WILDLIFE

Creating a Home for Oregon’s Native Wildlife

Having wildlife on your forestland isn't just a matter of chance. Creatures large and small have specific food, cover, space, and water needs. If you manage your land with those needs in mind, you'll soon have a lively response.

Regardless of where you live or how much property you own, there are many things you can do to enhance wildlife habitat. This effort can span from putting up bird houses to restoring a native endangered ecosystem like an oak savannah. What you choose to do will depend on your property, your land management objectives, and your resources, including money and time.

Learn More about Managing for Wildlife on your Property

We are lucky in Oregon, in that there are many resources to help you make wildlife decisions on your property. You might start by watching the video “Enhancing Wildlife Habitat”. This will give you a great overview of some options. If you decide that you want to make wildlife a priority in your forest plan, then continue to explore the additional literature to learn about specific species of interest, and see who in your area can help.

WILDLIFE RESOURCES TO GET YOU STARTED:

Videos:

• An Introduction to Wildlife Habitat Enhancement
  An introductory video from the Oregon State University Extension Service
• Steps to Improving Wildlife Habitat on your property
  Tips and ideas for encouraging wildlife on your property. Provided by Oregon State University Extension Service. 
• Forest Fact Break: Wildlife
  90-second animation from a series created by the Oregon Forest Resources Institute

Publications:

Woodland Fish and Wildlife
The Woodland Fish and Wildlife Project is a cooperative effort between state and federal agencies and universities to provide information on fish and wildlife management to private woodland owners and managers. Organizations involved in this project have cooperatively produced publications that serve as practical guides to woodland owners. 

• Beaver, Muskrat and Nutria on Small Woodlands
• Cavity Nesting Ducks
• Coastal Douglas Fir Forests and Wildlife
• Habitat Management for Bats on Small Woodlands
• Habitat Management for Turkeys on Small Woodlands
• Hawk, Eagle and Osprey Management on Small Woodlands
• Is there a place for Fish and Wildlife in your Woodland?
• Managing Deer on Small Woodlands
• Managing Forest Habitats for Migrant Songbirds
• Managing Pacific Northwest Forests for Band-Tailed Pigeons
• Managing Ponderosa Pine Woodlands for Fish and Wildlife
• Managing Small Woodlands for Cavity Nesting Birds
• Managing Small Woodlands for Elk
• Managing Western Juniper for Wildlife
• Managing Woodlands for Grouse
• Quail on Small Woodlands
• Riparian Areas:  Fish and Wildlife Havens
• Trout in Small Woodland Areas
• Wetlands As Varied As Our Region
• Wildlife in Broadleaf Woodlands of Oregon and Washington
• Wildlife on White Oaks Woodlands

OSU Extension Service Publications
Oregon State University Extension has several practical publications on wildlife management issues. You can get these publications in hard copy from your local OSU Extension office, or online at Extension and Experiment Station Communications. Below is a selection of available publications.

• Enhancing Wildlife on Private Woodlands
• Living with Nuisance Wildlife
• Managing Wildlife Habitats in Forested Ecosystems
• The Wildlife Garden: Build Nest Boxes for Wild Birds.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Conservation Strategy Ecoregion Publications
ODFW Conservation Strategy helps prioritize localities, habitat types and species in most need of conservation work. The following 1 page Ecoregion publications can help you learn more about where you live and important species and habitats in your area.

• Basin and Range
• Blue Mountains
• Coast Range
• Columbia Plateau
• East Cascades
• Klamath Mountains
• West Cascades
• Willamette Valley

Oregon Forest Resources Institute (OFRI)
OFRI is dedicated to elevating the publicʼs understanding of how forest stewardship meets social, environmental and economic needs of both present and future generations. OFRI produces materials for public, landowner and K-12 education. Explore their extensive library of publications and videos.

• Wildlife in Managed Forests: Oregon Forests as Habitat
  This publication provides a background and context for better understanding the interplay between forest management and wildlife. It also provides forest landowners suggested management techniques to accomplish diverse wildlife habitat and highlights Oregon landowners through a series of case studies who have applied these techniques and goals on their lands.
• Wildlife in Managed Forests: Elk
  This 24-page publication is one of a series of OFRI publications being developed for use by forest landowners and managers to report on what is known about habitat requirements and ecological roles of various wildlife species in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. This one addresses elk population dynamics, herd productivity, nutritional needs and response to human disturbance.
• Wildlife in Managed Forests: Spotted Owl
  This publication is one of a series of OFRI publications being developed for use by forest landowners and managers to report on what is known about habitat requirements and ecological roles of various wildlife species in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. This one addresses spotted owl populations and habitat.
• Wildlife in Managed Forests: Stream-associated Amphibians
  The new report, Stream-Associated Amphibians, introduces you to the common amphibians of the region and explores the relationship between forest management and amphibian health.
• Fact Sheet: Wildlife
  Why do forest animals live where they do? This one-page fact sheet explores the relationship between forest ages and the animals that live there.
• Guide to Priority Plant and Animal Species in Oregon Forests
  This revised and updated publication is designed to assist forest landowners, land managers, students and educators in understanding how forests provide habitat for different wildlife and plant species. It describes the specific habitat requirements of selected species found in forested habitats across all ecoregions in Oregon.

Other:

• Oregon State University Extension Service
  Find your local county office:
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
  The federal NRCS, as well as your local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), can help with conservation planning and practices, maintaining and improving the soil, water, and other natural resources that support productive and profitable agricultural and forestry operations. To Contact NRCS: See the phone book's federal government pages for the office center in your area or visit Natural Resources Conservation Service online.
• Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
  The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has several regional offices throughout the state of Oregon. Their Conservation Strategy includes strategy habitat and species information. Individual wildlife or Conservation Strategy biologists can help you enhance your property for fish and wildlife.
• APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) Wildlife Damage Department
  The mission of USDA APHIS Wildlife Services (WS) is to provide Federal leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife conflicts to allow people and wildlife to coexist.  Phone: (503) 326-2346 Toll Free: 1-866-4USDAWS
• Oregon Forest BioDiversity Explorer
  The Oregon Forest BioDiversity Explorer provides data on species occurrences and/or modeled distributions for Oregon's important forest species and habitats. Learn how to use this mapping tool by watching this online demonstration.

• Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office list of federally listed, proposed, candidate, delisted species and species of concern by county.