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National Bison Range Annual Narrative Report

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National Bison Range Annual Narrative Report NATIONAL BISON RANGE Moiese, Montana ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1982 U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM NATIONAL BISON RANGE Moiese, Montana ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT Calendar Year 1982 U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM Review and Approval S/J'/A-S Submtted By Date Regional Office PERSONNEL Permanent Full Time Jon M. Malcolm, Refuge Manager - GS-485-12 E. Merritt, October, 82 Hugh H. Null, Assistant Manager - GS-485-11 E. Merritt, October, 82 William J. Berg, Assistant Manager GS-485-7 Transferred 11/82 E. Merritt, October 83 Victor B. May, Maintenance Foreman WS-4749-6 E. Merritt, October, 82 Grant Hogge, Engineering Equipment Mechanic WG-5803-10 E. Merritt, October, 82 Ernest W. Kraft, Maintenanceman, WG-4749-9 E. Merritt, October, 82 Career Seasonal Edward G. Krantz, Maintenanceman, VTQ-4749-7 E. Merritt, October, 82 Robert L. Middlemist, Maintenanceman, WG-4749 E. Merritt, October, 83 Temporary Intermittent Beth Hogg, Education Technician, GS-1702-5 James R. Norgaard, Bio-Aid, GS-404-3 YCC Kelliann Johnson Daren Thomas TABLE OF CONTENTS Pa£e 1 A- HIGHLIGHTS 1 B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS 2 C. LAND ACQUISITION 1. Fee Title - Nothing to Report 2. Easements - Nothing to Report 3. Other - Nothing to Report D. PLANNING 1. Master Plan - Nothing to Report - 2. Management Plan - Nothing to Report 3. Public Participation - Nothing to Report 4. Compliance with Environmental Mandates - Nothing to Report . 5. Research and Investigations 2 E. ADMINISTRATION 1. Personnel 4 2. Youth Programs 5 3. Other Manpower Programs - Nothing to Report 4. Volunteers Program 5 5. Funding 6 6. Safety 6 7. Technical Assistance 7 8. Other Items 7 F. HABITAT MANAGEMENT 1. General 8 2. Wetlands - Nothing to Report 3. Forests 8 4. Croplands - Nothing to Report 5. Grasslands 8 6. Other Habitats - Nothing to Report 7. Grazing 9 8. Haying 10 9. Fire Management 10 10. Pest Control 11 11. Water Rights 11 12. Wilderness and Special Areas - Nothing to Report 13. WPA Easement Monitoring - Nothing to Report TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont.) Page G. WILDLIFE I 1. Wildlife Diversity 12 2. Endangered and/or Threatened Species 12 3. Waterfowl i 12 4. Marsh and Water Birds 13 5. Shorebirds, Gulls, Terns and Allied Species 13 6. Raptors 13 7. Other Migratory Birds 13 8. Game Mammals 14 9. Marine Mammals - Nothing to Report 10. Other Resident Wildlife 18 11. Fisheries Resources 21 12. Wildlife Propogation and Stocking - Nothing to Report .... 13. Surplus Animal Disposal - 21 14. Scientific Collections 23 15. Animal Control - Nothing to Report 16. Marking and Banding - Nothing to Report 17. Disease Prevention and Control 23 H. PUBLIC USE 1. General 23 2. Outdoor Classrooms - Students 24 3. Outdoor Classrooms - Teachers 24 4. Interpretive Foot Trails- 25 5. Interpretive Tour Routes 25 6. Interpretive Exhibits/Demonstrations 26 7. Other Interpretive Programs 28 8. Hunting - Nothing to Report 9. Fishing 28 10. Trapping - Nothing to Report 11. Wildlife Observation 29 12. Other Wildlife Oriented Recreation 29 13. Camping - Nothing to Report 14. Picnicking 30 15. Off-Road Vehicling - Nothing to Report 16. Other Non-Wildlife Oriented Recreation - Nothing to Report. 17. Law Enforcement 30 18. Cooperating Associations 32 19. Concessions 32 I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 1. New Construction "32 2. Rehabilitation 33 TABLE OP CONTENTS Page I. EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES (Cont.) 3. Major Maintenance 33 4. Equipment Utilization and Replacement 33 5. Communication Systems 34 6. Energy Conservation 34 7. Other - Nothing to Report J. OTHER ITEMS 1. Cooperative Programs 34 2. Items of Interest 34 3. Credits 36 K. FEEDBACK 36 A. HIGHLIGHTS Work was completed on the new visitor center-office building. Displays and exhibits were installed in early spring, and the center was open to the pub­ lic in May. An "open house" was held June 19, when FWS Director Jantzen was on hand for the official opening and dedication, (Sections H-l and 1-1). Environmental education activity continued to increase, (Section H-2 and 3). Visitor numbers at the annual bison roundup were intentionally reduced in 1982, (Section H-12). Reproduction in the antelope and bighorn sheep herds was very poor, (Sec- tion G-8). A mild sunny day greeted visitors at the "open house" cermonies. A crowd of 350 showed up to hear the Director and other dignitaries speak. K. Olson, June 82 Director Jantzen officially opening the new visitor center. Assisting is Refuge Manager Jon Malcolm. On left Master of Cer­ monies George Ostrom looking on. K. Olson, June 82 Artwork by Ernie Kraft 2 B. CLIMATIC CONDITIONS The month of January, which is usually