There are many reasons to restore wildlife habitat. For example, game species may be of interest, or landowners may be avid birders. Landowners might also need to adhere to requirements made by an agency such as the US Fish and Wildlife or Arizona Game and Fish to include vegetation at a restoration site that supports existing wildlife in general, or to provide specific habitat structure or food sources for a threatened or endangered animal whose habitat may have been harmed. General wildlife habitat generally requires high heterogeneity in plant type and structure [1] while particular species of interest can be targeted with a strategic seed mix. For example, seed eating desert rodents tend to prefer large-seeded winter annuals for food [2] while ants tend to specialize on smaller seeded species [3].
Resources
- Cooperative Extension wildlife habitat 101
- A guide to enhancing grasslands for Birds and Other Wildlife
- GIS tools and information for designing wildlife corridors
- How to build a better wildlife garden by the National Wildlife Federation
- Top ten bird plants in Central Arizona
- Plants that attract wildlife
- A guide to enhancing rivers, streams, and desert washes for birds and other wildlife
- Priority plants for Mojave desert tortoise habitat
- Desert Tortoise Plant List
- Guide to growing agaves for bats
- Quail forever and Pheasants forever approved wildlife mixes