![\"rows](\"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/files\/2026\/11\/Ragweed-.jpg\")
Choosing the right location<\/strong> \u2013 idle or fallow fields, utility rights-of-way, and large openings in woodlands are good choices. Select locations with adequate sunlight and free of stumps and other debris. Avoid sites infested with perennial or sod-forming grasses such as bermudagrass, bahia grass, fescue and Johnson grass. Disking alone will not control these exotic species. Sites infested with these grasses often require multi-year herbicide treatments to control or eradicate them. Keep disk areas or strips close to escape cover or dense shrubby cover to benefit species such as quail and rabbits. On sites prone to erosion, disk strips should follow the contour of the land. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Timing is important<\/strong> – fall and winter disking tends to stimulate forbs such as ragweed, partridge pea, native lespedezas, beggarweed, crotons (woolly and tropic), which are beneficial (seed and cover or structure) to numerous wildlife species like deer, quail, turkey, rabbits and songbirds. Summer or spring disking tends to favor many weedy and non-beneficial plant species, including sickle pod, Crotalaria, Johnsongrass and crabgrass, to list a few. Since conditions vary by location and each year is different, it is advisable to experiment with timing to determine what works best on your property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tillage depth matters<\/strong> \u2013 intensive seedbed preparation is usually not required to stimulate annual plant communities. A light disking to a depth of 2 to 4 inches, depending on soil type and the amount of residue, encourages germination of most annual plant species beneficial to wildlife. This tillage depth incorporates litter, breaks up the thatch layer and dense root mats, exposing seed in the soil bank to sunlight and moisture, improving germination.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rotational or strip disking<\/strong> \u2013 disking the soil in alternating sections, leaving adjacent areas undisturbed, creates a mix of plant communities in different stages of growth over time. Two-to-three-year rotations are most common. Longer rotations tend to encourage woody encroachment such as pine and sweetgum, which may not be desirable. Strip size varies depending on site, field size, rotational interval and wildlife species you are managing for. Strips 15, 30 or 50 feet wide, separated by undisked strips two to three times the width of the disked area, are common. Large, disked strips reduce predation effects. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Supplemental planting<\/strong> – if the site does not contain desirable plant species, which is often the case in old agricultural fields, planting ragweed and\/ or partridge pea for one year can introduce these plant species into the soil seed bank with adequate growing conditions, seed production and proper management. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fertilization is Optional<\/strong> \u2013 while fertilizer and lime can sometimes increase native plant growth and seed production, they are usually not required in fall and winter disking practices and add an extra cost. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marion Barnes<\/a>, Cooperative Extension, Agronomy and Natural Resources Agent<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Many landowners are looking for cost-effective practices to improve wildlife habitat on their properties. Fall and winter disking is an often-overlooked practice that stimulates germination of a wide variety of dormant seeds in the soil seed bank. If conducted at the right time of year, this practice can promote an abundance of natural forage (forbs […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3880,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91357],"tags":[91463,91464,91466,889,91465],"coauthors":[91462],"class_list":["post-808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-marion-barnes","tag-disking","tag-fall-disking","tag-tillage-depth","tag-wildlife-management","tag-winter-disking"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3880"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=808"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/808\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":811,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/808\/revisions\/811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=808"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":798,"date":"2026-11-04T16:29:49","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T16:29:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/?p=798"},"modified":"2026-11-04T16:29:50","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T16:29:50","slug":"are-chainsaw-chaps-protecting-you-when-working-with-battery-powered-chainsaws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/2026\/11\/04\/are-chainsaw-chaps-protecting-you-when-working-with-battery-powered-chainsaws\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Chainsaw Chaps Protecting You When Working With Battery-Powered Chainsaws?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n When working with chainsaws, it is important to wear cut-resistant leg protection to reduce the risk of major injuries. While cut-resistant leg protection can be worn as chainsaw pants, the more common option among forest landowners and homeowners is chainsaw chaps. Chainsaw chaps have multiple layers of woven cut-resistant material such as ballistic nylon or Kevlar (Figure 1). Chaps come in different styles, and you can learn more about them and other clothing items to keep you safe when working with chainsaws in the article by Hiesl and Steele (2022)<\/a>. \n<\/p>\n\n\n \n Once the chain on a chainsaw cuts into the chaps, the cut-resistant material gets caught by the individual cutting teeth on the chain and starts wrapping long threads around the sprocket inside the clutch cover (Figure 2). As the layers of cut-resistant material build up around the sprocket, the speed of the saw chain decreases, and the clutch on a gas-powered chainsaw disengages. This happens within a few hundred milliseconds. This video<\/a> of a cut-resistant leg protection test at the University for Applied Forest Sciences in Rottenburg, Germany, shows what happens when a chainsaw chain cuts into cut-resistant leg protection. \n<\/p>\n\n\n \n If you have noticed, so far this article has been about gas-powered chainsaws that have a clutch. But what about battery-powered chainsaws that have no clutch but an electric motor? When looking online at chainsaw chaps, some manufacturers provide statements that chaps are only good with gas-powered chainsaws or that the chaps are not made for battery-powered chainsaws. Some of the wording may be like \u201cThese chaps are not suitable protection for use with electric chainsaws, due to the high-torque nature of electric motors\u201d or \u201cThis garment has been Classified by UL (Underwriter Laboratories Inc.) as chainsaw cut-resistant leg protection for all Operators of Gas Powered Chainsaws\u201d. This would indicate that the chaps are not safe to use with battery-powered chainsaws or that they will not provide any protection for the user. Based on recent research, however, we now know that chainsaw chaps reduce the risk of major injuries from cutting into the leg. