Wildlife, like humans, have a few basic needs, such as food, water,
and shelter. Habitat is the area around us that supplies these basic
needs. Although it is relatively easy for us to acquire these basic
needs, wildlife are not as mobile and are often dependent on habitat
conditions in a very small area. The presence, absence, and quality
of these conditions determine whether wildlife can survive or not
on a given tract of land. With approximately 93% of Missouri being
in private ownership, most resident wildlife species are dependent
on habitat conditions provided by individual landowners. Many wildlife
management practices also benefit other resources, such as water
quality, soil health, and farm productivity. Missouri Department
of Conservation personnel stand ready to evaluate habitat conditions,
and provide management recommendations for individual landowners.
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