The biggest overall problem for wildlife is the fragmentation – breaking up into smaller pieces – of the remaining woodlots. Some animals are not able to move safely from one woodlot to another because of the interruption of travel corridors. Small mammals often have to relocate due to changes in predators of food sources. The distance between woodlots and the openings cut into woodlots become barriers to travel for these small mammals. Loss of individuals and populations can occur when the animals cannot move into better habitat as needed. Man-made barriers can also have a negative effect. Pavement, fences, culvert crossings and the like can be barriers that prevent natural movements of wildlife.

The best documented wildlife problem due to continued forest fragmentation is the decline of forest interior nesting birds. Many species of warblers, flycatchers, tanagers, and thrushes nest near interior forest edges. As the size of the remaining woodlots decline and human disturbance increases, these interior birds are forced to nest on exterior forest edges. This esposes the nests to brood parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds. A brown-headed cowbird does not build its own nest own nest. It will lay its egg in another bird’s nest, and leave the egg to be hatched by the other bird. The end result is the cow-bird egg hatches first, the young cowbird gets all the food, and the young of the original nest builder do not survive. Over time, obviously, cowbird populations increase and the number and variety of native forest-nesting birds declines. This is an extremely serious problem that is being studied intensively in North and Central America.

Other conflicts between wildlife and humans occur on forested home sites. People tend to clear out the understory vegetation. This practice removes food and cover for many species of birds and mammals. Shrubs, vines, and other plants may look unslightly to people, but it is habitat for much of the wildlife that lives in the forest.

Pets can be a serious problem for wildlife when homes are located in the woods. Not only do pets seriously disturb much wildlife, even well-fed domesticated pets kill wildlife.

Another problem for wildlife is the drainage of small forested wetlands. Most builders won’t locate a house on a drained wetland but the homeowner may not appreciate the wildlife benefits of a near by wetland (Biologist’s word) They may fear the nastiness of the dismal swamp. Seasonal and permanent types of forested wetlands were once common in Indiana and are more important now due to their scarcity. The variety of plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife associated with wetland habitats exceeds any other type in Indiana

Some animals adapt to the invasion of their habitat and do quite well around homes. Raccoons, opossums, skunks, groundhogs, and deer will enjoy the change in the environment and will live and thrive in the yard and garden of your wooded home. This can create conflicts with your landscaping and the use and enjoyment of the property.

Some creatures do not adapt at all to the disturbance of their habitat. Because of the level of disturbance humans have caused to the environment, these creatures tend to be less common species than the group in the previous paragraph. Most species of owls and hawks will not nest or live in the wooded area with a lot of human disturbance. Great blue herons, which nest in colonies in large trees, and not always near water, will abandon a traditional nesting site if frequently disturbed by people. Other smaller and less noticeable species react the same way.

The message to you, the person who has read this to the end, is to think about your negative impact on wildlife before you decide where to build your new house.