3 Preparing to identify significant wildlife habitat

3.1 Significant wildlife habitat

To ensure a comprehensive approach to identifying and evaluating significant wildlife habitat, wildlife habitat has been divided into four broad categories:

• seasonal concentration areas
• rare vegetation communities or specialised habitats for wildlife
• habitats of species of conservation concern, excluding the habitats of endangered and threatened species
• animal movement corridors

The task of identifying significant wildlife habitat will be facilitated if other natural heritage features listed in the Natural Heritage Policy are mapped first as outlined by the Natural Heritage Reference Manual (OMNR 1999) and the appropriate technical manuals. Many known, as well as unknown, wildlife habitats exist in these other reference areas. Significant wildlife habitat that is found in other natural heritage features is very important and should be identified. However, as a priority, surveys should concentrate on areas outside identified features. It will save time and be more efficient to concentrate on areas not included in other natural heritage features and areas. This approach can also enhance natural heritage conservation if the planning authority concentrates its efforts to find and protect significant wildlife habitats outside the boundaries of the other identified natural heritage features and areas.

However, significant wildlife habitat in other natural heritage areas should not be ignored. These areas may receive development pressure, and it is essential that proponents conducting impact assessments understand their functions and identify potential impacts on significant wildlife habitat.

3.2 Available information

There are several sources of information that will help planning authorities identify significant wildlife habitats. Table 3-1 summarises the most useful information and its specific application to identifying wildlife habitat. Most of the listed information can be obtained from local OMNR offices. A list of agencies and their respective areas of expertise has been comprised in Appendix F.

The most recent aerial photographs used with topographical maps and Ontario base maps (OBMs) will enable the planning authority to determine the precise location of previously mapped significant natural heritage features such as provincially significant wetlands and ANSIs, as well as identify some potential habitats. Interpretation of Forest Resource Inventory (FRI) maps, used with aerial photographs, may help locate potentially rare or specialised communities. Most OMNR work centres have land tenure maps showing lots and concessions; crown land, agreement forests, and provincial wildlife areas; private property; and property owned by conservation authorities and other agencies.

OMNR wetland evaluations are located at OMNR offices. Although class 4 to 7 wetlands are not provincially significant, their evaluations should still be examined for information about significant wildlife habitats, including rare or specialised habitat such as bogs and fens; important seasonal concentration areas for white-tailed deer and waterfowl; and colonial bird sites such as heronries and black tern colonies.

Table 3-1. Information sources that will assist in identification of significant wildlife habitat.

ANSI site district and inventory reports provide excellent summaries of ecologically significant sites. They identify sites that support rare species, species of conservation concern, and areas with high species and community diversity. Frequently a list of other potentially significant sites (in addition to those identified as ANSIs) is listed at the back of the document. They also identify the best known remaining examples of the full range of landform-vegetation associations. These reports were created with the objective of assuring full representation of the biodiversity and natural landscapes for the site district and province. ANSI Site District and inventory reports provide readers with a general understanding of the full spectrum of biological communities that have been identified in the district and why they are important. Of particular interest are candidate ANSIs and ANSIs considered provincially or regionally significant.

Descriptions of the habitats of species of conservation concern are listed in the habitat matrices found in Appendix G. This list can help the planning authority identify species that are likely to occur in its jurisdiction and to identify potentially significant habitats for them. The planning authority may wish to compile/establish its own list of species of conservation concern, based on more specific knowledge of wildlife and wildlife habitat within its jurisdiction and on criteria that better meet the planning authority’s needs.

3.3 Other information

Interest in conservation biology has grown rapidly during the past 10 years. A result of this has been an increase in the number of publications about developing Natural Heritage Systems, and how to protect regional biodiversity and important natural areas. The following reports provide information about how to protect biodiversity, and identify and evaluate natural areas and features, including wildlife habitat.

The natural heritage of southern Ontario’s settled landscapes (Riley and Mohr 1994)

• focus is on the southern Ontario landscape
• provides a good summary of the ecological concepts of conservation biology and reviews some of the most cited conservation biology literature
• discusses core natural areas, corridors, woodland ecosystems etc. discusses the formation of Natural Heritage Systems.

