Graduation Date
Spring 2026
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Science degree with a major in Natural Resources, option Wildlife
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Matt Johnson
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Barbara Clucas
Second Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Frank Fogarty III
Third Committee Member Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Fourth Committee Member Name
Jackee Riccio
Fourth Committee Member Affiliation
Community Member or Outside Professional
Keywords
Birds, Bats, Bees, Cannabis farms, Humboldt County, California, Habitat enhancements
Subject Categories
Wildlife
Abstract
Agricultural expansion and intensification threaten many wildlife populations, yet in some cases wildlife-friendly farming practices can provide habitat for some species. Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is an emerging legal crop in the United States distinguished by its small scale of production, a legacy of illicit cultivation and agricultural frontiers that continue to shape its legal production, and its status as one of the most highly regulated agricultural systems, particularly in California. Cannabis production (both legal and illicit) is widely understood to have ecological impacts, yet field-based research, particularly on legal cannabis farms, is lacking. This project sought to document bird, bat, and bee communities in these novel agroecosystems in northern California, and to test whether the composition of these wildlife communities was affected by the addition of habitat enhancements such as native hedgerows and nesting and roosting boxes. After one year, habitat enhancements did not significantly increase functional diversity of bird communities or relative activity patterns of bat species despite occupancy of some enhancements, possibly due to the diverse communities already present and high amount of intact, native habitat surrounding most farms. Most bee response groups also did not increase in abundance or richness in response to native hedgerow plantings. However, bird and particularly bee communities varied in composition on and near farms, and these effects were influenced by landscape context. This study found diverse bird, bat, and bee communities on cannabis farms in Humboldt County. However, complementary or alternative restoration and conservation strategies may be necessary to incentivize wildlife-friendly farming practices for this novel agricultural commodity.
Citation Style
Journal of Wildlife Management
Recommended Citation
Wilson, Mac, "Characterizing wildlife communities and their responses to habitat enhancements on licensed cannabis farms in Humboldt County, California" (2026). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2545.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2545