our coldest month, was relatively mild, with only two days of below zero temperatures recorded. However, our balmy winter ended in February, when eight consecutive days had temperature read­ ings below zero. Snowfall for January and February amounted to 21 inches. Despite the above average snowfall, all big game species came through the winter in good shape. Precipitation from March through May was more than one inch above normal for the period. Cool-season buhchgrasses responded to the extra moisture and range green-up was earlier than normal. Summer months continued to be wetter than normal, with over 2.5 inches of rainfall recorded in June alone. Weeds, especially goatweed (Hypericum perforatum), took advan­ tage of the late spring-early summer moisture and spread in several areas. Kentucky bluegrass and red three-awn were also quite prevalent. Fall months were mild. The first snowfall occurred on November 11. The year ended with relatively mild temperatures and bare ground. 1982 Weather Precipitation 30-Year Month High Low 1982 Average Snow January 50 -16 0.70 0.99 15.00 February 59 -21 0.74 0.56 6.00 March 63 18 1.77 0.68 2.00 April 77 11 0.85 1.03 May 88 22 1.72 1.50 June 94 32 2.51 1.98 July 96 37 1.53 0.95 Auqust 05 35- 0.75 1.00 September 90 26 1.99 1.02 October 75 16 0.85 0.89 November 55 3 0.62 0.76 5.25 December 55 -7 0.70 0.85 8.25 14.73 12.21 36.50 D. PLANNING 5. Research and Investigations National Bison Range NR82 - Sarcocystis in Wild Herbivores and Coyotes of the National Bison Range (61540-31) Daniel B. Pond, Montana Coop­ erative Wildlife Research Unit Field work on this study was completed in 1981, and a final report (M.S. Thesis) was received this year. A high incidence of the common parasite Sarcocystis hemionilatrantis was found in mule deer, white-tailed deer, eik, and coyotes collected on the Bison Range. An additional species of 3 Sarcocystis (as yet undescribed) was found in elk. Coyotes, the defini­ tive host, were experimentally infected from meat of all three intermed­ iate hosts. Nine of twelve mule deer fawns successfully infected with Sarcocystis that had been passed through coyotes developed pathogenic symptoms and died. The study concluded that "wildlife managers should be aware of this com­ mon and pathogenic parasite because S^. hemionilatrantis may have direct or indirect impacts on deer populations." However, under natural con­ ditions on the Bison Range, the parasite is presently not seriously affecting the health or productivity of deer and elk. National Bison Range NR82 - The Role of Body Size in Herbivore Competi­ tion (61540-33) Gary E. Belovsky and Jennifer Slade, University of Wash­ ington Field data collection continued on the Bison Range and surrounding vici­ nity in 1982. Mr. Belovsky and his assistants also helped us by document­ ing production and species composition on a 20Tacre spring prescribed grassland burn and three adjacent treatment types on the eastern edge of the range. National Bison Range NR82 - A Study of Social Organization, Social Be­ havior, and Population Dynamics in Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep on the National Bison Range (61540-34) Jack Hogg, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit - Jack Hogg completed field work on this study in 1982, and it was taken over by Chris Hass (see 61540-38). A final report has not been received to date. National Bison Range NR82 - Social Organization, Dominance and Reproduc­ tion Among Female American Bison (61540-35) Allen Rutberg, University of Washington A progress report received in February, 1982, stated an emerging conclu­ sion that age is a critical factor in the social organization of bison. Older cows achieve high dominance status. Cows appear to prefer mating with older bulls rather than dominate bulls. Observation of female bison was completed during the 1982 field season. A final report was due January 1, 1983, but has not been received to date. National Bison Range NR82 - Behavorial Development in Pronghorn (Antilo- capra americana) 61540-36 John A. Byers, University of Idaho This was the second season of field work on this study. Mr. Byers esti­ mated that 45 antelope does should have had fawns and that 90 fawns should have been born on the range. Twenty-six fawns, three or more days old, were tagged for study purposes. Only one of the tagged fawns survived until fall (4 per cent). Only four of the estimated 64 untagged fawns survived until fall(6 per cent). Mr. Byers's data and observations in­ dicated coyote predation as the primary mortality factor, and no differ­ ence between survival of tagged and untagged fawns. On the assumption that mortality in 1983 will continue at 95 per cent, Mr. Byers has re­ quested permission to tag as many fawns as possible in order to have an adequate sample of surviving fawns. However, we plan to authorize tagging of up to 50 fawns, which is about 40 percent of the antici­ pated fawn crop.
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