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Cut-resistant leg protection in North America (USA), whether it’s chainsaw chaps or pants, is regulated by ASTM Standard F1897. This standard outlines, among other things, the area of protection and the performance requirements for testing. It also references the ASTM testing method F1414 for use with gas-powered chainsaws. In the most recently updated standard, F1897-25 (approved in December of 2025), an Appendix was added summarizing the outcomes of a study on cut-resistance testing with a battery-powered chainsaw using the F1414 method. One outcome was that, at the same cutting speed compared to gas-powered chainsaws, no through-cuts were observed in the back lining of the cut-resistant material. The conclusion is that cut-resistant leg protection certified to the ASTM Standard F1897 provides a similar level of protection with battery-powered chainsaws as with gas-powered chainsaws. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Since the only change between the F1897-20 (approved in 2020) and the F1897-25 standard is the addition of an Appendix outlining the outcomes of the battery-powered chainsaw test, any cut-resistant leg protection certified under either version of the standard will provide some form of protection. The standard to which cut-resistant leg protection is built is usually printed somewhere on the garment tag (Figure 3). With that, if you have cut-resistant leg protection that was manufactured to the ASTM Standard F1897-20 or F1897-25, you will have some protection from major cut injuries in the leg area. So it is recommended to wear chainsaw chaps, or pants, when working with battery-powered chainsaws. As seen in Figure 3, some manufacturers only state the chaps are certified to standard F1897 without specifying the year. In that case, it would be helpful to know the year of manufacture or when the chaps were purchased. Any chaps manufactured or purchased after 2021 should comply with the F1897-20 standard and provide you with some protection.\n<\/p>\n\n\n \n It is important to note that the ASTM F1897 standard applies only to the United States of America. Other regions have their own standards, which may be similar. If your chainsaw chaps or pants do not show the ASTM F1897 standard, you may see ASTM F3325 for the Canadian standard, ISO 11393 for the European standard, or AS\/NZ 4453.3 for the Australian\/New Zealand standard. Some manufacturers may have their gear certified to multiple standards.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n So, to answer the question from the title of this article, yes, chainsaw chaps will protect you when working with battery-powered chainsaws. While there is no clutch to slow down or stall the motor, the cut-resistant material will slow or stop the electric motor in the battery-powered chainsaw and prevent major injuries.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Patrick Hiesl<\/a>, Cooperative Extension, Forestry and Wildlife Specialist<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When working with chainsaws, it is important to wear cut-resistant leg protection to reduce the risk of major injuries. While cut-resistant leg protection can be worn as chainsaw pants, the more common option among forest landowners and homeowners is chainsaw chaps. Chainsaw chaps have multiple layers of woven cut-resistant material such as ballistic nylon or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3880,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91310],"tags":[91308,91459,91309,91460,91461],"coauthors":[91458],"class_list":["post-798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-patrick-hiesl","tag-chainsaw","tag-chainsaw-chaps","tag-chainsaw-safety","tag-electric-chainsaw","tag-electric-chainsaw-safety"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/798","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3880"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=798"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/798\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":803,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/798\/revisions\/803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=798"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=798"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=798"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=798"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":779,"date":"2026-08-24T19:43:46","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T19:43:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/?p=779"},"modified":"2026-08-27T17:54:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T17:54:47","slug":"what-will-be-the-future-of-your-forest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/2026\/08\/24\/what-will-be-the-future-of-your-forest\/","title":{"rendered":"What Will Be the Future of Your Forest?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n In May, the Clemson Extension Forestry and Wildlife team and the SC Tree Farm Committee hosted Dr. Tammy Cushing, an Extension Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, to lead an intensive, day-long workshop to help families plan the future management and stewardship of their forestland. The workshop guided participants through the succession process, with an emphasis on developing a transition plan. While designed for multiple generations to attend together, individuals interested in leading these efforts within their families also gained valuable insights. In 2022, Dr. Cushing co-authored the guide “Ties to the Land: Succession Planning for Rural Landowners.”<\/em> This publication is available here<\/a> and includes case studies and 13 worksheets to help guide you through the same process she led at the workshop.<\/p>\n\n\n Estate Planning vs Succession Planning<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n The goal of estate planning is to transfer assets and distribute or divide property among your heirs when you die. This could include bank accounts, investments, businesses, your home and its contents, vehicles, and any land you own (Worksheet 1 <\/strong>in the guide). The goal of succession planning is to pass the management and stewardship of your forested property, usually along with ownership, to those who want to be actively engaged in these processes. This is usually family members in the next generation but can also be organizations such as conservation groups or charities. Succession planning allows you to decide what you want your legacy on the land to be. While succession planning is not a required step in estate planning, it can help provide an option for forestland to pass to the next generation without being subdivided or having portions sold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not everyone will decide that succession planning is a step they need to take. Those who view ownership of forested property as strictly an investment and feel no ties to the land may not be concerned about what happens to the property when it is passed down. They leave it to their heirs to decide how to manage it in the future, including whether to sell the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Worksheet 3 <\/strong>in the guide includes a \u201cHeirloom scale\u201d, designed to help owners determine how strongly they feel about the future of their property. Co-owners can complete the worksheet individually and then discuss their responses to see how their values align. Developing a vision and set of goals for the property among the co-owners is an important step before beginning a conversation with potential heirs.