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An Assessment of Rangeland Activities on Wildlife Populations and Habitats

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An Assessment of Rangeland Activities on Wildlife Populations and Habitats CHAPTER 6 An Assessment of Rangeland Activities on Wildlife Populations and Habitats Paul R. Krausman,1 Vernon C. Bleich,2 William M. Block,3 David E. Naugle,4 and Mark C. Wallace5 Authors are 1Boone and Crockett Professor of Wildlife Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA; 2Affiliate Professor, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; 3Wildlife and Terrestrial Ecosystems Program Leader, US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2500 S. Pine Knoll Dr, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA; 4Professor, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA; and 5Associate Professor, Department Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2125, USA. Correspondence: Paul R. Krausman, Boone and Crockett Program in Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Biology, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA. Email: [email protected] Research was funded in part by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Boone and Crockett Program in Wildlife and the Wildlife Biology Program, the University of Montana, the USDA Forest Service, and Texas Tech University. Reference to any commercial product or service is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by USDA is implied 253 Wildlife responses to conservation practices “are usually species and even species-habitat specific, meaning not only that each species may respond differently to any specific practice but also that a single species may respond differently to the same practice in different conditions. ” 254 Conservation Benefits of Rangeland Practices An Assessment of Rangeland Activities on Wildlife Populations and Habitats 6 Paul R. Krausman, Vernon C. Bleich, William M. Block, David E. Naugle, and Mark C. Wallace IntRoductIon amphibians, and bats represent very broad wildlife categories that may have diverse Numerous management practices are applied responses to various conservation practices. to rangelands in the western United States For example, focusing on Rodentia includes to enhance wildlife, including prescribed species with such widely different habitat grazing, burning, brush management, and life history strategies that responses mowing, fencing, land clearing, planting, within the group may differ diametrically and restoration to benefit soil and water. when exposed to the same management Indeed, the Natural Resources Conservation practice. Furthermore, most of the studies Deer fawn on the Theodore Service (NRCS) lists 167 conservation that have examined how anthropogenic Roosevelt Memorial Ranch, practices (http://www.NRCS.USDA.gov/ activities on rangelands influence wildlife Dupuyer, Montana along the technical/standards/nhcp.html). However, have not classified the management activities Rocky Mountain Front. (Photo: wildlife responses to conservation practices involved according to the NRCS conservation Sonja Smith) are usually species and even species-habitat practices. Thus, we refer to related specific, meaning not only that each species conservation practices on rangelands that may respond differently to any specific influence wildlife as rangeland activities. practice but also that a single species may respond differently to the same practice in Wildlife in America has been strongly different vegetation associations or conditions. influenced by agriculture; livestock grazing is When managers apply conservation practices the most widespread land management practice to the landscape, habitat is often altered, in the world (Holechek et al. 2003) and affects and managers should understand that the 70% of the land surface in the western United management will benefit some of the wildlife States (Fleischner 1994). Traditional practices present but may be detrimental to others. in rangeland management often homogenize Conservation practices were designed to help grazing lands to increase forage production ecosystem managers think about the variables and maximize sustainable yield for domestic that accompany any action on the landscape. livestock. New management approaches Each conservation practice has specific that promote the spatial and temporal scale purposes that may influence related resource of heterogeneity in vegetation structure, issues. For example, prescribed grazing by composition, and biomass so that sufficient large herbivores can alter the structure and tracks of particular vegetation associations can function of ecosystems that have direct and accommodate desired wildlife populations indirect effects on wildlife. Primary effects are needed to improve habitat for wildlife are often described in the literature (Mackie (Fuhlendorf and Engle 2001; Bruno and 2000), but there has not been an evaluation Cardinale 2008). of how conservation practices affect wildlife on rangelands. However, practices like The dynamics of native and domestic prescribed grazing are not a simple treatment ungulates, combined with various management but have widely divergent effects, depending practices, create a complex interaction that on locale, timing, intensity, and species or influences plant and animal communities combination of grazing animals (Briske et al. by altering ecosystem structure, nutrient 2008). Similarly, small mammals, reptiles, cycling, productivity, recruitment, predator– CHAPTER 6: An Assessment of Rangeland Activities on Wildlife Populations and Habitats 255 than other conservation practices. Many of the early studies of wildlife parallel livestock husbandry and range management theory in that grazing and browsing are the primary factors affecting the kinds, amounts, and quality of forage available (Mackie 2000). Our objective was to review peer-reviewed literature to examine how conservation practices influence wildlife and wildlife habitats on rangelands in the United States, with specific reference to the NRCS Conservation Practice Standard for Upland Wildlife Habitat Management. The main purpose of this conservation standard is to treat upland wildlife habitat concerns identified during the conservation planning process that enable movement or provide shelter, cover, and food in proper amounts, locations, and times to sustain wild animals that inhabit uplands during a portion of their life cycle. We emphasized the literature compiled in the bibliography by Maderik et al. (2006) but also considered other articles to provide a more complete review. We documented rangeland activities that influenced (i.e., positive and negative) game birds, nongame birds, carnivores, ungulates, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians on western rangelands. Carnivores are rarely considered by NRCS, but we include them in our review because of their importance to functioning ecosystems. We also identified gaps in scientific knowledge and recommended future research to enhance management of Pyrruhuloxias (Cardinalis prey relationships, urination and defecation, wildlife on western rangelands in the United sinuatus) occupy desert scrub trampling, and competition. Additional States. We supplemented the synthesis with and mesquite-dominated range- modifications to landscapes, including literature outside the United States when lands in southwestern United roads, fences, anthropogenic water sources, similar knowledge within the United States was States. (Photo: Tim Fulbright) agricultural structures, and other developments not available. related to livestock production on western rangelands, modify wildlife behavior and Results of tHe lIteRAtuRe complicate wildlife management. This is Assessment especially important for wildlife, as domestic stock and the related anthropogenic Very few of the NRCS conservation practices developments alter forage availability and that directly affect upland wildlife habitat are cover and contribute to habitat alteration and addressed or evaluated in the peer-reviewed fragmentation. Large herbivores may potentially literature. We identified specific activities modify landscapes in numerous ways (Senft et when appropriate; however, this review is al. 1987; Ohmart 1996; Fuhlendorf and Engle dominated by grazing because of the high 2001), but describing them is beyond the scope profile that grazing has received by the scientific of this chapter. However, it is not surprising community. Prescribed grazing, when carefully that the effects of prescribed grazing on wildlife controlled, can be useful in improving habitat have received more attention in the literature for specific species, but the frequency, timing, 256 Conservation Benefits of Rangeland Practices P. R. Krausman, V. C. Bleich, W. M. Block, D. E. Naugle, and M. C. Wallace and intensity of livestock grazing for maximum (Meleagris gallopavo L. 1758); bobwhite wildlife benefits are different than those used (Colinus virginianus L. 1758); and scaled quail for maximum livestock benefits (Holechek et (Callipepla squamata Vigors 1830). al. 1982). For wildlife, the amount of critical Very few of residues left after prescribed grazing is more Our synthesis includes U.S. Department of important than the amount removed; the Agriculture (USDA) Conservation Practices the NRCS condition of most ranges will deteriorate when Standards that benefit native grouse and quail conservation greater than 50% of grazable vegetation is used and is supplemented with information on exotic annually (Hyder 1953; Holechek et al. 1982). species (e.g., ring-necked pheasant [Phasianus practices that colchicus L. 1758] and grey or “Hungarian” directly affect More than 25 yr ago, Holechek et al. (1982) partridge [Perdix perdix
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