WILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVE PROGRAM (WHIP) PRACTICES TO BE TESTED AT
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY'S PEE DEE RESEARCH & EDUCATION CENTER

1. Prescribed burning for wildlife habitat
This improves wildlife habitat by removing undergrowth and opening up
the forest to provide natural food and cover for deer, doves, quail,
turkeys and songbirds. Burning must be conducted under the supervision
of a certified prescribed fire manager and should be managed with
consideration for wildlife nesting, feeding and cover.

2. Field borders as wildlife habitat
This is a strip of native vegetation that is planted along the edges of
crop fields to provide food and cover for quail, rabbits, doves and
turkeys. Recommended native plants include reseeding annuals such as
partridge pea, Kobe or Korean lespedeza. To control erosion before the
native plants are established, temporary cover crops or native
perennials may be planted. Temporary cover crops include millet, rye,
oats and wheat. Native perennials include warm season grasses such as
switchgrass, Indiangrass, little bluestem grass, eastern gamma grass
and coastal panic grass.

3. Filter strips as wildlife habitat
This is a 15-foot or wider strip of native vegetation, such as
partridge pea or Kobe lespedeza, that is planted along the banks of
streams, ponds or wetlands to remove sediment and other pollutants from
runoff and waste water coming off agricultural fields. The strip also
provides nesting and brood habitat for quail and songbirds, as well as
food for quail, rabbits, doves and turkeys.

4. Forest openings for wildlife habitat
These are areas within a stand of timber that are opened by thinning
the forest and then planted with re-seeding annuals such as millet or
grain sorghum or allowed to grow native vegetation such as seed-bearing
grasses. This provides nesting and brood habitat for quail, turkeys and
other ground-nesting birds, and provides food and cover for rabbits,
deer, quail and turkeys.

5. Forest stand improvement for wildlife
This means thinning a forest to remove unwanted trees from an area. It
improves the timber stand, opens up the canopy so more sunlight can
reach the ground, and improves the ground level plant diversity for
wildlife habitat. Trees that should be kept or planted include dogwood,
redbud, black cherry, wild plum, red maple, mulberry, holly, black
locust, oaks, hickories, elms, beech, blackgum, crabapple and persimmon
because they provide food for birds, deer and other wildlife. Dead
snags or cavity trees may be left for song birds and other species.

6. Hedgerow plantings as wildlife habitat
A hedgerow is a strip of natural woody and herbaceous plants that
provide wildlife with food and cover and reduce soil erosion by wind.
Hedgerows provide food and cover for quail, rabbits and songbirds and
create travel corridors for wildlife. Recommended trees and shrubs
include wild cherry, persimmon, dogwood, red cedar, American
elderberry, sassafras, wild plum, muscadine grape, crabapple, wax
myrtle, oaks and other hardwoods.

7. Native warm season grass establishment as wildlife habitat
These provide habitat diversity for game and non-game wildlife species,
as well as for ground-nesting birds. Weeds must be controlled by mowing
or spraying. Mixtures of several grass species are recommended,
including switchgrass, Indiangrass, little bluestem grass, eastern
gamma grass and coastal panic grass.

8. Riparian forest buffers as wildlife habitat
A riparian forest buffer is an area of trees and shrubs adjacent to
streams, lakes, ponds and wetlands that decreases the amount of surface
run-off and chemicals entering the water system and provides food and
cover for wildlife. A strip from 15 to 100 feet wide, or 30 percent of
the flood plain, is recommended. This can be supplemented with a strip
of native grasses or legumes between the trees and agricultural fields.
Recommended trees include water oak, willow oak and laurel oak. This
provides natural food and cover and creates travel corridors for
wildlife, as well as improves water quality.