Wildlife Habitat Score Card
Objective: Evaluate a specific grassland for its value to cottontail
rabbits and bobwhite quail.
A grassland manager who is interested in both livestock and wildlife production
must be
able to recognize the habitat requirements of both. It is important to
remember that wild animals
are not confined by fences. Cover such as brush piles and shrubby thickets
may be located in
areas next to the grassland while additional food and cover can be provided
within the grassland
unit.
The following form lists factors considered when evaluating a specific
tract of grassland,
pasture or hay field. The objective of this exercise is to identify limiting
factors that can be
overcome to improve habitat for rabbits and quail. Each field or pasture
unit should be rated on
the conditions within the fenced area only. An aerial photograph of a
specific grassland unit
would be helpful in identifying habitat components in adjacent fields.
A brief explanation
follows each appraisal category.
APPRAISAL OF EXISTING CONDITIONS
1.Species composition by percent ground cover: (50’x50’ enclosure)
A. Fescue (>90% fescue)
B. Mixed cool season grasses (<10% legumes)
C. Cool-season grass dominant (10-25% legumes)
D. Cool-season grass / legumes (26 to 60% legumes)
E. Legume dominant (>75% legumes)
F. Native Warm-season grass dominant (<40% other species)
Fescue: Tall fescue is a common, extremely thick, sod-forming, introduced cool-season
grass with little or no wildlife value. A grazing unit that is >90% fescue would have
tremendously high stem density at ground level that would prohibit animal movement and
suppress desirable wildlife plants. In fact, when fescue approaches only 40% of the
pasture composition, it will be avoided by most wildlife species.
Similar to fescue dominated pastures, introduced warm-season grasses crowd out
important food plants, quickly invade bare ground, and restrict wildlife movement. In
contrast to native warm-season grass dominated pastures, introduced warm-season
grasses form dense sods that eliminate space between plants. Caucasian bluestem and
bermudagrass are introduced warm-season grasses that have little or no wildlife value.
Mixed cool-season grasses: Mixed cool-season grasslands will contain a variety of
species which may include fescue, orchardgrass, timothy, smooth bromegrass, redtop,
Kentucky bluegrass, etc. This pasture composition is common throughout Missouri, but
lacks a significant legume component to satisfy many wildlife species (<10% legume).
Cool-season grass dominant: The dominant grass(es) in this pasture composition could
be one or more of the common cool-season species listed above. However, legumes
occupy a greater portion of the growing space in this pasture composition (10-25%
legume).
Cool-season grass / legumes: Any combination of common cool-season grasses, along
with an adequate amount of clovers, lespedezas, and other legumes could constitute this
pasture composition (26-60% legume). This is probably the most desired forage
composition in Missouri. CSG-legume mixtures attract insects that comprise nearly all of
the diet of young quail chicks. However, young birds and rabbits can only use pasture
with this composition if properly managed for bare ground and low stem density, which
allows ease of movement and growing space for other beneficial forbs.
Legume dominant: Legume dominated pastures can be excellent for turkey poults, quail
chicks, and many songbirds if they can easily move through vegetation. However, some
legumes are more aggressive than others and may grow thick and tangled under
favorable conditions. This impenetrable cover can inhibit movement by small wildlife in
search of insects and succulent vegetation. The key is to manage legume dominated
fields for adequate open space and bare ground. Alfalfa, annual lespedezas, native
legumes, and white and alsike clovers are preferred. Deer, rabbits, groundhogs, and
other smaller rodents are typically attracted to legume pastures as a source of food and
cover.
Native warm-season grass dominant: Properly managed native warm-season
dominant grasslands can provide a variety of excellent cover types for many wildlife
species. These grasslands should be managed for bare ground, desirable structure, and
stand diversity in combination with other adjacent habitat components. An open mixture of
warm-season grasses along with legumes, sedges, and seed-producing annual forbs
provide the diversity required by ground-nesting wildlife and many songbirds. A variety of
insects are attracted to the forbs where they are fed upon by young birds and other
wildlife. In addition, high quality native warm-season dominant grasslands provide a cool,
moist summer environment and warm, dry winter protection. In contrast, introduced
warm-season grasses are typically found in monotypic stands with high stem density and
little or no space between plants. Their lack of value to wildlife is similar to overly dense
cool-season grasslands.
2. Percent of ground covered or shaded by broadleaf plants: (canopy coverage in
50’x50’ enclosure)
a. Less than 5%
b. 5-50%
c. Greater than 50%
Broadleaf plants, including legumes, improve grasslands for both wildlife and livestock.