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n How Do I Know Who Should Steward My Land Next?<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u201cTies to the Land\u201d <\/em>publication refers to two very important steps in succession planning as \u201cengage the future\u201d. Step one is to hold a one-on-one conversation with anyone you are considering as an heir or future steward of the property. Ideally, invite them to meet you in person on the property. Walking the land and discussing the land\u2019s history and your vision for how the resources could be managed in the future will help convey the strength of your ties. Be honest with them about any challenges you are aware of, particularly financial ones, so their concerns can be addressed. They can also complete the Heirloom Scale to put their own thoughts about the land into words they can share with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During these one-on-one conversations, it may be revealed that an individual would find inheriting all or part of the land a burden. They may feel it would be a financial strain to cover their share of monthly or yearly expenses related to land management and upkeep, or they may have no interest in being a decision-maker for a property they feel no ties to. Another succession planning publication, entitled \u201cLegacy Planning \u2013 A Guide for Virginia Landowners\u201d<\/em>, available online<\/a> through Virginia Cooperative Extension, provides an excellent description of how \u201cfair means equal\u201d is not always the best strategy to use when developing a succession plan for your property. Leaving an heir who would feel burdened by land ownership, a monetary settlement and transferring the property ownership to an heir who wants to continue your legacy may not seem equal, but could be very fair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next step is to plan a family meeting or series of meetings. Worksheets 7 and 8<\/strong> guide planning and executing the family meeting, including sample invitations and agendas, as well as a place to record minutes and action items. The meetings will be a time to gather the heirs and discuss the land and your hopes for your legacy as a group. Meetings can also be a time to provide more details on property management and associated costs. Having a goal or goals for the meeting can help narrow down the topics for each session into a manageable list and keep the discussion more focused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ideally, these meetings should not be held during traditional family gatherings, such as holidays. Any ill feelings that arise from the succession discussion can spill over into family gathering time, causing even more stress among the heirs. Another important suggestion for these meetings is to appoint an outsider as a facilitator if you foresee conflicts among family members during the discussion. This allows you to remain a participant in the discussion without having to serve as a referee. Finally, if possible, have members of your succession planning team (attorney, accountant, and\/or forester) available to respond promptly to any questions from family members that you are not comfortable answering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prepare Your Succession Plan<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Succession planning can be a months-long process, but taking the steps outlined in the linked publications can serve as a starting point. Determining ownership and management may be difficult decisions, particularly if the one-on-one conversations and family meetings brought out any heirs\u2019 lack of interest in having a future role in stewarding the land and continuing a family legacy. Worksheet 9 <\/strong>provides a guide for objectively considering who should fill these roles. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Once the succession plan is drafted, you can move forward with your estate planning. The \u201cTies to the Land\u201d <\/em>publication outlines different forms of ownership structure that may best fulfill the vision you have for the future of your land. Building a knowledgeable team of advisors, including an attorney, an accountant, and possibly a consulting forester, who are familiar with forest management and land transfer options, will help ensure that your vision and legacy are honored and remain sustainable. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Janet Steele<\/a>, Cooperative Extension, Forestry and Wildlife Agent<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Developing a Succession Plan for Your Forest Can Shape Your Legacy In May, the Clemson Extension Forestry and Wildlife team and the SC Tree Farm Committee hosted Dr. Tammy Cushing, an Extension Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, to lead an intensive, day-long workshop to help families plan the future management and stewardship of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3880,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[90551],"tags":[91455,91454,91456],"coauthors":[91457],"class_list":["post-779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-janet-steele","tag-estate-planning","tag-legacy-planning","tag-succession-planning"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3880"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=779"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":762,"date":"2026-08-19T18:58:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T18:58:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/?p=762"},"modified":"2026-08-25T17:37:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T17:37:37","slug":"is-a-hog-on-the-ground-worth-less-than-two-in-the-trap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/2026\/08\/19\/is-a-hog-on-the-ground-worth-less-than-two-in-the-trap\/","title":{"rendered":"Is a Hog on the Ground Worth Less Than Two in the Trap?