Saving nature’s legacy (Noss and Cooperrider 1994)

• one of the best and most comprehensive books about protecting and restoring native biodiversity
• provides numerous case studies of application of concepts of conservation biology
• many suggestions and recommendations for evaluation of natural areas, and building a Natural Heritage System

Natural Heritage Reference Manual (OMNR 1999)

• provides a summary of some of the most commonly discussed concepts of conservation biology
• based on an extensive review of the literature and written for the layman outlines the key concepts of Natural Heritage System planning
• provides recommendations about how to identify and evaluate natural heritage features and areas

Reports produced by consultants and government and non-government agencies can often provide useful information concerning areas with important wildlife habitat. Most of these studies and reports apply to the more densely populated areas of southern Ontario. Some reports have been done for conservation authorities, such as sub-watershed plans, and numerous inventories have been done as part of impact studies for development or utilities right-of-way studies. Contact the ecologist at the local OMNR office to help to locate existing reports and studies that have been conducted in the municipality. Reports may also be found at the offices of Ontario Power Generation, Ontario Hydro Services Company, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and local municipalities.

3.4 The conservation advisory committee

Local residents and experts can be a tremendous asset to planning authorities. Many of these people have a good knowledge of wildlife, natural heritage features, and ecologically important areas in their municipality. The planning authority can form a Conservation Advisory Committee (CAC) consisting of a voluntary panel of these people, and then involve them in environmental land-use planning. The involvement of such a group in natural heritage planning and decision-making processes can minimise and even eliminate the need for expensive inventories and still provide excellent results. It can assist in establishing lists of significant species and habitats. The use of a CAC may also lend credibility to the planning authority’s decisions by involving local residents in the planning decisions and fostering greater acceptance of the need for wildlife habitat protection through education and participation. Please refer to Appendix H for suggestions regarding the formation and operation of a CAC.

One of the most important roles of the CAC is to provide accurate information about specific wildlife habitats within the municipality. These may include animal movement corridors, seasonal concentration areas, rare vegetation communities or specialised habitats, and habitats of species of conservation concern. A CAC may be especially helpful in the development of criteria for determining species of conservation concern and the initial production of these lists for birds, reptiles, amphibians, mammals, vascular plants, and butterflies. Eventually lists for fish and certain other groups of invertebrates might be developed. Finally, if site investigations and habitat assessments are required, the CAC may provide input to the terms of reference for fieldwork. This could potentially save the municipality money by avoiding unnecessary work. In some cases, the CAC, in cooperation with the municipality, may organise field days to collect data on wildlife in specific habitats for which there is little information.

Listed below are some objectives that a CAC might adopt.

• develop criteria for determining local species of conservation concern
• develop criteria for determining the respective quality of wildlife habitats
• determine how much locally significant wildlife habitat should be protected
• determine how to best protect all identified significant wildlife habitat in the municipality
• collect, organise, and file information about flora, fauna, and natural heritage features and areas
• map all identified significant wildlife habitats
• organise and conduct field investigations to gather more site-specific information, update old wildlife habitat information, or find previously unknown habitats and rare species
• develop terms of reference for consultants to collect needed data
• maintain a list of important contacts e.g., experts, government personnel, local landowners and naturalists
• provide input toward decisions regarding conservation priorities for the municipality
• provide guidance for public education programs in the municipality
• assist with the review of development proposals to determine their potential impacts on significant wildlife habitats.

Perhaps the easiest way to find individuals who would like to become involved with such a committee is to speak with local naturalist club and/or fish and game club members. The OMNR may also know knowledgeable people who would be interested in working with the planning authority. Members of the local CAC need not necessarily live in the area, but they must be familiar with the flora and fauna in the municipality.

3.5 Finding potentially significant wildlife habitat

Some wildlife habitat has already been identified and its function is well known. Other potential wildlife habitats and their location may not be known. Some significant wildlife habitats are described in this guide even though very few of these sites have been identified and mapped. Often, this is because they are hard to find (turtle nesting sites, snake, and bat hibernacula). These habitats, however, have been included because they are often critical to the survival of local and even regional populations. When they are located, they should be protected. The information sources discussed in Sections 3.2 and 3.3 and Appendix I provide a starting point for identifying potentially significant wildlife habitats that have not previously been described. They may also be used to determine which sites should be verified because of outdated information. The planning authority should be prepared to maintain an open file for new natural heritage information and revise this information periodically.

