A delicate subject, BioLogic’s Austin Delano says the trickiest thing about wetlands management is knowing when to let nature take its course.
“One of the things we can do to actually hurt wetlands is to try and do too much,” said Delano. “Wetlands can really work for recreation and hunting with very little manipulation. Wetlands can be very easily disturbed, and when trying to manage them effectively, traffic should be controlled. Less is often more when it comes to managing wetlands.
“Another thing to keep in mind is that there are a lot of government programs out there to aid land managers in their efforts to restore wetlands. In urban environments, we see a lot of wetlands destroyed or filled in. Government programs are offered on a state by state basis, and with a little research, you can get some aid in restoring these wetlands back to their native state.
“One thing that can be done that requires very little disturbance, especially to boost waterfowl appeal, is to encourage the native habitat. Nature supplies some great waterfowl foods in the form of weeds like Barnyard Grass. Barnyard Grass is a nutritious native food and with proper water manipulation—pulling it off and putting it on at certain times—these native plants will thrive and produce great duck groceries.”
The Mossy Oak GameKeepers share the belief that being outdoors is about loving the land, its wildlife, and giving back more than you take. For more articles and information about managing land for wildlife, please visit farmingforwildlife.com.