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n Hunters descend upon the woods every deer season with dreams of a full freezer and itchy trigger fingers. While they wait for their quarry, they may encounter a less welcome hoofed mammal that has been rooting its way through the United States \u2013 the wild hog. The resentment felt towards these animals may lead a hunter to aim their rifle at them and pull the trigger. At first, this dead hog may represent a decrease in the population and a step towards managing the problem. <\/p>\n\n\n However, hogs have the biological advantage of rapid reproduction, allowing them to quickly replace fallen kin in just a few months. Worse still, any hogs present at the time that avoided a similar fate may become more skittish. A skittish hog is a hard hog to trap. That is not to say that shooting them has no value; shooting is an appropriate method of removal in some cases. Shooting may be necessary or more practical depending on the situation. For example, a lone boar may not warrant the effort of setting up a trap. Hogs that are trap-shy may also need to be deterred by shooting; just know that shooting at hogs won’t be enough to make a dent in their numbers overall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n When the goal is managing hog populations, trapping is the most effective strategy. Trapping with the goal of whole sounder removal is even better. Whole-sounder removal requires patience and an understanding of the hogs present in an area to ensure all hogs in a sounder are removed. The key is removing every hog in a sounder to prevent them from rearing their offspring. While there are some serious marksmen in the woods, shooting every single member of a sounder in areas where they can disappear into thick brush is not realistic. Trapping them ensures they are all removed and reduces the risk of missing any. Consider trapping them to avoid seeing them during deer season next year. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Andrew Jamison<\/a>, Wildlife Damage Management Associate, Clemson University<\/strong> \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hunters descend upon the woods every deer season with dreams of a full freezer and itchy trigger fingers. While they wait for their quarry, they may encounter a less welcome hoofed mammal that has been rooting its way through the United States \u2013 the wild hog. The resentment felt towards these animals may lead a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3880,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91446],"tags":[91449,91451,91450,91452,91270,91447,91448],"coauthors":[91346],"class_list":["post-762","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-andrew-jamison","tag-boar","tag-sounder","tag-sow","tag-trapping","tag-wild-boars","tag-wild-hog","tag-wild-pig"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/762","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3880"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=762"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/762\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=762"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=762"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=762"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=762"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":757,"date":"2026-08-19T17:59:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T17:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/?p=757"},"modified":"2026-08-19T17:59:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T17:59:55","slug":"fewer-deer-more-deer-problems","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/2026\/08\/19\/fewer-deer-more-deer-problems\/","title":{"rendered":"Fewer Deer, More Deer Problems?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n South Carolina has fewer deer than it did during the early 2000s, but many landowners, farmers, homeowners, and drivers are experiencing more deer-related damage than in previous years. That may seem contradictory, but the issue is not simply how many deer are on the landscape. The issue may be that deer are increasingly being funneled and concentrated into sensitive areas such as roadsides, crop fields, gardens, landscaped yards, and suburban green spaces.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n South Carolina\u2019s deer population peaked in the late 1990s and early 2000s at about 1.1 million deer. Today, the statewide estimate is closer to 700,000 deer, and recent harvest trends suggest the population has started to stabilize. However, deer conflicts have not declined in proportion to that population reduction. Deer-vehicle collisions increased from 5,904 in 1996 to 6,628 in 2024 (+12.26%), Clemson researchers estimated that deer-related losses to cotton, soybean, and peanut farmers totaled roughly $114 million in 2022, and, in some counties, local density reports have exceeded 100 deer per square mile.\n<\/p>\n\n\n Several factors help explain this pattern:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n South Carolina may have fewer deer statewide, but deer are increasingly concentrated in agricultural and other sensitive areas due to a complex mix of spatial, seasonal, and landscape-level factors beyond those discussed here. Reducing conflicts requires managing both deer and habitat through regulated harvest, forest stewardship, crop protection, attractant reduction, feral hog control, and targeted prevention of deer-vehicle collisions.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n For more information on human-wildlife conflicts and wildlife damage management, please visit the Clemson Cooperative Extension Wildlife Damage Management website (https:\/\/www.clemson.edu\/extension\/wildlife\/<\/a>) or contact us directly at wildlifedamage@clemson.edu<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Citations<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Jackson, D. R. (2024, September 3). Enhancing browse: A better way to feed deer<\/em>. Penn State Extension. https:\/\/extension.psu.edu\/enhancing-browse-a-better-way-to-feed-deer\/<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ruth, C., & Cantrell, J. (2024). 2024 South Carolina deer harvest report. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Deer Research & Management Project. https:\/\/www.dnr.sc.gov\/wildlife\/deer\/pdf\/2024harvest\/2024DeerHarvestReport.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Smathers Jr, W. M., Smith, M. R., & Wilkie III, G. R. (2001).\u202fCausal Factors and Possible Solutions to Reduce Highway Accidents Caused by White-tailed Deer in South Carolina, Phase I\u202f(No. FHWA-SC-01-10,). \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. (2022). South Carolina drivers should watch for deer on state roads. https:\/\/www.dnr.sc.gov\/news\/2022\/oct\/oct17-drivers.php<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office. (n.d.). Population estimates by county, 2010\u20132020, 2000\u20132009. South Carolina Census State Data Center. https:\/\/rfa.sc.gov\/data-research\/population-demographics\/census-state-data-center\/population-data\/population-estimates-counties<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Stalnaker, L. (2025). 