FDL State Forest Wildlife Openings

This proposal is for maintaining existing wildlife openings in the Fond du Lac State Forest. There are 54 wildlife openings totaling 112 acres that need to be mowed or sheared. These openings were last mowed in either 2000 or 2002 so many of them have become very brushy or even have turned into young forests. Wildlife openings are maintained in an early successional state and offer browse and forage for deer and tend to be fairly rich in berry producing shrubs. Bear, turkeys, woodcock, and some songbirds also make frequent use of openings. Maintaining these openings will likely involve heavy duty mowing equipment or shearing with a dozer in the winter.