TECHNICAL NOTES

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE

NEW MEXICO May, 2005

**BIOLOGY TECHNICAL NOTE NO. 52**

**WILDLIFE HABITAT APPRAISAL GUIDES FOR PASTURE IN NEW MEXICO**

Wildlife Habitat Appraisal Guides (WHAG) provide the NRCS planner with a
relatively simple and objective procedure for determining the value of
wildlife habitat on any conservation treatment unit (CTU), which may
consist of one or more fields or even an entire farm. The guides can be
used on land where wildlife is a primary resource concern, or on land
(such as farmland) where wildlife is a secondary resource concern. They
can be used to evaluate habitat on planning units for rangeland,
farmland, forest and woodland, or conservation planning units for
wildlife. Planning unit boundaries for wildlife may coincide with those
delineated for rangeland, farmland, or forest and woodland;
[or]{.underline} a wildlife planning unit may be delineated that
includes two or more land uses or land types. Rate the CTU for the
dominant land use.

There is no minimum size for land to be appraised as wildlife habitat.
However, tracts of 1 to 20 acres may be limited as habitat by their size
alone.

1.  All land and waters provide habitat for wildlife.

2.  The quality of habitat is variable depending on the quality,
    quantity, and interspersion of food, cover, water, and space.

3.  Habitat elements can be measured and compared to optional
    conditions. Elements were selected to provide a measure of habitat
    diversity.

4.  Wildlife populations are proportional to the quality and quantity of
    habitat available. A 400-acre planning unit may have potential to
    provide more diverse habitat and thus a greater variety of wildlife
    than does a 40-acre unit. Wildlife use of an area is dependent on
    the variety of habitats it supports and the area's size.

These Guides can be used to determine if a CTU meets the minimum quality
criteria found in Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) Section III,
Wildlife in a Resource Management System (RMS). Conservation practices
and management measures can be identified to meet the minimum RMS
standard, or to meet higher habitat quality objectives of the

The WHAG utilizes a numerical rating to compare the value of existing
wildlife habitat with the value of wildlife habitat under various
alternatives. The Guides have been developed to consider the needs of a
[variety of species]{.underline} using a particular land-use/cover type,
a goal commonly referred to as management for species richness. They
were [not]{.underline} developed to evaluate the habitat quality for
selected or featured species. The Guides may not reflect complete
habitat needs or home range requirements for any particular wildlife
species. They are intended to evaluate habitat richness or diversity of
the planning unit. A planning unit that exhibits high habitat diversity
is likely to have equally diverse fauna. The farmland habitat guide, for
instance, evaluates habitat for a particular species, a species-specific
habitat model may be used. To date, a limited number of species-specific
habitat models have been developed. If you have need for a specific
model, contact the State Biologist.

**[Instructions for Using the Wildlife Habitat Appraisal
Guides]{.underline}**

1.  Determine the landowner or land user's objectives regarding his/her
    overall conservation program, interest in wildlife, and the specific
    conservation practices desired. Does the landowner wish to increase
    wildlife populations or maintain at present levels?

2.  Based on your or the land user's knowledge of the planning area,
    identify the wildlife species present on the area and their seasons
    of use. Are threatened or endangered species present, or other
    species that require special attention? Be sure to consult with New
    Mexico Department of Game and Fish and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
    Service biologists who are familiar with the planning area. The
    Natural Heritage New Mexico website has a list of species of special
    concern <http://redtail.unm.edu/>

3.  Delineate the conservation treatment unit to be evaluated on an
    aerial photo or other suitable planning map. Wildlife planning units
    should be delineated by the appropriate habitat-farmland, rangeland,
    forest and woodland-after considering the types of habitat that
    occur on the farm, ranch, or CTU. Large or complex units may require
    the use of more than one guide to evaluate wildlife habitat
    suitability.

4.  Refer to soil survey reports or Certified Soil Survey Data (eFOTG)
    for soil/wildlife interpretations for the soils you are dealing
    with. Where soil surveys have not been conducted, use best available
    information for the establishment of plants for wildlife.

5.  Rating habitat quality and quantity is best done in the field with
    the landowner. Visit enough of the planning area to accurately
    evaluate habitat conditions. Keep in mind that these are guides!
    When encountering situations not specifically covered, use judgment
    to rate such elements. These Guides can be completed while
    collecting other resource information, such as range condition,
    woodland site index or USLE data. Rate only factors which are
    applicable on the CTU. For example, when rating farmland, if no
    wetlands are present, do not rate this factor. Do not assign a value
    of zero if a factor is not present unless the WHAG specifically
    assigns a value of zero to that factor. Be sure to adjust the number
    of factors inventoried when calculating the habitat value if no
    rating is given to one or more factors.

6.  After total habitat values have been determined, look back through
    individual scores to find those factors that are deficient and could
    be improved. Any habitat element(s) that scores less than 0.5 is
    considered as a limiting factor. Habitat improvement efforts should
    be directed to overcome such limitations. Compare those deficient
    factors with the soils interpretation. For example, if on a cropland
    planning unit, a score of 0 or 0.4 for woody vegetation is
    indicated, refer to the Certified Soil Survey Data to find the
    potential for growing shrubs, hardwoods, and conifers.

