National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC)

Foraging wildlife impacts forest resources in numerous ways. Damage can result in the following:

• Reduced productivity

• Delayed harvest cycles

• Failure to replace trees after a harvest or a fire

• Failure to establish native plants to increase forest diversity, improve riparian areas, revegetate disturbed sites, restore endangered or threatened plants, or create or improve wildlife habitat.

Managing resources to resolve these problems is becoming increasingly difficult. The land base to produce timber is shrinking. This declining base restricts options, while increasing the necessity to protect remaining resources. Historical approaches to reducing forest damage problems are under increasing scrutiny as the public demands more humane means to resolve wildlife conflicts. Additionally, conflicting management objectives frequently impede attempts to resolve problems. One manager may be attempting to reduce damage on a timber stand, while concurrently an adjacent landowner is working to increase wildlife populations. The combined result is the critical need for increased and enhanced research and outreach programs. New nonlethal approaches need to be identified and existing approaches improved.

Project Leader: Dr. Jimmy D. Taylor,
(jimmy.d.taylor@aphis.usda.gov)
USDA/APHIS/WS/NWRC
Olympia Field Station
9730-B Lathrop Industrial Drive
Olympia, Washington 98512
Telephone: (360) 956-3793

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Olympia, WA, Field Station