects in the lower canopy or at ground level so complex vertical structure of trees provides the structure necessary for the insects they require ants, beetles, and mayflies, aquatic larvae and snails COVER: Forested wetlands and other mature bottomland hardwood forests provide cover. Dead standing timber help ensure presence of cavities.WATER: through the dietMANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, nesting structures, plant trees, create snags, water development for wildlife

WHO AM I? prothonotary warbler

HABITAT: stages 4, 5, & 6 interspersed with soft mast shrubs; need large areas – 15 sq. miles for females & up to 50 sq. miles for malesFOOD: early developing plants, such as skunk cabbage, squaw root, grasses, and insects. Occasionally deer fawns and young livestock (calves and lambs), soft mast, such as blackberry, blueberry, serviceberry, black cherry, and pokeweed; acorns, beechnuts, hickory nuts, and other hard mast; field corn; and soybean to prepare for hibernation. When natural foods are scarce, they may wander near human residences and feed on birdseed, dog or cat food, and other food scraps.WATER: Free - standing water is used for drinking.COVER: forage in mature hardwood or mixed hardwood and conifer forests; forage --usually for soft mast -- in early successional openings. They use brushy areas and young regenerating forest for loafing and escape. They hibernate in rock crevices, excavations, hollow trees, and dense thickets. MANAGEMENT: control non-native invasive vegetation, decrease harvest, fish/wildlife survey, forest management techniques, increase harvest, leave grain unharvested, manage disturbance, plant/manage food plots, plant shrubs, plant trees, tillage management, wildlife damage management

WHO AM I? black bear