AMES - Planting native trees and shrubs or maintaining forested portions on Iowa's private lands are key ingredients for successful and healthy wildlife populations. This can range from songbird habitat in the backyard to the woodlot in the 'Back 40.'

More than 300 species of wildlife have a link to Iowa's forests, and with more than 90 percent of Iowa's forests in private ownership, making improvements on private lands key to wildlife habitat in Iowa.

"To maximize wildlife benefits on your land, regardless of size, use varying plant cover to create multi layer habitat, favoring native trees and shrubs with high wildlife values," said John Walkowiak, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources forestry bureau. "Look for seed, berry and fruit producing plants; conifers or evergreens that provide an important source of winter cover for wildlife; and establish living fence rows of trees, shrubs or vines to provide food, cover and travel lanes for wildlife."

The State Forest Nursery, in Ames, provides specialty wildlife packets of native tree and shrub seedlings for private land plantings. "The State Forest Nursery worked with DNR wildlife biologists and other groups, like Pheasants Forever, and the National Wild Turkey Federation, to design special wildlife packets," Walkowiak said. There are three wildlife packets containing 200 native tree and shrub seedlings each that cover ¼ to 1 acre of land, designed to meet the basic requirements of Iowa wildlife. The Pheasant Packet, Quail Packet, and Wild Turkey Packet each sell for $90.

New this year is a "Create-Your-Own" packet that allows the individual to select up to four different tree or shrub species for $90. Each species comes in packages of 50.

For individuals with a large backyard, there is a 20 tree and shrub Songbird packet containing oak, pine, plum, chokecherry, dogwood and serviceberry designed in cooperation with Iowa Audubon that sells for $20.

These plants are available for home delivery at a cost of $5 per 100 plants. For more information or to order conservation trees and shrubs from the State Forest Nursery call 1-800-865-2477 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or on line at www.iowatreeplanting.com. The State Forest Nursery accepts personal checks, VISA or Master Card. Trees and shrubs will be available for shipping from early April until May 31.

For more information, contact Walkowiak at 515-242-5966.

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