A wildlife habitat is an area that offers feeding, roosting, breeding, nesting, and refuge areas for a variety of bird and mammal species native to the southwestern Michigan region. Michigan's wildlife is one of its most precious resources. Surveys consistently show that residents value wildlife as part of their quality of life. In addition, wildlife is valued throughout Michigan for the contribution it makes to tourism, recreation, hunting, and fishing. As a result, there is an increasing appreciation of the role that wildlife contributes to quality of life.