Oklahoma Forestry Offers Wildlife Packages of Seedlings

First posted on 11-16-2009

The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation are working together this year promoting special packages of tree and shrub seedlings selected for wildlife habitat improvement.

Different packages are available to enhance the habitat of deer, songbirds, turkey, quail and a variety of other animals. State wildlife and agriculture officials say each wildlife packet is made up of 25 each of four different species of trees and shrubs chosen specifically to improve the wildlife habitat of your property.

“Planting the appropriate trees can be a great way to enhance wildlife habitat on your property,” said Mike Sams, private lands biologist for the ODWC. “Planting a tree today can be a long-term investment for future generations.”

Oklahoma grown seedlings are available to landowners for a broad range of conservation projects. Landowners use the trees for windbreaks to protect crops and livestock, timber production, water quality protection, erosion control or other natural resource projects such as firewood plantings and Christmas tree production.

“Now is the time to begin thinking about planting seedlings and foresters from ODAFF are available to assist you,” according to State Forester John Burwell. “Oklahoma’s seedling planting season runs from December through early April and fall is the best time to prepare the planting site to make the planting job easier.”

New for 2009 is an on-line store where landowners can go to purchase their wildlife habitat improvement packages, as well as choosing from over 35 species of trees and shrubs. Seedlings are one year old, bare-root, and each species packaged in multiples of 50 with a minimum order of 100 trees. They are to be used in rural conservation plantings and cannot be used for ornamental plantings or resold as living trees.

Persons interested in the seedlings are encouraged to visit http://www.forestry.ok.gov as soon as possible as orders will be filled on a first come, first served basis.

The seedlings will be available for pickup or shipment starting in early January but orders are being taken now via the on-line store or you can request a paper order form by contacting the Forest Regeneration Center at 800-517-FOREST.

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