7.  Calculating the Habitat Value:

> Total the scores for the factors rated and divide this total by the
> [number of factors rated]{.underline}, not the total number of
> factors.
>
> For example, when rating farmland, if no wetlands are present, do not
> rate that factor and reduce the number of factors by one.

HABITAT VALUE: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Number of Factors Rated

8.  With the landowner, develop alternatives for improving deficient
    factors. A conservation cropping system may improve farmland habitat
    quality. A small clear cut of merchantable timber may be used to
    create a forest opening. A planned grazing system will not only
    improve the score for that factor, but may in time lead to improved
    range condition. A stock pond will provide drinking water for
    wildlife as well as livestock. Shelterbelts may off-set the lack of
    trees and shrubs.

> For further planning guidance, refer to the New Mexico Biology Tech
> Notes and Section IV for the Field Office Technical Guide practice
> 6745 Wildlife Upland Habitat Management, and 644 Wildlife Wetland
> Habitat Management.

Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guide

Permanent Pasture/Hayland Habitat

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  Field No.[     ]{.underline}

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**1. Landowner objectives:**

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**2. Wildlife commonly found on this conservation treatment unit:**

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**3. Soils potential for pasture/hayland habitat elements:**

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**4.Habitat Inventory RATING**

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  a\. Pasture/Hayland Quantity and Quality a.[     ]{.underline}

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**Percent of CTU in Pasture/Hayland**

30-59% = 0.8-1.0

15-29% or 60-89% = 0.5-0.7

1-14% or 90-100% = 0.3-0.4

Deduct 0.3 points for any late fall or spring (prior to July 1) mowing.

Deduct 0.5 points for unmanaged or heavy grazing, frequent burning or

other destruction of vegetation.

Deduct 0.3 points for heavy use of herbicides and/or insecticides.

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  b\. Cropland Quantity and Quality b.[     ]{.underline}

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**Percent of CTU in cropland**

20-40% =0.8- 1.0

10-19% or 41-50% = 0.5-0.7

\<10% = 0.3-0.4

> Deduct 0.3 for fall tillage, burning, heavy grazing, herbicide use, or
> other
>
> destruction of crop residues.
>
> Use the cropland WHEG is cropland on the farm exceeds 50% of the area.

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  c\. Herbaceous Vegetation other than Pasture/Hay crop.
  c.[     ]{.underline}

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**Percent of CTU with mix of grass-legume vegetation other than pasture
or hay crop. (examples include grasses and forbs in corners and odd
areas, minor range land inclusions.)** :

46-100% = 0.8-1.0

20-45% = 0.4-0.7

1-19% =0.1- 0.3

Deduct 0.3 points for moderate grazing or herbicide use.

Deduct 0.5 points for heavy grazing, burning, herbicide application,
etc.

> Add 0.3 points if tall (\<18\") vegetation in field border or strips
> and vegetation provides winter cover (remains standing in snow) or
> spring nesting cover.

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  d\. Woody Vegetation Quantity and Quality d. [     ]{.underline}

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**Percent of area with woody vegetation:**

30%-59% =0.8-1.0

15-29% or 60-95% = 0.4-0.7

1-14% or 96-100% =0.1- 0.3

Deduct 0.3 points for moderate grazing

Deduct 0.5 points for heavy grazing, burning, herbicide application,
etc.

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  e\. Interspersion of Vegetation Types e.[     ]{.underline}

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Average distance between vegetation types \<200\' =0.8-1.0

Average distance between vegetation types from 200\'-800\' = 0.4-.07

Average distance between vegetation types \>800\' =0.1- 0.3

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  f\. Human Disturbance f.[     ]{.underline}

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Infrequently used private roads, 0 occupied dwellings in CTU,

> urban development at least 1 mile away = 1.0

Frequently used private roads, 1 occupied dwelling per CTU,

> within 1/2 mile of urban development = 0.5

CTU \< 40 acres, contains 2 or more occupied dwellings or

> frequently used roads, within 1/4 mile of urban development. = 0.

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  g\. Wildlife Drinking Water g.[     ]{.underline}

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If perennial drinking water is present, or developed to raise habitat
value,

> rate as follows:

Average distance to water from any point on CTU \<0.5 mile = 1.0

Average distance to water from any point on CTU from

> 0.5 -- 1.0 mile = 0.5

Average distance to water from any point on CTU from

> \> 1.0-2.0 mile = 0.3
>
> Deduct 0.3 points for any grazing, cultivation, burning, pesticide use
> within
>
> 50 feet of drinking water source.

**5.** Habitat Value

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Habitat Value = [Total Rating]{.underline} =[     ]{.underline}       |
|                                                                       |
| No. of inventory factors rated                                        |
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**6.** Habitat elements needing improvement and the soil potential for
those elements.

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**7.** Alternatives for improving deficient habitat elements:

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