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Wildlife Damage Management


Most of us enjoy seeing wildlife, but sometimes too much of a good thing causes problems: beavers building dams, bears invading bee yards, deer munching on corn, bats in the belfry...

Wisconsin DNR has information on damaging and nuisance wildlife that may solve some problems. 

Information on resolving damage, threats to health and safety, and nuisance problems caused by wildlife is available in a series of fact sheets created by the University of Wisconsin Extension, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services-Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  The series includes bats, chipmunks, ground squirrels, moles, rabbits, raccoons, sandhill cranes, skunks, wild turkeys, woodchucks, and woodpeckers. 

For additional information, contact David Drake (ddrake2@wisc.edu, 608.890.0445) or Scott Hygnstrom (shygnstr@uwsp.edu, 715.346-2301)

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Forestry for Wildlife


Wisconsin has nearly 17 million acres of forested land, and these areas provide ecological, societal, cultural, economical benefits to landowners, recreational users, and wildlfie. Healthy forests are crucial to the health of many wildlife species, and there are many resources and programs designed to aid private landowners in the production and maintenance of healthy forest ecosystems. The Wisconsin DNR provides helpful resources on their website.

The UW-Stevens Point College of Natural Resoures also provides resources through the Wisconsin Forestry Center, which is an outgrowth of the Forestry Education and Development Initiative (FEDI). This center is dedicated to serving the needs of Wisconsin's forestry community through partner-driven professional and WOrkforce development, applied research, and community outreach initiatives that promote vibrant, sustainable forests and forest-economies.

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Habitat Managment


The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is widely viewed as the most successful voluntary conservation program in the country. As of September 2015, 24.2 million acres were enrolled in CRP. Landowners can receive a yearly rental payment for 10 to 15 years in exchange for removing environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production. In addition, up to 50% cost-share assistance is available for planting grasses, shrubs, and trees on land to control soil erosion, improve water quality, or provide food and habitat for wildlife.

The CRP is administered by the USDA-Farm Service Agency (FSA) and facilitated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). County Land Conservation Departments and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also provide technical support for the CRP. Participants can enroll in CRP through a competitive process known as CRP General Sign-up, which occurs occasionally and is widely announced. In addition, you can enroll through CRP Continuous Sign-up, which is offered on a continuous basis and is limited to buffers, waterways, and other high-priority environmental practices. Eligibility varies by ownership, soil type, and crop history. General information on the CRP is available. For detailed information, visit your local FSA office.

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Other Resources

 

 
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Wildlife and Your Land is an award-winning series of publications by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that offer suggestions to private landowners on how to manage their land for wildlife.  Topics include wildlife management basics, developing a plan, financial assistance, inventory and monitoring, and managing woodlands, grasslands, wetlands, corridors, and several microhabitats. 


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