Farmers and ranchers are well aware of their influence on the land and wildlife. Some agriculturists have made a conscious decision to manage their lands in a manner that will benefit wildlife. Some agriculturists do not specifically manage for wildlife, but still help meet the needs of wildlife through proper land management practices while operating their farm or ranch. Farmers and ranchers aid wildlife by providing adequate supplies of food, shelter, water and space. These factors are crucial to the survival of wildlife and need to be in the proper proportions and juxtaposition to insure healthy and stable wildlife populations.
Food is provided for many different forms of wildlife through agriculture.
This is one area where the public can easily visualize how agriculture assists wildlife. Grain crops provide food for geese, ducks, sandhill crane and pheasants. Alfalfa and pasture grasses are utilized by elk, deer, and rabbits as well as other species . Shelter is an important component of habitat that a great number of farmers and ranchers provide by protecting the later seral stages of plant succession. This is especially important in some of the Rocky Mountain states where winters are extreme and a lack of adequate shelter can lead to death by exposure.