Lush, vegetative parts of most legumes and some forbs are sought and eaten by wildlife
as well as livestock. Insect-attracting characteristics and robust seed production of these
plants also benefit numerous bird and animal species that rely on them for food. With
adequate structure and bare ground, grazing units with 5-50% of the canopy coverage in
broadleaf, herbaceous plants normally provide ideal rabbit and quail feeding or brooding
habitat. Grazing units expressing less than 5% canopy coverage of forbs usually confirm
poor diversity and food availability. Exceeding 50% yields little additional benefit at the
expense of grasses or bare ground and depending on species present, may inhibit
livestock grazing. In fact, exceptionally high coverage or a monoculture certain legumes
may also reveal low diversity of the grassland due to severe grazing, competition with
other beneficial forbs, or overly dense growth with impenetrable conditions. Desirable
legumes and forbs include alfalfa, clovers, tick trefoil, desmodium species, annual
lespedezas, partridge pea, lead plant, bush clovers, indigos, sunflower, croton, and many
others.
3. Percent canopy coverage of all vegetation 6-18” tall: (50’x50’ enclosure)
a. Less than 25%
b. 26 - 75%
c. Greater than 76%
Consider all herbaceous and woody vegetation that is from 6-18” tall (about ankle to knee
high). This vegetation is different from that in question two because regardless of plant
species, any type of overhead canopy can provide protection from aerial predators. High
quality, desirable cover will be sparse enough at ground level for easy movement though
the vegetation by young quail and rabbits. The optimal range for 6-18” canopy coverage
is 26-75%; beyond that range is less attractive. If canopy coverage at 6-18” exceeds 76%,
vegetation will likely be too thick and inhibit movement of quail, rabbits, and turkeys.
Likewise, fields with canopy coverage below 25% do not provide sufficient overhead cover
and may increase predation, or may be avoided by species of wildlife that lack a sense of
security.
4.Grazing pressure: (50’x50’ enclosure)
a. Heavy Forage height averages 3” or less for cool-season grass dominated
paddocks or less than 8” for warm-season grass dominated paddocks, on at least
75% of the area. Some patches of taller vegetation may be present. Heavy
stocking rate of livestock.
b. Moderate There can be a high degree of variability between pastures with
moderate grazing pressure. In general, forage height will average 3-8” on coolseason
grass dominated paddocks or 8-12” on warm-season grass dominated
paddocks, on at least 75% of the area. Alternatively, a situation where
approximately 50% of the forage is grazed below the upper end of these ranges
and 50% has grown above, could also qualify.
c. Light There can be a high degree of variability between pastures with light
grazing pressure. In general the average forage height will be above 8” for coolseason
grass paddocks or above 12” for warm-season grass paddocks, on at least
75% of the area. The majority of vegetation is tall but may contain a few shortly
grazed areas. Pasture in this condition is generally considered under stocked.
Grazing height affects cool and warm season grasslands differently. Cool-season grasses
primarily store energy reserves for rebuilding tissues in underground root systems. Warmseason
grasses store a significant portion of their reserves in the lower stem in addition to
the roots and have significantly greater root mass. These physiological differences allow
cool-season grasses to be grazed to shorter heights without weakening plants. Therefore,
the species composition of grassland must be considered when evaluating the height of
vegetation and subsequent grazing pressure.
Regardless of species, the height of vegetation during and after grazing a paddock is
crucial for grassland wildlife. Ahead of grazing when forage grows undisturbed, quail may
utilize the field for nesting but may soon be forced to abandon nests or move broods if
plant height is uniformly grazed below 8”. Moving broods or attempting to re-nest later in
the season, possibly in less desirable cover, will increase predation and diminish nesting
success. Quail nests can also be destroyed by livestock trampling when stocking rates
are too high.
Heavily or severely grazed pastures oftentimes look like a short carpet of green grass.
Grasses will be weakened in continuously, severely grazed pasture and will eventually
allow weeds, woody vegetation, or nuisance species to increase. Any benefits of heavily
grazed pastures to wildlife will depend on remaining species composition and structure. If
a cool-season or native warm-season grass pasture has a history of heavy grazing, all
grazing should be deferred for a growing season to improve the vigor and species
composition of the stand. After a period of rest, the stand can be grazed but should be
monitored closely to avoid removal of too much forage.
Moderate grazing is defined as leaving 3-8” on cool-season or 8-12” on native warmseason
pastures through the winter, on at least 75% of the grazing unit. Moderate grazing
usually creates the most desirable wildlife habitat conditions.
Under-grazing frequently results in overly tall forage throughout the unit during most of the
year. For some species of wildlife, this can be just as detrimental as heavy grazing
pressure. Very dense grassy vegetation, especially cool-season grasses like fescue, can
restrict the movement of young quail from the nest. As with heavily grazed areas, wildlife
benefits of lightly grazed grassland units are determined by the current species
composition, structure, and density of the stand.
