I have 78 acres and lots of wildlife here at the border of GA and FL just west of Tallahassee. I have 2 creeks, a ravine with good woods and with one of the shallow spring fed creeks. I have foxes that den here, 2 bobcats, the ever-present opposums, raccoons, and armadillos. I have to kick the deer out of the way and hear rather than see the turkeys. With the microclimates, I get tons of birds, from a regular Mississippi Kite to Ruby-Crowned Kinglets and hummingbirds. I've seen blue grosbeaks, indigo buntings, cardinals, ovenbirds, phoebes, etc. Also a stray alligator. I have it on good authority that there is sign of feral hogs on the creek edges but in spite of having 2 fellows that take an occasional deer, they have yet to see the hogs. They will take care of the problem if it is there.
I have about 20 acres in tended ground, mowed or in hay grass. To protect my daylilies, I plant annual ryegrass in the horse pastures. The deer like that better than the flowers. I have fruit trees that they raid, from mulberries to crabapples, plums, apples, pears, pomegranates, and a variety of citrus. I once started a corn patch - small and the deer trampled the middle of the patch down to sleep on and left the 2 rows around the patch for a hiding place. The rest of the property is either creek/lowland with big trees, or areas of upland with either a variety of native trees and shrubs or brushhogged areas of sunlight. Across the ravine lays 13 acres of hickory, oak, and other mature trees making a lovely forest.
I wouldn't mind finding out more on attracting and building a landscape designed for wildlife.
Barb
