Clear Path Writer Popular Writing

If you own property

you are one of the lucky ones. You have a chance to manage your outside environment as well as that of the animals and plants residing there. If you appreciate nature there are a few simple things you can do to manage your land for productivity, privacy, and ecology. The last is the topic of my discussion today. Ecology is simply the interrelationships of plants and animals and their environment. Plants and animals are not only present in this realm, but they are dependent on each other. We have discerned many of their simple relationships and they are fascinating; Society For Ecological Restoration is a good primer if you find these topics interesting. Many of the more complex relationships have yet to be determined.

You should view the landscape in your vicinity as a continuum both horizontally as well as vertically from several points of origin. The starting point could be the road frontage, your house site or even your outside area of most activity. If you are trying to provide for certain species of plants and animals you should have an idea of native species prevalence in the area and their habitat needs. Reading is often the quickest way to determine with which species to begin, but expert led field studies and walks in the woods and fields can also be illuminating and personally rewarding.

Think about what your homestead looked like before it was developed; or better yet compare it to a wildland in the same climatic zone. Some important features that should be present are cool temperatures, resting places and hiding places, and food and water. Resting places are important to hide from predators, bear and protect young and rest at a preferred temperature. If you live at wood’s edge you may be fortunate enough to have a more balanced predator and prey system than I have. My property is overrun by nearly tame deer, rabbits and squirrels and at night, raccoons. Most of my neighbors feed these "pets" human foods. I have seen an occasional coyote, but the biggest most common predator is cars. There are also feral cats which I do not encourage to take up residence, because they kill an enormous number of songbirds. If you are able to keep birdfeeders (and by this I mean they do not succumb to pest species) and can take an occasional bird count; this may be used as a rough indication of your success at managing the habitat.

Nature likes alternating openings adjacent to different levels of vertical cover. Remember there are many important tiny plants and animals that are often overlooked or forgotten. They may need only a few inches or feet of cover to be hidden. Try to minimize the hardscape because of its effect to heat adjacent soils and to  pool and direct water, which doesn’t allow infiltration into the water table or moisture for roots. If you have year-round water that can be an ideal attractant. In the west, perennial water is rare and may also turn into a destination for nuisance animals. My neighbor with a landscaped pond has to frequently encourage the departure of a black bear even in mid-day so that her family can spend time in the back yard.

List to Encourage Wildness

1. Limit use of non-native species (they can spread to unwanted areas impacting your neighbor’s flora and  fauna or real wildlands if not controlled)

2.  Reseed the annual plantings for browse and animals will even eat ungerminated seeds.

3. If you have a garden for produce you will have to take extreme measures to protect your crop. This sort of culture represents a food trough to an animal or insect and they will preferentially eat here rather than the wild browse you have planted for them

4. If you have a small yard and want to maximize its use for humans or pets you can support wild plants and animals at an agency or place where nature is intended to abound such as the Nature Conservancy lands or National Forest

5. Provide water, hiding cover and at least a few mature tree

6. Try to design your scape to attract animals AWAY from the main motorized travel routes

7. Now you can spend some quiet reflective time observing your micro wildland and its new inhabitants to see how you’ve done.

A lot can be done to promote and sustain nature even in a very small space. To be effective you must study and learn,  implement and measure by observation and learn more; then reassess your plan.

Local Resources List (not comprehensive)

1. The Nature Conservancy     
   
2. Colorado Springs Utilities           
   
3. Colorado Native Plant Society          
   
4. Pikes Peak Community Foundation
   
5. Colorado State University