Equipment available for landowners to improve wildlife habitat

            The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation may be able to help landowners wanting to improve wildlife habitat on their property this winter. The Department has two tree spades and one roller chopper that are available to landowners for wildlife habitat enhancement projects. The equipment is accessible for a small rental fee used for annual maintenance costs.

            “This is the perfect time of year to use both pieces of equipment,” said Mike Sams, private lands senior biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “Taking the time to improve wildlife habitat now will pay dividends for years to come.”

            The tree spade, used for transplanting trees and shrubs, can be used on riparian habitat projects and to establish turkey roost sites as well as shrub thickets for quail and small game. Much faster than hand-planting individual tree seedlings, the tree spade is ideal for moving shrubs like sand plum or sumac and trees up to four inches in diameter. The preferred time for transplanting is during winter months when shrubs and trees are dormant. Landowners renting this equipment will be provided an operator to run the machine. The tree spades can be reserved for dates between December 15 and March 1 annually.  The cost is $100 per day.

            Roller choppers are large drums with a series of mounted blades.  Pulled behind a tractor, they chop and crush brush, small trees, and heavy plant growth. They also disturb the soil and allow sunlight and rain to reach the surface and encourage growth of more desirable plants. Roller choppers can be used to set back rangeland succession and reduce the canopy of brush structure. A wide range of wildlife, including quail, deer and turkeys, can benefit from this practice. Landowners wanting to rent the roller chopper must have access to a tractor with at least 80 hp to pull the machine as well as provide transportation for the machine. An operator is not provided with the roller chopper rental, but the equipment is simple to operate. The roller chopper rents for $50 per day.

            The equipment is located at the Wildlife Department’s Northwest Regional Office in Woodward. Landowners interested in using this equipment and who would like additional information should contact that office at (580) 254-9173.

-30-