The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is conducting a habitat project on 60 acres of the Mount Ayr Wildlife Area, primarily on the wooded ditches on the south side west of the old shop, and on the north side directly north of Walnut Creek Marsh.
The project focuses on removing less desirable species like eastern red cedar, green ash, and shingle oak, to benefit the bur, white, and black oaks. The large tracts of oak hickory woodlands will continue to be managed as oak hickory woodland according to the Mount Ayr Wildlife Area forest stewardship plan.
“This project will drastically change the look of the wildlife area,” said Josh Rusk with the Iowa DNR.
When the state obtained these areas in the 1940s, these portions were virtually treeless. But in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, trees gradually increased in the drainages. The trees on the north project will eventually be piled and burned with the objective of restoring that area to grassland. The trees on the south project will be left where they fall in the short term with the objective of providing brushy cover for species like cottontail rabbit, bobwhite quail, loggerhead shrike, indigo bunting and many more.
Rusk said they plan to follow up the tree cutting on the south section with prescribed fire and drone spraying, if needed, to kill the invasive bush honeysuckle. In the long run some of these trees may eventually be piled.