Wildlife researchers have debated the merits of providing supplemental winter feed to quail for many years. The prevailing thinking has been that supplementation does little to improve quail nesting. A new study out of Florida sheds a different light on that, as reported this week by wildlife specialist Charlie Lee of K-State, who stresses that habitat is still the number-one determinant of quail nesting success.

There’s no question that coyotes prey on upland game birds like quail and wild turkey. That often comes in the form of nest predation. So it would seem sensible to think that by reducing coyote numbers, game bird nesting success would improve as a direct result. The research doesn’t exactly support that notion, however, as reported this week by K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee.

Though they will occasionally cause damage to wood-sided buildings, woodpeckers do consume massive amounts of insect pests…which may lead one to try attracting woodpeckers to the home setting. These birds need woody habitat for the long term, says K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee. But in the short term, there are ways of drawing them into the back yard or other settings, which he covers this week.

Prolonged snow cover can keep bobwhite quail from getting to the food resources they need to get through the winter. If a covey of quail was able to build up its nutritional reserves prior to the winter cold, and was able to find adequate long-term shelter, survival may be possible, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee. He has more specifics on the winter food consumption of quail on this week’s program.

By the latest estimates, there are literally millions of feral cats roaming the United States.  These free-ranging cats, born in the wild and undomesticated, prey on other wildlife populations, sometimes leading to detrimental results.  This week, K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee talks about public perceptions of the problem and what to do about it.

Chronic wasting disease is taking a significant toll on deer and elk populations, particularly in the western half of the country. While many aspects of this disease are still unknown, a new discovery sheds light on how it spreads amongst deer. K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee reports on this finding, reminding that C-W-D remains non-threatening to people.

Some invasive rangeland weeds need to be controlled, acknowledges K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee. On the other hand, blanket treatment of pasture weeds doesn’t really pay off in eventual cattle productivity…and it harms vital habitat for a number of wildlife species. This week, Charlie talks about what a new research publication has to say on the subject.

Good rangeland management and wildlife habitat preservation can be compatible, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee, if the landowner strikes a balance between the two objectives. This week, he discusses this topic within the context of wildlife management as perceived by a noted legendary conservationist.

Many people provide supplemental feed to deer and other wildlife during the frigid winter weather. Few people realize, however, that native oak trees are a very important source of nutrition for many species. That should be considered when it comes to wildlife habitat management, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee.

Trapping is a proven method of controlling some kinds of nuisance wildlife. But it works only if an appropriate lure or bait is used, according to K-State wildlife specialist Charlie Lee. This week, he talks about the two general categories of lures and baits, each of which can be effective in drawing the damaging animal in.