Farm Habitat
Rural landowners receive on site habitat technical assistance to improve land management practices for a wide variety of upland wildlife species. Technical assistance includes recommendations for wildlife plantings and maintenance of existing habitats. Landowners will receive a written habitat management plan to follow.
Cost share programs to assist landowners in implementing habitat management vary considerably. Biologists can provide up-to-date information on the various programs currently available. Basic cost share information on conservation programs in Virginia is available at the Virginia Department of Forestry's web site as well as local USDA Service Centers and DGIF offices.
Numerous publications are available to guide landowners on how to manage various species and their habitats, including:
Species Management Information Sheets
- Managing for Nongame Birds
- Hawks
- Owls in Virginia
- Woodpeckers
- Bobwhite Quail Habitat Management
- Providing for Quail Broods
- What About Predators?
- Habitat Management for Rabbits in Virginia
- Attracting Mourning Doves to Your Property
- Eastern Wild Turkey Habitat Management
- Management of White-tailed Deer in Virginia
- Plantings to Attract Deer in Virginia
- Management of Cavity Nesting Species
- Ruffed Grouse Habitat Management
- Canada Goose Management
- Dabbling Duck Management
- Wood Duck Management
- The Coyote in Virginia [PDF]
- Sea Turtles in Virginia [PDF]
Habitat Management Information Sheets
- Disc and Burn Management
- Establishing Field Borders
- Key Habitat Areas
- Managing Pine Stands for Wildlife
- Thinning Timber for Wildlife
- Open Field Management for Wildlife
- Food Plots
- Creating Brush Piles
- Creating Herbaceous Woodland Openings to Improve Wildlife Habitat
- Beaver Pond Management
- Wildlife and Pesticides
- Upland Hardwood Management for Wildlife
Plant materials often recommended in Virginia for wildlife habitat plantings: