Written by: Pierce Young

Creating and maintaining quality wildlife habitat is essential for sustaining healthy populations of deer, turkeys, quail, and other native species. But not all land is created equal, and even properties that appear “wild” can harbor hidden problems that limit wildlife success. Recognizing red flags in your habitat early allows you to take corrective action before the damage becomes costly or irreversible. Here’s what to look for.

Limited Food Sources

Wildlife can’t thrive on a single type of plant or an empty landscape. Most wildlife species have very diverse diets that change with the seasons.

Look for these warning signs:

  • Sparse natural vegetation – Large areas in the understory without vegetation, overbrowsed vegetation, monocultures of the same type of vegetation, shaded areas with closed canopy trees
  • Low mast production – Nut and fruit producing trees can be important for deer and turkeys at certain times.
  • Few preferred forage plants – Invasive species often outcompete native forage, leaving wildlife with less nutritious or unsuitable food.

Solutions:

  • Put sunlight on the ground by removing overstory or midstory canopy trees (Commercial Timber Harvest or Non-commercial TSI)
  • Reduce deer populations to provide a surplus of the best forage
  • Remove invasive plants with herbicide treatments
  • Use diverse rotations of disturbance such as prescribed fire or field disking
  • Supplement with year-round food plots (summer annuals, winter annuals, and perennials)

Poor Cover

Cover is essential for wildlife to hide from predators, rest, and rear young. 

Warning signs include:

  • Homogeneous forests – Dense timber can be poor habitat if it lacks understory diversity.
  • Missing woody shrubs and vines – Areas of low herbaceous plants or grasses may provide other good resources for wildlife, but a lack of later-stage early-successional brush limits places to hide fawns or nests or long periods of time.
  • Flooded or compacted areas – Poor drainage and soil compaction can eliminate ground cover and nesting areas.

Solution: Allow early-successional areas to grow long enough to provide woody shrubs and vines, but manage it before small trees become too large.

Signs of Overpopulation

Habitat quality directly impacts wildlife health. 

Look for:

  • Overbrowsed vegetation – When most preferred deer shrubs excessively eaten, or non-preferred plants are starting to be used as forage, carrying capacity has been exceeded (view our browsing evaluation guide at this link)
  • Stunted or unhealthy animals – Smaller than average body size and low fawn survival are other indicators that nutrition is lacking.
  • High parasite loads or disease – Crowded or poorly managed areas can contribute to disease outbreaks.

Solution: Adjust harvest or population management, supplement food strategically during lean seasons, and diversify habitats to reduce crowding.

Lack of Habitat Diversity

Wildlife requires a mixture of forest, field, edge, and wetland areas. 

Red flags include:

  • Large, uniform landscapes – Extensive single-use fields or pure pine stands provide limited resources.
  • Missing successional stages – Thickets, mature trees, and open fields should all be present in a functioning ecosystem.

Solution: Promote a mosaic of habitats, retain small patches of early successional plants, and maintan rotations of disturbance.

Invasive Species and Pests

Exotic plants and animals can disrupt natural systems. 

Watch for:

  • Aggressive plant invasions – Kudzu, privet, or cogongrass reduce native plant diversity.
  • Non-native animal competitors – Feral hogs can outcompete large herbivores and destroy nests.
  • Uncontrolled pests – Insects or diseases may target mast trees or understory vegetation.

Solution: Develop an invasive species management plan, monitor populations regularly, and remove problem species promptly.

Soil Problems

Soil health underpins both plant growth and wildlife nutrition. 

Watch for:

  • Compacted or eroded soils – Bare soil or ruts reduce plant establishment.
  • Imbalanced soil nutrients – Poor fertility can lead to weak forage, low mast production, and slow recovery of native plants.
  • Acidic or alkaline conditions – pH extremes limit the types of plants that can grow and thrive.

Solution: Conduct soil tests, apply lime or fertilizer as needed, and minimize heavy equipment use in sensitive areas.

Conclusion

Identifying red flags in your wildlife habitat is the first step toward improvement. Poor habitat doesn’t just reduce wildlife numbers—it can also compromise the quality of hunting, viewing, and conservation outcomes. By assessing your property for food, cover, water, soil health, diversity, and invasive threats, you can make informed decisions that enhance wildlife populations and create a thriving, resilient ecosystem.

Remember: Habitat management is an ongoing process. Regular monitoring, seasonal adjustments, and proactive interventions ensure your land supports healthy wildlife for years to come.

To have a professional wildlife biologist evaluate your property for red flags visit:

www.mdwfp.com/privatelands

For more wildlife management information visit:

www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-management-info