Wildlife

All Wildlife Content

black cow drinking from a nearly empty stock pond.

Feed & Water Testing Laboratories

A partial listing of available feed testing laboratories.

A group of white tail deer in a snowy clearing.

Give the Gift of Conservation This Christmas

The SDSU Natural Resources Management Department and SDSU Extension would like to wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and remind everyone that if you are shopping for a late holiday gift, consider giving the gift of conservation to yourself or someone else.

Wildlife and the Bottom Line

As the fall harvest wraps up and this year’s calf crop is weaned, many producers may be nervous about what their paychecks will look like for 2016. In tough market conditions, it can be tempting to try to squeeze just a bit more production out of the land.

A green front-end-loader pulling a hay mower with a flushing bar.

Haying With Wildlife in Mind

Anyone who has spent time cutting hay knows that hayland can be a magnet for wildlife in late spring and early summer. Hay fields are often considered an “ecological trap” for wildlife; that is, they appear to be high quality habitat for nesting or feeding due to tall, dense grass and legumes, but often lead to increased mortality once harvesting is under way.

a black tailed prairie dog resting on a mount

Prairie Dog Management in South Dakota

Fact sheet for the management of prairie dogs in South Dakota

Color-coded map of the James River Watershed CREP program contacts featuring Pheasants Forever Habitat advisors for a number of South Dakota counties. For assistance in locating a contact, call SDSU Extension at 605-688-6729.

The South Dakota Habitat Stamp

In 2020, the South Dakota Legislature approved the South Dakota Habitat Stamp as a way to generate revenue for the development of wildlife habitat on public land and waters, or to provide public access to private land.

a tractor driving in a field next to a pond

South Dakota Grassland Management School Workshops Set For July 27, 28

July 15, 2021

The 2021 Grassland Management School workshops will be held at the Eck Restoration Project north of Henry, South Dakota on the shores of Warner Lake.

Marker indicating the boundary of conservation easement area.

Understanding Conservation Easements

Conservation easements are a common, yet often misunderstood, real estate transaction tool. This article is intended to provide factual information regarding the rules and regulations that govern the use of conservation easements in South Dakota.

Herd of cattle swath grazing hay in a winter pasture.

Swath/Bale Grazing

Swath grazing and bale grazing are harvest systems that mesh haying and grazing techniques. Generally, the objective is to reduce labor and equipment expenses by allowing livestock to consume the hay crop in the field.

Producer holding a clump of healthy, plant-rich soil.

Fertilizing Grasslands

Grassland fertilization, like many other grassland management topics, is highly dependent on certain parameters, such as soil type, vegetation type and harvest methods.