It had been an honor that day, the 19th day after Hurricane Katrina violated our state, for me to participate with members of my church in a cleanup in Long Beach. Armed with chain saws, rakes and wheel barrows, we struggled against 95 degree temperatures and against mountains of debris that extended farther than we could see.

That afternoon, I heard a different and familiar sound - our state bird, the mockingbird. This was the very first indication of a wild animal I had since arriving in the neighborhood. I couldn't help but reflect on how other species of fish and wildlife would respond to Katrina.

Of course the first concern of all Mississippians is the welfare of our family and friends. As a people who love the land and its natural resources, we are concerned about the impacts of Katrina on the health of our fish and wildlife.

The direct impacts of the hurricane on individual animals were significant. Millions and millions of trees cannot be downed within a few hours without killing and injuring large numbers of fish and wildlife. We know, however, that the long-term impacts relative to habitat responses will be far greater than any short-term impacts.

Surely all species of fish and wildlife were affected, but we will consider the effects on a few species. For some, there will be obvious negative impacts, while for others there will be positive impacts. For many more, however, the impacts will depend on the actions of land managers.

Threatened and endangered species are naturally of special concern. Several such species occur in the longleaf pine habitat of southeastern Mississippi. Longleaf pine ecosystems are maintained by fire that keeps the forest canopy open with primarily grass and forb ground cover. They still harbor sensitive species such as the gopher tortoise, red-cockaded woodpecker and dusky gopher frog.

Direct storm losses to gopher tortoises, other than in locally inundated areas, were probably minimal because of the shelter afforded by their underground burrows. Similarly, the isolated ponds that support the remnant population of dusky gopher frogs should have protected them from significant direct mortality.

For red-cockaded woodpeckers however, direct impacts were undoubtedly major. These birds make cavities in living pine trees, preferably those with redheart disease. The cavities and the disease predisposed the trees to damage, with many breaking off at the cavity location. The extent of the short-term loss of individual birds is uncertain at this time, but den tree losses are widespread. One option for addressing den losses is the use of artificial nest cavities, which has previously proved successful in similar situations. Within a few years, new cavities will be made in the stands that remain. Large scale habitat improvements could result in a net increase in den sites.

What will happen long term for these struggling species, as well as all others, depends on how land managers respond. The canopy is open and sunlight is currently reaching the forest floor. If prescribed burning is used properly, this situation can be extended. If suitable fire regimes are not maintained, or initiated where previously not in place, shrub and mid-story woody vegetation will quickly respond to available sunlight and dominate the sites, replacing open pine stands to the detriment of all species that thrive in them.

Another habitat concern for many species is the potential proliferation of exotic vegetation following the storm. Cogongrass is an especially serious threat. It is already displacing desirable vegetation over large areas in the region, and even statewide. The areas of exposed soil caused by uprooted trees will be vulnerable to establishment of this noxious species. Cogongrass spreads quickly once established, destroying habitat quality for most native wildlife. Widespread, aggressive control with herbicides may become an even more critical tool in managing for species of concern.

Of course, not only sensitive species were affected. Squirrel populations were negatively impacted. Numerous nest and den trees were broken or blown down, causing some direct mortality and the remaining forests will not, initially, be able to support previous population levels. In time, however, damage to remaining live trees may result in even more cavities and snags for den sites. Severe depletion of the current crop of acorns, pecans, hickory nuts, beech nuts and other hard mast obviously occurred. Long-term problems for squirrels may result in areas where most of the mature mast-producing hardwoods were destroyed. But where scattered trees do remain, there will be rapid crown expansion to take advantage of the newly available sunlight. Given their potential for large litter sizes and two litters annually, squirrel populations can rebound in a few years.

Rabbits, which favor early succession habitats, will probably benefit more over the next few years than any other species. Direct losses were likely minimal as rabbits hunkered down in the thickest available cover or even underground, to ride out the storm. The explosion of plant growth on the forest floor, triggered by exposure to sunlight from openings in the canopy, will soon result in an abundance of food, as well as cover, for rabbits.

The bobwhite is also an early succession species that was once common in the open longleaf pine stands of Mississippi's lower coastal plain. Ideally, ground cover should only be about 50 percent for this species, with mineral soil exposed elsewhere. Bobwhite populations declined when fire regimes no longer controlled the growth of woody vegetation underneath the open forest canopy and pine stand densities increased, which inhibited foraging capability. Katrina certainly reduced the canopy, but bobwhite response to new food sources and brood habitat will be only temporary unless plant succession is set back by prescribed burning at regular intervals of 1 to 3 years.

Wild turkey populations have been high in southeastern Mississippi for several years, but are expected to decline significantly in the most severely affected areas. Like bobwhites, turkeys prefer open habitat. However, they prefer to avoid heavy cover, except for nesting. Prescribed burning can maintain suitable habitat conditions for turkeys in pine forests over extensive areas. Turkeys suffered perhaps even worse damage to their habitat in bottomland hardwoods. Many of the mature oaks were destroyed, so current and future production potential is diminished. The real problem in the bottomland areas is that the formerly open forest floor is now covered with downed trees. As hardwoods are regenerated, dense young stands of trees will rise up through the debris, precluding use by turkeys for several years, just as in the case of recent cutovers. It might be 20 years before the worst of the affected areas are of much value as turkey habitat, again.

White-tailed deer benefit from just about any form of habitat disturbance, and this storm took habitat disturbance to a whole new level. The post-Katrina era outlook is as bright for deer in southeastern Mississippi as it is gloomy for turkeys. The forest Katrina encountered was characterized by large areas of dense, low browse preference woody species like gallberry and yaupon, which are frequently found under a closed pine canopy. These conditions shade out the ground and prohibit growth of better quality forage. The forest Katrina left behind was significantly different. Its canopy now includes many openings. We can expect the response to be an explosion of new growth of better browse. The net effect will be much better deer habitat and populations. Over time, the better habitat conditions will wane, again. It will be imperative that we better manage deer and habitat to avoid a recurrence of the declines we have lived with in recent years.

In the final analysis, the impacts of Hurricane Katrina on fish and wildlife should be measured with calendars, not stopwatches. Direct mortality generally affected individuals, not populations. Any alteration in fish and wildlife habitat will benefit some species at the expense of others.

Ultimately, the most important impacts on fish and wildlife and their habitat are no longer from forces of nature. Human impacts will shape the systems that Katrina's winds and waters altered. It will be how we respond, now, that will determine fish and wildlife populations and habitats for the next generation.

At least I do have it, on good authority, that mockingbirds will be okay. Let's just say that a little birdie told me.