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Blake Osgood Explains Why Wildlife Is One of the Best Indicators of Healthy Land

Blake Osgood, owner of Ozgood Land Restoration, identifies the return of native wildlife as a primary indicator of successful land stewardship throughout the Ozarks, revealing more about property health than appearance alone.
Invasive plants like Bradford pear and autumn olive often displace native vegetation that provides food and shelter for wildlife, prompting removal efforts to create space for native grasses to return.
Before recommending work, Osgood spends time walking each property to assess vegetation, drainage, and terrain. "No two properties are the same," Osgood explains, requiring tailored restoration plans instead of standard approaches.
Osgood advises landowners not to judge success too quickly, noting that "the land needs time to recover" before native vegetation and wildlife establish healthy conditions across the property.
As landowners focus on long-term stewardship, Osgood believes wildlife offers valuable insight into restoration success, stating, "When native wildlife returns, it's often one of the clearest signs that the land is becoming healthier again.

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