Better Wetlands
Upland Wildlife Habitat
Wetlands and surrounding uplands are excellent habitat for
wetland dependant species of birds, amphibians, reptiles, and other wildlife.
Deer and turkey also utilize wetlands and adjacent uplands habitat for forage
and cover.
Grasses, forbs, shrubs, and trees can all be valuable cover and food for wildlife on uplands surrounding wetlands. Recommended plantings include switchgrass, big bluestem, little blustem, Indiangrass, alfalfa, and birdsfoot trefoil.
It’s a good idea to enhance the upland grasses and legumes by planting rows or clumps of shrubs and trees for cover. Use a minimum of 50 shrubs, or 25 deciduous trees or conifers per clump. Planting this winter cover on south-facing slopes will tend to keep it more free of snow.
Shrubs to consider include sumac, chokecherry, Autumn olive, Amur honeysuckle, American plum, lilac, gray and silky dogwood, cranberry, and redosier dogwood. Trees include oak, willow, ash, pine, red cedar, and others.
Of course, this area needs to be fenced to keep livestock out. Any mowing that needs to be done for weed control should be delayed until at least July 15 to avoid disturbing nesting birds.
One note of caution: tall trees will be used as perches by predators of waterfowl. Hawks and owls will prey on
birds and other wildlife from these perches.
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Native Wildflowers
Contact Information
You may send comments regarding this Web site to:
State Biologist
Mike Townsend
Syracuse, New York
Telephone: 315-477-6537
If you encounter any problems with files provided on this page, have questions, suggestions, or find a broken link, please contact
Gary Vandawalker
at 315-477-6546.
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