WHAT: Early successional habitat creation and enhancement
WHERE: DeSoto National Forest and Leaf River WMA; 1 hour (south) from Hattiesburg, MS. Exact location will be provided.
WHEN: Saturday, September 23, Time TBD
WHY: Early Seral Habitat Creation, Improving Natural Forage and Brood Cover, Increase Biodiversity
Leaf River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is nearly 42,000 acres in size and is found in Perry County, just outside of Wiggins, MS. Located entirely within DeSoto National Forest but managed by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP), this property is uniquely overseen by both state and federal agencies and serves as an incredibly popular recreational and hunting opportunity for residents and non-residents alike.
We will start the event with U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and MDWFP staff providing background info on the WMA, including describing the history of the parcel, providing an overview of public use and projects currently going on within its boundaries. Mark Kenyon with MeatEater, and NDA’s Matt Ross, Ben Westfall, and Sean Hendley will all be on hand as well. Following a safety debriefing, volunteers will be given instructions on the habitat improvement activities they will embark on that day. Because the property is mostly composed of upland pine habitat, it’s a priority for WMA managers to setback/restore plant succession in certain areas to develop a more biologically diverse ecosystem (and we need your help to maximize impact).
The day will end with a social, so bring a good attitude, some protection from chiggers/ticks, some sweat to shed and an appetite! We will communicate via email with everyone that registers a few weeks before the event with important details of where to meet, what to bring and more.
If you have questions about this event or run into any issues getting registered, please contact our Director of Conservation, Matt Ross.