Some potential wildlife habitats can be identified by using information such as maps and aerial photographs. Examples of such habitats include animal movement corridors; rare or specialised habitats such as fens, bogs and old growth forests; deer yards; and rare communities such as alvars and savannah and prairie remnants. However, field surveys may be required to confirm their habitat type.

Other wildlife habitats such as bat and reptile hibernacula, habitats of some rare species, and rare vegetation communities; and highly diverse sites are unlikely to be found using these sources alone. However, sometimes potential areas may be identified based on species habitat requirements. This can focus further investigations. In some cases, protection can be provided to sites with the most suitable habitat. For some of these habitats, the planning authority will have to rely more on people such as local experts and OMNR personnel. The CAC may also help to find these hard-to-find habitats.

This guide does not advocate that planning authorities conduct exhaustive searches within their jurisdiction to find “everything.” The methods suggested in this guide are intended to focus searches in the most likely sites at the right time of year. By including potentially significant habitats that have not been previously identified and mapped, future work may be conducted on the most likely sites. For example, there may be regular sightings of rare species in the planning area, but the location of critical components of their habitat may be unknown. Until these sites are found and protected either as significant wildlife habitat or part of a larger protected area, the long-term sustainability of these species is not assured.

Significant wildlife habitats do not occupy discrete, isolated parts of the landscape. Often different wildlife habitats, each with different boundaries, are found in the same natural area. Each provides important ecological functions that together give the area high value. For example, a large forest stand may provide forest-interior habitat for breeding birds. It may also provide denning habitat for martens, a woodland breeding pond for amphibians, and enough undisturbed area for wide-ranging carnivores such as fishers and wolves. Identifying the various significant wildlife habitats found at one site may determine the size and shape of the area to be protected. It would also assist in understanding the ecological functions of the site and implications of proposed activities in the area.

Sub-sections 3.5.1 and 3.5.2 describe a general process for finding potentially significant wildlife habitat in wetlands and woodlands. It involves compilation of background information, determination of essential information needed to find specific habitats, steps to take to find the habitat, and suggestions concerning related field work. This process is used in this guide to find previously unidentified wildlife habitat and to verify old information on existing sites.

3.5.1 Wetlands

For all habitats found in wetlands, the first step should be to check the OMNR wetland evaluations and ANSI site district report(s) that cover the municipality, as well as the habitat matrices (Appendix G). Potential significant wildlife habitat might include seasonal concentration areas of colonial birds, waterfowl nesting, or staging areas, or shorebird stopover areas; rare wetland communities such as fens; highly diverse sites; and areas supporting species of conservation concern.

The OMNR wetland evaluations and ANSI site district and inventory reports will document the presence of these habitats if they were observed during the inventory. There are usually more detailed site descriptions for OMNR evaluated wetlands that are also ANSIs. Often several significant wildlife habitats are described for these sites. Information contained in these reports may need to be verified depending on the date of the wetland evaluation or site district report.

The following example describes one way to use the above information to find potentially rare wetland vegetation communities, fens and bogs.

Background information

Bogs are nutrient-poor, acidic wetlands comprised mostly of peat-covered areas with a high water table. The vegetation consists predominantly of a surface carpet of mosses, chiefly Sphagnum species, ericaceous shrubs, and sedges. Black spruce is commonly found in many bogs. Tamarack may be present at a lower density and is usually confined to bog edges.

Fens are peatlands characterised by surface layers of poorly to moderately decomposed peat, often with well-decomposed peat near the base. Sedge species form the dominant vegetation of fens; mosses may be present or absent. Often there are many small and mid- sized shrubs and sometimes a sparse layer of trees, typically white cedar and tamarack. The water and peat are less acidic than in bogs and often relatively nutrient rich since they receive water through groundwater discharge.

Fens and bogs may be uncommon to very rare wetland communities in many parts of southern Ontario. Numerous fens are found on the Bruce Peninsula.

Information needed

• The OMNR wetland evaluations, note presence of fens and bogs and wetland maps that accompany the evaluations show the precise location of these communities.
• Ontario geological survey peat and peatland evaluation reports also describe and map these communities and are available from OMNR.
• ANSI site district and inventory reports often mention and discuss in some detail many important fens and bogs found in southern Ontario. Other fens may be found listed in the back of the reports.
• ANSI inventory reports note the presence of individual vegetation communities such as fens and bogs. The vegetation community map that accompanies the inventory shows the precise location of these communities and significant features.

