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Sheep for Sage-Grouse

Sheep for Sage-Grouse. Michael Guttery Utah State University. Strategic Intensive Grazing. For Wildlife Habitat???. Sage-Grouse Brood-Rearing Habitat. Appears to be a limiting factor for some populations. Prefer sparse shrub cover. Need an abundance of forbs and insects.

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Sheep for Sage-Grouse

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  1. Sheep for Sage-Grouse Michael Guttery Utah State University

  2. Strategic Intensive Grazing For Wildlife Habitat???

  3. Sage-Grouse Brood-Rearing Habitat • Appears to be a limiting factor for some populations. • Prefer sparse shrub cover. • Need an abundance of forbs and insects.

  4. Alternative Methods Chemical Mechanical

  5. Why Consider Grazing • Public Acceptance • Safety • Cost • CONTROL Campbell and Taylor. 2006. Targeted grazing to manage weedy brush and trees

  6. Study Design • 8 Sets of paired. • Plots are approximately 8 acres (3.2 ha). • Plots randomly chosen to receive grazing treatment.

  7. Grazing Treatment • Grazed from mid-Oct thru late Nov 2006. • 500 sheep per plot. • Each plot grazed for 7-10 days. • Sheep were fed 3 lbs of supplement per head per day.

  8. Vegetation Measurements • Line intercept for % shrub cover (4 transects per plot). • Daubenmire frame for understory cover (12 per plot). • Exclosures (total, ungulate, and open) to assess impact of herbivory (measured cover and biomass). • Sagebrush density and biomass (5 measures per plot).

  9. Grouse Use Measurements • Bird-dog surveys. • Area-constrained surveys (no pre-treatment).

  10. Does It Work?

  11. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

  12. So, Does It Work? Maybe! If so, then the next question is: How long will the effect last?

  13. Acknowledgements • Utah State University • Department of Wildland Resources • Sage-Grouse Restoration Project • Parker Mountain Adaptive Resources Management Local Working Group (PARM) • Mr. Andy Taft • Dr. Roger Banner • Dr. Fred Provenza • Dr. Terry Messmer

  14. QUESTIONS?

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