Elk Mountain Farms
Bonners Ferry, Idaho
The Elk Mountain Farms (EMF) hop farm outside Bonners Ferry, consists of more than 2,800 acres, including 530 acres of timber and 10 acres of wetlands. EMF employees worked with the WHC to develop and implement a formal wildlife management plan for the site. The farm also contracted an outside consultant to design a forest management plan that included sound, long-term forest management principles while allowing appropriate timber production.

WHC certification was achieved in 1998, and the site received the "Rookie of the Year" award, which recognized it as the best new certified site that year. In 2000, the site was recertified and was nominated for Corporate Habitat of the Year. It was the first time WHC nominated a "Rookie" winner on its first recertification.

The employee-led effort includes:

• Planting rye grass after harvesting to improve the soil and provide feed for local wildlife;
• Repairing riparian zones to protect the land from soil erosion and minimize runoff;
• Re-introducing ring-necked pheasants, with more than 2,500 pheasants released since 1993 and maintaining and supplementing habitat for Canada geese and other birds and butterflies.

Nutri-Turf
Jacksonville, Fla.
At Nutri-Turf, Inc. in Jacksonville, a Busch Agricultural Resources facility, wastewater from the Jacksonville Brewery is piped to one of two agricultural sites totaling 1,700 acres. The wastewater is then applied to the land, where its rich nutrients fertilize hay and turf crops.  Underground drains pipe excess water to ponds, where water plants use the remaining nutrients before the water is released into the surrounding wetlands. The ponds, plants and wetlands are part of a wildlife habitat that supports native and migratory species.

Malt Plant
Manitowoc, Wis.
The Busch Agricultural Resources facility in Manitowoc installed a nesting box in 1990 for the endangered peregrine falcon. This initiative became the basis for the WHC-certified wildlife habitat management program at the site in 1998 when a mating pair of falcons established a home there. Since then they have produced nine chicks, helping to re-establish the population in the Wisconsin area. Employees have the opportunity to learn about the plight of the peregrine falcon and become involved in monitoring the nesting box. The Anheuser-Busch program is part of a statewide effort that supports the falcon recovery plan under the Endangered Species Act.

Nutri-Turf
Fort Collins, Colo.
Nutri-Turf, Inc. in Fort Collins, a Busch Agricultural Resources facility reuses nutrient-rich wastewater from the Fort Collins Brewery to produce high-quality turf and forage crops for animal consumption on 1,600 acres, leaving 5,400 acres as native grassland. The plan for this site addresses balanced habitat management for a broad range of species that will be sustained through a variety of efforts, including planting trees, restricting cattle grazing in sensitive areas, and planting native forage and cover vegetation.  In 2007, experimental crops that will be processed into biodiesel and used as a future source of transportation fuel will be planted at this site. 

Jonesboro Rice Operations
Jonesboro, Ark.
Located in the Mississippi River Delta region of northeast Arkansas, Jonesboro Rice Mill has established a RICE (Renewing Issues Concerning the Environment) team, which is charged with involving the community in its existing wildlife habitat program to improve the mill's grounds. The team strives to enhance habitat conditions for native Arkansas wildlife as well. So far, the RICE team has completed phases one and two of its plan, which included placing bird nest boxes and bat houses, establishing a winter pond for waterfowl, planting wildflower gardens, and smoothing the transition between a mowed field and a forest area.

Plans for the next three years include further enhancement of the walking trail with interpretive signs and the development and implementation of pollinator-friendly practices, including planting more native perennials on the property to encourage insects and birds that act as pollinators. The site will also be integrating a recent property acquisition into its wildlife management plans.

In addition, students and teachers from Brookland High School work with the team on building nest boxes and bat houses. The RICE team hopes to expand its partnership with the high school by setting up a Corporate Lands for Learning program that complements the school's curriculum.

Metal Container Corporation Can Plant
Rome, Ga.
The Metal Container Corporation (MCC) property in Rome consists of approximately 56 acres, 22 of which are available for wildlife habitat enhancement. The property was formerly creek bottomland. A tributary of Ward Creek, which is approximately 15 feet wide, runs south through the middle of the property. A portion of the creek is lined with riprap, while the remainder is grass-lined. There are also two retention ponds on the south side of the operations building, that drain into the creek. The growth in the retention ponds is primarily native grassy weeds, cattails and small willows. To enhance wildlife habitat opportunities on-site, employees constructed and placed nesting structures for bluebirds, purple martins and American kestrels and placed raptor perches for birds of prey. Employees also constructed wildflower gardens to improve habitat for native pollinators and established hummingbird feeders to ensure habitat requirements are met while the native gardens are still developing.

Cartersville Brewery
Cartersville, Ga.
Cartersville Brewery formed a team of wildlife enthusiasts to maintain and enhance the wildlife areas around the brewery's facility. So far, the team has provided a balanced habitat of food, water and shelter for game birds and wild game as well as a balanced habitat for small animals and nesting birds and increased the supplementary habitat for turkeys and ducks. In addition, the team has developed a self-sustaining habitat that includes native trees, shrubs and food plots.

The team is also generating interest for this project in the community by partnering with local Boy Scout troops to construct, erect and monitor nearly 55 bluebird boxes and 14 wood-duck boxes.  In 2006, the Cartersville Brewery received Corporate Lands for Learning certification for focusing on the educational needs of the Boy Scouts, including Eagle Scouts' requirement to complete community-oriented projects based on conservation. With Anheuser-Busch employees and local conservation experts as mentors, Scouts apply their knowledge and skills to projects such as creating bird habitat and erecting and monitoring nest boxes on the property.  The brewery also is exploring educational opportunities with a nearby local school.

The employees, volunteers and partners at the Cartersville Brewery further distinguished themselves by winning the Wild Turkey Management Award. This award is presented in cooperation with the National Wild Turkey Federation to a WHC member company for incorporating outstanding wild turkey management into its on-site habitat program. Applicants must fulfill several criteria to be eligible.

In the future, the wildlife management team plans to convert nearly half of the front entrance to native wildflower meadows and designate "no-mow" zones as well as erect artificial nesting and perching structures for raptors.

Fort Collins Brewery
Fort Collins, Colo.
The Fort Collins Brewery is located east of the Rocky Mountains on 1,130 acres in Larimer County. The brewery and its employees were recognized at the Wildlife Habitat Council’s 2006 Symposium for creating a habitat program on the brewery grounds. This habitat is a self-sustaining ecosystem designed to encourage permanent and seasonal wildlife residency.

Employees at the Fort Collins Brewery are committed to enhancing and promoting the natural environment on the site and strive to create a natural wildlife area that benefits native plant and animal species, the company and the community. To organize their efforts, the site's wildlife management team formed four smaller but interdependent groups to focus on the following areas: botanicals, aviary, pollinators and small mammals.