Free Picnic For Wild Animals In Georgia

by Sherry Morse

Biologists in Georgia are conducting an experiment to find out which plants wild animals are most attracted by.

In an ambitious experiment at the Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area, a five acre test area has been planted with soybeans, sunflowers, sesame, Egyptian wheat, switchgrass and five other plant varieties.

Once scientists have determined what kinds of foods wild animals prefer, they can create new environments which incorporate those plants and animals and increase biodiversity.

"People putting food plots on their property are helping wildlife, and a lot of people who plant food plots don’t hunt; they just like to look," said Jennifer Tarvin, vice president of the Pigeon Mountain chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the University of Georgia are working together on the project, which they hope will result in a guide to show farmers and enthusiasts which plants attract which species of wildlife.

Local deer have already eaten all the soybean plants in the half-acre test plot, except for those plants which are inside a protective cage.

Small game animals have been eagerly feasting on the Egyptian wheat, preferring to eat it after the plants mature and the stalks break and scatter grain on the ground.

"It’s like one of those big buffets," said DNR area manager Tim Gilbreath.

"The doves are killing that brown-top millet."

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.