MONTHLY WILDLIFE RESEARCH LETTER 
HISTORYSURW Illinois Federal Aid Projects W-66-R, W-37-R, and W-88-R 
8 IQqj Department of Conservation and Natural History Survey, Cooperating 
UBlftRy Glen C. Sanderson and Eva Steger, Editors 
Urbana, Illinois 
May, 1981 
Vol. 24, No. 5 
Manipulation of Pheasant Habitat - W-66-R E * arner 
In 1968, 61 of the 65 farmers on the Ford County Management Unit (FCHU) 
agreed to allow the Department of Conservation (DOC) to seed their roadsides to 
brome-alfalfa, and they agreed to delay roadside mowing to 1 August annually. 
By 1978, only 44 of the original 61 cooperators on the FCMU remained. 
Factors that influenced long-term adoption of the roadside program by these 
44 initial cooperators were recently analyzed. Individuals were grouped according 
to the number of years in which they mowed early (prior to 1 August) from 1974 to 
1979. Group classification was based upon 1974-79 records because early mowing 
increased after 1973. Three groups were defined: participants (adopters, no 
early mowing 1974-79), vascillators (mowed early 1 or 2 times 1974-79), and non¬ 
participants (discontinuants, mowed early 3 or more times 1974-79). The init al 
cooperators on the FCMU were divided among these 3 groups as follows: participants, 
approximately one-fourth; vascillators, nearly one-half; and nonparticipants, 
nearly one-third. 
Some questions remain unanswered regarding how these group classifications 
generalize to farm operators who have become involved with the DOC's Roadsides 
for Wildlife Program since 1972. We know that the percentage of roads ides 
unmowed on the FCMU in 1979 and 15)80 have been nearly identical to trends in 
delayed mowing observed for scattered roadside seedings (the FCMIJ is a block 
seeding), other block seedings, and volunteer cooperators (the cooperation of 
farmers on the FCMU was solicited). A partial comparison of these data was 
presented in MWRL 23(3):1. 
Next month we will consider characteristics that distinguish participants 
(adopters) from other groups on the FCMU. 
Ecology and Management of Squirrels - V/-66-R c - M. Nixon, 
- 2 1 - 2 -- p. Hansen 
Most private woodlands in Illinois are scattered tracts less than 100 acres 
in size. But as size of tract makes no difference to the silviculture of oaks 
and hickories, these species may be cultured in any sized woodlot. The important 
factors affecting the management of these woodlots for timber and wildlife are 
(1) the landowner's objectives and (2) the minimum size of cutting unit that is 
operable or saleable in the area where the woodlot is located. In addition. 