2024 population estimates: Migration drives rapid growth in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. https:\/\/dew.sc.gov\/labor-market-information-blog\/2025-05\/2024-population-estimates-migration-drives-rapid-growth-south<\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sullivan JM (2011) Trends and characteristics of animal-vehicle collisions in the United States. J Saf Res 42:9\u201316. https:\/\/doi.org\/https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.jsr.2010.11.002<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n U.S. Census Bureau. (n.d.). County population totals: 2020\u20132024 [Data set]. U.S. Department of Commerce. https:\/\/www.census.gov\/data\/tables\/time-series\/demo\/popest\/2020s-counties-total.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Jacob Murray<\/a>, Wildlife Damage\u00a0Management\u00a0Associate, Clemson Extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" South Carolina has fewer deer than it did during the early 2000s, but many landowners, farmers, homeowners, and drivers are experiencing more deer-related damage than in previous years. That may seem contradictory, but the issue is not simply how many deer are on the landscape. The issue may be that deer are increasingly being funneled […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3880,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91444],"tags":[90533,91445,91360],"coauthors":[91346],"class_list":["post-757","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-jacob-murray","tag-deer","tag-white-tail-deer","tag-white-tailed-deer"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/757","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3880"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=757"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/757\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=757"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":749,"date":"2026-08-17T19:57:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T19:57:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/?p=749"},"modified":"2026-08-17T19:57:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T19:57:34","slug":"outdoor-safety-notes-plants-poison-ivy-oak-and-sumac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/2026\/08\/17\/outdoor-safety-notes-plants-poison-ivy-oak-and-sumac\/","title":{"rendered":"Outdoor Safety Notes \u2013 Plants – Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac"},"content":{"rendered":"\n We all enjoy the outdoors. But when working or playing there are potential dangers you should be aware of. These potential dangers are natural, and you should be able to (1) recognize and avoid these hazards, (2) protect yourself against or control the hazards, and (3) take actions if hazards are unavoidable. This publication covers natural hazards that are most commonly encountered or commonly misunderstood. In an emergency situation, your first action should be to call an emergency room or the poison control center (1-800-222-1222 in South Carolina).<\/p>\n\n\n Recognition and Avoidance\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac contain irritants called urushiol oil that occur in the leaves, flowers, pollen, berries, stems, and roots of these plants. The oil causes the rash that irritates many of us. The oil can stay active from 4-12 months after it is picked up on clothing, boots, equipment, tools, and animal fur. Some people may not show a reaction to contact with these plants for years. Suddenly, however, these same people may lose their resistance and suffer the typical irritating rashes. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n The best way to avoid suffering from the itchy, irritating rash is to avoid these hazardous plants. The old saying “leaflets of three, let it be” is good advice but should not be your only defense. Poison ivy is recognized in spring and summer by three bright green, waxy-looking, leaflets. Often clusters of white flowers are present in late spring and early summer. In the fall, leaflets turn yellow to red, and milk-colored berries may be present. In the winter, lifeless-looking twigs and reddish-brown hairy vines can still cause the itch. Poison oak also has three leaflets but with uneven margins and tan berries in the fall. Poison ivy and poison oak can occur as climbing vines, shrubs, thickets, and as ground cover. Poison sumac is a shrub-like plant with green compound leaves divided into 7-15 leaflets. It has greenish flowers and greenish white berries and is difficult to distinguish from other sumacs. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Protection and Control <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Try to avoid contact with these plants. Wear clothing that will reduce your chance of contact. Boots, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and gloves will help protect you from exposure to these plants. They will also protect you from other outdoor hazards like plants with thorns, sunburn, and insects. Be careful when you remove these protective articles of clothing, because again you risk touching the irritating plant oils. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Never burn poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac. Burning these plants releases urushiol oil into the air and can cause severe lung irritation if inhaled. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n These poisonous plants may be chemically controlled by herbicides with active ingredients like glyphosate triclopyr, 2,4-D, dicamba, and others. Sometimes these plants need multiple treatments for complete control. Be sure not to spray onto desirable plants, and to treat when directed to by the label. Whenever you use any pesticide, read and follow label directions carefully. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Visit HGIC 2307<\/a> for more information. \n<\/p>\n\n\n Action if Hazard is Unavoidable <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wash your hands and any contaminated skin with plenty of strong soap and water immediately after any known contact, after being outdoors, and after removing clothing. Wash contaminated clothes thoroughly in heavy-duty detergent. If soap is unavailable, use rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is more effective than water for removing oils. Wash exposed pets with a pet-safe soap. Commercial urushiol oil removers, often marketed as poison ivy scrubs or washes, are also effective for cleansing your body, clothing, and other exposed items.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Allergic reactions result in inflammation within a few hours to five days, though sometimes take longer to show with the first reaction. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Early symptoms include slight itchiness and swelling, followed by pink\u00ad colored inflammation and tiny pimples. Blisters then form in the inflamed area and may fuse together as a chain. The rash itself is not contagious and will not spread unless urushiol oils are still present on the body or clothes. Minor cases of a rash will last up to 2 weeks, and initial exposures and severe reactions can last up to 30 days. Severe cases should be seen by a doctor who may administer corticosteroid therapy topically, orally, or through injection. For mild reactions, temporary relief from itchiness can be had by running warm water over the inflamed area, oatmeal baths, or by applying non-prescribed topical creams or lotions which contain calamine or cortisone. Drying agents which temporarily stop the ooze and provide some relief are also available. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for recommendations because there are many products available. Avoid itching the rash or draining blisters since this can cause secondary infection or further irritation. Seek emergency help if you are having difficulty breathing, swallowing, or sleeping, swelling in the face or eyes, the rash is around your eyes, mouth or genitals, the rash is on most of your body, or you develop a fever. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tancey Belken<\/a>, Area Forestry and Wildlife Agent, Clemson Extension\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christina Huss<\/a>, Area Urban Horticulture Agent, Clemson Extension\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We all enjoy the outdoors. But when working or playing there are potential dangers you should be aware of. These potential dangers are natural, and you should be able to (1) recognize and avoid these hazards, (2) protect yourself against or control the hazards, and (3) take actions if hazards are unavoidable. This publication covers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3880,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91304],"tags":[898,91440,91442,91443],"coauthors":[91346],"class_list":["post-749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tancey-belken","tag-forestry","tag-poison-ivy","tag-poison-oak","tag-poison-sumac"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3880"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=749"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/749\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=749"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":744,"date":"2026-08-17T19:10:47","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T19:10:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/?p=744"},"modified":"2026-08-25T14:26:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T14:26:42","slug":"testing-food-plot-forages-taking-it-to-the-next-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/2026\/08\/17\/testing-food-plot-forages-taking-it-to-the-next-level\/","title":{"rendered":"Testing Food Plot Forages – Taking It to the Next Level"},"content":{"rendered":"\n Hunters and landowners are always looking for ways to improve their food-plot management. Forage grown in food plots provides essential energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals needed by many wildlife species when natural browse and food are in short supply or of poor quality. Forage testing is a common practice used by many livestock, hay and forage producers to evaluate forage nutrient content. Forage testing can also be used to detect nutrient deficiencies and trouble spots in a food plot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n High forage quality and high production are two elements of good food plot management. White-tailed deer have different nutritional needs at different times of the year and across life phases. Does need a higher level of nutrition during gestation and after the birth of fawns until weaning time. As milk intake drops and solid food consumption increases, forage quality becomes more important in the diet of a fawn. From about three and a half to five months of age, fawns can add about a half pound of body mass each day, less from lactation and more from browse and forage they begin to consume. Bucks benefit from higher nutrition levels, including protein and essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus, during spring antler development and after the rut to regain lost body fat and restore muscle mass.<\/p>\n\n\n I have always wondered why food plot managers go to all the effort and expense to plant, fertilize and control weeds and pests in their food plots, yet seldom submit a forage sample for nutrient analysis. For a nominal fee, you can have your food plot forage analyzed for standard minerals, crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). These laboratory tests are used to help measure forage quality. Remember, not all forages are created equal. The only way to determine their nutritional value is to conduct forage analysis. Marion Barnes<\/a>, Agronomy and Natural Resources Agent, Clemson Extension\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hunters and landowners are always looking for ways to improve their food-plot management. Forage grown in food plots provides essential energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals needed by many wildlife species when natural browse and food are in short supply or of poor quality. Forage testing is a common practice used by many livestock, hay and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3880,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[522,91357],"tags":[91436,91439,777,91437,91438],"coauthors":[91346],"class_list":["post-744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fall","category-marion-barnes","tag-food-plot","tag-forage-testing","tag-wildlife","tag-wildlife-forage","tag-wildlife-nutrition"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3880"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=744"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/744\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=744"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":738,"date":"2026-08-17T18:15:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T18:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/?p=738"},"modified":"2026-08-25T15:09:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T15:09:10","slug":"katy-did-what","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/2026\/08\/17\/katy-did-what\/","title":{"rendered":"Katy did what?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n When the evenings start to warm up, I like to grab a glass of tea and sit on the back porch and listen to the crickets. Then something changes. It typically starts later in June and peaks in July, although some hold on until frost. The incessant nighttime calls let me know that summer has truly arrived. Sometimes it even seems like they are talking to each other, even singing together in a chorus, or maybe talking to me. Early settlers were scared by the mysterious noise made by something in the trees they could not see. They didn\u2019t realize the noise was just coming from a small green insect called katydid. Katydids are in the Family Tettigoniidae and are related to grasshoppers and crickets, but katydids have antennae longer than their body\u2019s. The long antennae are useful for navigating trees at night. Although there are at least 12 species of katydids in the Carolinas, the one that sings nightly and sounds somewhat like \u201ckatydid\u201d is the true katydid (Pterophylla camelliafolia<\/em>). The true katydid\u2019s genus name, Pterophylla<\/em>, means wing leaf because the insects look like a leaf. Even the veins of the leaves resemble the veins of leaves. Great camouflage for an animal that spends most of its life amongst the leaves. Apparently, someone thought they looked like a camellia leaf, thus the specific epithet camelliafolia<\/em>. Other members of the family Tettigoniidae include common coneheads and meadow katydids, but they do not have the impressive, some people may call it obnoxious, nighttime call. <\/p>\n\n\n \n Although both sexes can sing, it is usually the male that is heard on summer nights as they try to impress the females. They don\u2019t really sing, they stridulate. Stridulation is similar to a violin but produces a raspy staccato noise that sounds somewhat like \u201ckatydid.