A critical task in creating a comprehensive open space plan in Brunswick is the incorporation of wildlife management issues. Very basic questions of values and priorities are raised and must be addressed. The issues raised include tangible ones, such as patterns of development and outdoor recreation, preservation of wetlands, size and arrangement of blocks of undeveloped land, and intangible ones, such as the importance of bird watching, casual glimpses of wildlife and the satisfaction of knowing that a rich diversity of animals has been protected and is thriving here. Given the intricate links in an ecosystem between different species, any definition of wildlife has to include the full range from small invertebrates to the largest mammals and birds.
Wildlife habitat is more than just a simple range area of so many acres.
Shelter means special areas for animals to rest and to breed, for example, deeryards in winter. Less obvious is wildlife's need for privacy. All species require specific distances from human disturbance for such activities as feeding, breeding and raising young. Some, such as ravens, need large tracts of undisturbed forest. Others, such as gray squirrels, can live in suburban backyards.