A collaborative approach for adaptive management of imperiled young forest dependent wildlife in Massachusetts

The focus of this project is to implement and assess newly developed recommendations for managing modern young forest systems for young forest dependent wildlife. Management of these forests for faces multiple, often competing challenges such as invasive shrubs, overbrowse by white-tailed deer, and suitability for target species, while their large-scale implementation is hindered by the amount of privately owned land in the Northeast, and land-owner willingness to engage in management activities. One of the largest conservation targets in this region is the New England cottontail, whose response to young forest management is limited by the use of these forests by non-native eastern cottontails, which are now present throughout most of their range. A great deal of resources have gone into creation of early successional forest for New England cottontails via clearcuts, but our studies in New York demonstrated that such approaches encourage use by eastern cottontails, and are detrimental to New England cottontails if eastern cottontails or invasive shrubs are present. Restoration of mid-successional shrublands via canopy thinning and leaving downed tree crowns on the ground have shown promise in benefitting New England cottontails but discouraging eastern cottontails.