There are many things you can do to attract wildlife to your property. How much time and effort you want to spend is entirely up to you. On a small scale, you can put up a bird feeder and a birdbath in places most suitable to attract a variety of birds. On a larger scale, you can improve living conditions for many types of wildlife. In fact, landowners are essential to wildlife. You have many choices. Here are a few:

• Plant flowering dogwoods and shadbush to provide food for over twenty species of songbirds.
  
  
• Encourage the growth of white pines, hemlocks and other conifers that provide important food for wintering birds like chickadees, pine siskins, and small mammals like red squirrels and voles.
  
  
• Weed, thin, or prune to favor trees and shrubs that produce food like acorns, nuts, fruits, and berries for wildlife.
  
  
• Clear a patch in your woodland for migratory songbirds, deer, ruffed grouse, woodcock and other species that benefit from the vigorous tree growth that occurs after space is opened up.
  
  
• Create or leave some "wildlife" trees: hollow logs or standing trees that provide roosts, nesting sites, and food for birds and small mammals.
  
  
• Create brush piles that wild turkeys, rabbits, hare, and small mammals use for nesting and hiding.
  
  
• Dig a small pond or pool so wildlife have an accessible water source.
  
  
• Keep a variety of species, ages, and sizes of trees to insure a continuous supply of food and shelter.
  
  
• Seed native grasses on trails, road banks, logging roads, wood yards, and in woodland.

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