5.Distance from center of field to the nearest protected idle area (grassy, fallow crop,
or weedy cover):
a. Greater than 500’
b. 250 – 500’
c. Less than 250’
Idle areas that are relatively close to the center of the field are important to rabbits and
quail. If managed properly they can provide excellent nesting and roosting sites, and often
support seed-producing plants that quail need. Because the peak quail hatching period
(around June 15) coincides with optimal grazing, these protected areas provide nesting
sites which would otherwise be disturbed by livestock. When appraising grassland for
wildlife, consider whether there are unproductive areas that could be protected and
managed. When managing for rabbits or quail, it is best if protected nesting sites are
present within 250 feet from the center of the field being assessed.
Oftentimes, idle areas will require some type of management to be useful to wildlife
(prescribed burning, light disking). Without periodic disturbance of the soil and/or
vegetation, they will proceed through higher stages of plant succession and become less
beneficial to many wildlife species.
6.Percent of field covered by dense woody or escape cover:
a. 0 to less than 1%. The field is devoid of adequate escape cover (include briars,
thickets, blackberry patches, brush, or other woody cover of adequate size,
density, and condition).
b. 1% - 10% has dense woody/escape cover. This is a low to moderate amount of
escape cover, valuable to wildlife if it has not been trampled by livestock. Look into
the thicket to determine if predators could pass through easily, or if a rabbit could
escape a predator upon entering.
c. Field is less than 20 acres. Choose this category only if 25% or more of the
fenced perimeter contains suitable escape cover. If not, this field would be of little
value to wildlife for escape cover and “a” or “b” should be selected.
Woody escape cover is very important to the survival of rabbits and quail. These areas
include dense brushy cover, downed woody structure, fallen treetops or large limbs, etc.
Suitable woody cover would be dense enough that a man would have great difficulty
walking through it, and a coyote or fox would not be able to catch a rabbit taking refuge in
it. An adequate patch of woody or escape cover is at least 1500ft2.
7.Field size - the percent of the field within 250’ of dense woody cover, escape cover,
or ungrazed woodland:
a. Less than 25%
b. 26 to 50%
c. 51 – 75%
d. Greater than 75%
Large, open fields are less valuable to grassland edge species (quail and rabbits) than
small fields. As described previously, quail prefer the field edges where more than one
cover type is available in close proximity. Research shows that quail rarely move further
than one-eighth mile (660’) between necessary habitat components.
Cottontail rabbits require a variety of cover types that are even closer together (<250’).
Hence, the interior of large, contiguous grassland would be utilized very little, if any, by
these wildlife species.
Quality concealment cover must be open at ground level, without sod, and allow easy
movement by small animals and birds. Ungrazed woodlands, dense shrubs, downed
brush, or other escape cover which affords security from predators or protection from the
elements is appropriate. The portion of a pasture or hay field within 250’ of adequate
woody cover generally represents the area that will be utilized by the quail and rabbits
during average seasonal conditions.
8.Distance from center of field to edge of nearest crop field:
a. 500’ or more to crop field
b. 250-500’ to chiseled or disked crop field
c. 250’ or less to chiseled or disked crop field
d. 250-500’ to crop field with no fall tillage or winter wheat
e. 250’ or less to crop field with no fall tillage or winter wheat
Rabbits and quail thrive when a variety of cover types and feeding areas are close
together. Rabbits prefer to move less than 250’ for essential habitat components, while
quail will move up to 660’ if necessary. Crop fields that are more than 500 feet from the
center of the grassland unit are beyond optimal range, and of limited value to rabbits and
quail. A crop field or significant food plot (>1 acre) with no fall tillage, located within 250
feet from the center of the pasture is most advantageous for wildlife.
Crop fields are an important part of bobwhite quail habitat, and offer other wildlife benefits.
During the growing season, annual grain crops present desirable overhead cover, cooler
temperatures, bare ground for ease of movement and dusting, and attract insects for
growing chicks. Weedy areas which are skipped or survive herbicide applications contain
high seed-producing annual plants that provide important quail food. Especially common
in no-till cropping systems, crop residue and waste grain left on the soil surface after
harvest can be an important winter food source for a range of wildlife. Standing crop
stubble offers at least some security for quail, rabbits, and other small game that feed in
these areas. Fields with crop residues that have been tilled under in the fall provide
substantially less, or perhaps no benefit to wildlife until a new crop is planted and growing
in the spring. In the absence of crop fields, annual grain food plots of at least an acre can
be substituted where needed.
Research also shows that a high number of bobwhite quail nests are located between 50’-
150’ from a change in cover type. Cover types with ample bare ground (crop fields, fallow
ground, and disked areas) which are located next to properly managed grassland
significantly increase the chance for quail to successfully hatch and raise a brood. Food
plots, fire breaks, herbicide treatment, or burned areas within or adjacent to the field could
serve the same purpose. Under grazing conditions, these practices could be implemented
and protected in field borders without excessive impact to the livestock production system.
Return to Grassland Evaluation Contest Study Guide
|