\u201d They rub the rough edges of their forewings together to make noise. The wings bend outward slightly creating a chamber that increases the volume of the sound, somewhat like an echo chamber. Although they have wings, they are poor flyers and usually walk or hop. When there are large numbers of males in an area, they can synchronize their songs together to further increase volume. The females choose their mate based on the quality of the male song which is detected with hearing organs on their front legs. The song is more rapid on warm evenings and slows when temperatures drop. Depending on where you live, the song can be slightly different with the northern dialect more clearly saying \u201ckaty did.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Katydids are rarely seen and are most active at night. During the day, they rest motionless, so they appear to be a leaf. When katydids aren\u2019t resting or singing, they may be feeding on leaves, but they rarely cause major damage to the plant. Mammals, birds, and lizards consume katydid, but the great golden digger wasp captures and paralyzes katydids and grasshoppers. It then buries the paralyzed victim and lays an egg on it. When the egg hatches, it feeds on the still living katydid. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n True katydids are about 2 inches long with the females larger than males. They are green, but sometimes katydids are born pink. These pink katydids are easy to find and quickly eaten by predators. Females have an ovipositor at their rear for laying eggs in the soil or on plant stems or bark. When laid on a stem, the flattened eggs are laid in rows. In the spring, the eggs hatch into nymphs. Nymphs look like tiny versions of adults. The nymphs will go through several molts as they grow. At later nymph stages, they will form wings and an ovipositor if female. The ovipositor is sickle shaped in the true katydid but can be longer and saber-shaped in other katydid species. When they mate, the male provides a sperm package called a spermatophore. Attached to the spermatophore is protein the female can eat to increase egg development. I guess it is kind of like a dinner date. Males that offer large food gifts may mate several times. Males with smaller food gifts are less likely to mate. A larger food gift is an indicator of better male health and genetics.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n More information on katydids can be found here: \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/songsofinsects.com\/katydids\/common-true-katydid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/hort.extension.wisc.edu\/articles\/katydids\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/great-golden-sand-digger-wasp\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/kanecountyconnects.com\/article\/katydids-insects-kanecounty-environment<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \n Cranshaw, W., and D. Shetlar. 2017. Garden insects of North America: The Ultimate Guide to Backyard Bugs (2nd ed.). Princeton University Press.\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n Robert Carter<\/a>, Cooperative Extension, Area Forestry and Wildlife Agent<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Posted in Robert Carter<\/a>Tagged Forestry<\/a>Edit<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When the evenings start to warm up, I like to grab a glass of tea and sit on the back porch and listen to the crickets. Then something changes. It typically starts later in June and peaks in July, although some hold on until frost. The incessant nighttime calls let me know that summer has […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3880,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91362],"tags":[91435,898,91434,777],"coauthors":[91346],"class_list":["post-738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-robert-carter","tag-forest-insects","tag-forestry","tag-katydid","tag-wildlife"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3880"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=738"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/738\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=738"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":717,"date":"2026-05-26T13:43:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T13:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/?p=717"},"modified":"2026-05-26T13:44:47","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T13:44:47","slug":"how-trees-work-and-the-impacts-of-drought-on-south-carolina-trees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/2026\/05\/26\/how-trees-work-and-the-impacts-of-drought-on-south-carolina-trees\/","title":{"rendered":"How Trees Work and the Impacts of Drought on South Carolina Trees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n It\u2019s been a dry spring in South Carolina, and as of mid-May the entire state is experiencing some level of drought, with over 70% of the state under extreme drought conditions (Figure 1). This, of course, isn\u2019t great for the flora of our state \u2013 including our trees!<\/p>\n\n\n We are fortunate to have trees growing throughout our state, from the middle of urban areas to vast rural acreages. Trees in managed landscapes may benefit from supplemental irrigation during droughty times, while those in more rural areas are at the whim of Mother Nature. Regardless, trees typically respond the same when under drought stress and undergo the same general process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When drought occurs, the lack of available water is sensed by the tree. Then two things happen: first, the tree essentially shuts down food production by closing stomata (small openings on the leaves which are essential for photosynthesis) to prevent water loss. This, unfortunately, also ceases the ability of that leaf to make food. Second, the tree pulls food reserves from the storage roots and stump and uses them to produce additional fine roots. Growing additional fine roots is a strategy to attempt to find water. If this doesn\u2019t work, the tree more or less shifts into survival mode and begins to allow tissues to die in an attempt to save the tree as a whole. Typically, this starts with some foliage (e.g., tulip poplars are notorious for dropping leaves at the first hint of summer dryness), but smaller twigs and roots might also be \u201csacrificed.