How to find

• Ask the OMNR ecologist for locations of fens and bogs in the municipality. Local naturalists and residents may also know where some of these communities are. Many botanists are familiar with these wetlands because of the rare plant species often found in them.
• Locate previously identified fens and bogs by examining all OMNR wetland evaluations, checking the “type of wetland” section for a mark beside fen and bog types.
• Appendix J details a list of rare vegetation communities in southern Ontario.
• For all wetlands with identified fens and bogs, obtain the wetland maps to pinpoint precise location of these communities.
• Ask the OMNR ecologist to determine whether a peat and peatland evaluation was conducted by the Ontario geological survey, and if so, obtain reports and maps from the local OMNR office.
• Check the ANSI site district report(s) that cover the planning area and relevant ANSI inventory reports. Check the descriptions of every wetland, looking for references to fens and bogs. Also, check the list of sites that are not considered provincially or regionally significant ANSIs for mention of fens and bogs.

Field work

Sometimes fens and bogs have not been identified but are known to exist. Local naturalists may volunteer to help the planning authority find these communities. The OMNR ecologist can help confirm whether newly identified wetland communities are truly fens and bogs. Sometimes potential sites can be discovered on aerial photographs.

3.5.2 Woodlands

For significant wildlife habitats in wooded environments, the first step should be to contact the OMNR for advice. Use the FRI maps, ANSI site district report(s), Information sources (Appendix F) and habitat matrices (Appendix G) to develop a list of potentially significant wildlife habitats. Check the Significant Wildlife Habitat Decision Support System^{footnote 1a[1a]} to determine which significant wildlife habitats may occur in woodlands.

The following example describes one way to use the above information to find a specialised wildlife habitat: forested areas containing numerous cavity trees.

Information needed

• OMNR FRI maps provide information about size, composition and age of forest stands. Consider the date of the FRI. For example, if the FRI was based on 1978 aerial photography, a mapped forest stand of 60 years of age would be 82 years old in 2000.
• Interpretation of aerial photographs will indicate the largest, most contiguous forest stands of mature trees. For most of southern Ontario, aerial photographs are more recent than FRI maps (1991 vs. 1978) and consequently should be used to verify FRI map information.
• Habitat matrices (Appendix G) provide specific habitat descriptions for species that rely heavily on tree cavities. More detailed information on habitat requirements is provided in the Significant Wildlife Habitat Decision Support System.

How to find

• Ask OMNR foresters for locations of mature and overmature forests comprised of species such as basswood, beech, maple, and poplar. They may know of stands with a high concentration of cavities or sites containing concentrations of diseased and/or damaged trees that are likely to have more cavities.
• Examine the FRI maps and note the oldest forest stands and stands with composition consisting primarily of poplar, beech, basswood, and conifers; cavities are commonly found in these tree species.
• Use aerial photographs to locate largest, contiguous forests. Also, note the oldest, most mature forest cover because this can increase the likelihood of finding numerous cavity trees.

Field work

Both known and potentially significant forest stands should be checked for the presence of trees with suitable cavities of a wide range of sizes. In addition, forests with large amounts of fallen logs on the forest floor can have numerous cavity trees. The presence of pileated woodpeckers in a forest indicates cavity trees that may be used by wildlife.

Forests containing a large number of trembling aspen, largetooth aspen, and downed logs often attract woodpeckers that can excavate cavities.

Birds such as chickadee and nuthatch use small cavities. Barred owl and porcupine use larger cavities. In general, cavities in living trees are particularly valuable because they usually last longer than those in dead trees. Larger cavities may also be more valuable because they can be used by a greater variety of wildlife.

3.6 Mapping significant wildlife habitat

It is suggested that planning authorities first identify and map the other six component natural heritage features and areas described in Policy 2.3 of the Provincial Policy Statement and outlined in the Natural Heritage Reference Manual (OMNR 1999). This mapped information is an important component of a natural heritage conservation strategy because it provides a visual overview of the potential Natural Heritage System, and gaps in protection and information.

Mapping existing sites helps to identify unrepresented or under-represented features and habitats within the municipality. Potential links among local natural areas and other important sites, and animal movement corridors in the greater region are easier to see. It also facilitates initial evaluations of potentially significant sites by showing the relative size, location, shape, and degree of fragmentation of existing sites in the planning area.