\u201d If water is still not available or found, then larger parts of the tree begin to die and we see the typical tree decline that precedes tree death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking a step back, understanding how trees work can help us understand why drought often leads to insect and fungal issues. Trees use the energy they make (through photosynthesis) in certain ways. There are 7 main things trees use energy for, and they are (in order of priority):<\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you notice where trees prioritize protecting themselves from pests? LAST! Only after all those other physiological things, like staying alive, growing and reproducing, are satisfied do trees allocate energy to protecting themselves from pests. This is the main reason why anytime a tree is not getting enough resources \u2013 whether that\u2019s water, sunlight or nutrition \u2013 the tree becomes more susceptible to pests. Trees need resources to protect themselves, just like people need to eat a balanced, healthy diet to stay healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Considering all of this, it is a reasonable expectation to see an increase in impacts from pests during droughty times. Hardwoods may simply lose leaves, while pines typically turn yellow\/brown after a certain level of drought. There is not much we can do in natural areas, though managing (especially reducing) the basal area or competition can help \u2013 when there is less stem volume on a tract, there is more water for each stem. Trees in managed landscapes will benefit more from a thorough soaking once or twice a week rather than just a little water daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proper management of your trees throughout their lifetime goes a long way towards creating a resilient forest. After all, we never know where, when or how long the next dry spell is going to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Additional resources include: Dave Coyle<\/a>, Cooperative Extension, Forestry and Wildlife Specialist<\/p>\n\n\n\n Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sex, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s been a dry spring in South Carolina, and as of mid-May the entire state is experiencing some level of drought, with over 70% of the state under extreme drought conditions (Figure 1). This, of course, isn\u2019t great for the flora of our state \u2013 including our trees! We are fortunate to have trees growing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3880,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[90004],"tags":[91425,91429,91427,91428,91426],"coauthors":[91346],"class_list":["post-717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-dave-coyle","tag-drought","tag-how-trees-grow","tag-tree-drought","tag-tree-drought-signs","tag-tree-stress"],"fimg_url":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/717","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3880"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=717"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/717\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=717"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":711,"date":"2026-05-22T12:41:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T12:41:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/?p=711"},"modified":"2026-05-22T14:29:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T14:29:32","slug":"importance-of-boundary-marking","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.clemson.edu\/fnr\/2026\/05\/22\/importance-of-boundary-marking\/","title":{"rendered":"Importance of Boundary Marking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n Boundary marking is the practice of establishing clear, visible markers that show the edges of a property. Normally, a professional surveyor uses equipment to set iron or concrete corner posts accurately. Surveyors also leave blazes or hack marks on trees between corner markers. Over time, these hack marks become very difficult to see. Paint is commonly used to reinforce these marks and must be reapplied every 5\u201310 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defining boundary lines with paint is extremely important for protecting property rights by creating clear evidence of where one property ends and another begins. It also helps avoid disputes with neighbors over driveways, dog pens, buildings or other types of encroachment. In South Carolina, the purple paint law<\/a> states that marking property boundaries with purple paint is legally equivalent to posting \u201cNo Trespassing\u201d signs. This ensures your rights are protected and enforceable against hunting, trail riding or other unauthorized entry. While posting signs is still permissible, signs fade, weather and deteriorate much faster than paint applied to trees.<\/p>\n\n\n To comply with the purple paint law in South Carolina, the purple markings must be vertical lines that are at least 8 inches long and 2 inches wide and must be between 3 to 6 feet off the ground. The marks must be on permanent objects, spaced no more than 100 yards apart and should be visible to anyone approaching the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sustainable forest management also depends on clearly defined property lines. When harvesting timber, constructing and maintaining firebreaks and roads and setting up blinds or tree stands for hunting, it is important to know exactly where boundaries are located to avoid accidental trespass and potential damage to neighboring property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well-maintained boundaries help reduce the risk of costly disputes, legal fees and disturbances during timber harvest or other forest activities. They also tend to improve relationships with neighbors and reduce the likelihood of fines or trespass-related complaints.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAuthor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Developing a Succession Plan for Your Forest Can Shape Your Legacy<\/strong>\n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The most important step in forage testing is taking a representative sample. Remember, deer are picky eaters (concentrate selectors) and tend to select the most nutritious plant parts. Therefore, you want the sample to accurately represent what deer are actually consuming. Pick the most tender leaves or plant parts that deer or turkey will browse. Most food plots consist of a mixture of forage species, so it would be wise to sample each species separately for a more accurate picture of the nutritional value of your food plot. If you are testing forages for suspected nutrient deficiencies, submit two samples, one from normal growing plants and one from plants that appear to be having problems. That way, you can compare the analysis from healthy plants versus poorly growing plants. Forage testing food plots is not for everyone. But if you want to maximize your food plot production and the quality of your forages, submit a forage sample for analysis. The results may surprise you! <\/p>\n\n\n\nAuthor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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