1. Wildlife & Livestock Interactions
Kevin Hurley
Colin Braley
Managing lands for livestock requires an understanding of how wildlife species are affected by the presence of livestock and the effects of livestock grazing.
Rangeland Principles (REM 151)

2. Livestock & Wildlife --- There’s a Plan
Many ranchers such as Tim Koopmann, a rancher in Suno, California, develop management plans where wildlife are a key element.

3. Managing Livestock & Wildlife Together
Rangeland is managed by “Multiple Use Principles”
Often mandated by law on public lands
Desirable on most lands
But…. You can’t please all the critters all the time
Management for one species will compromise others
Focus on ecosystem management
Umbrella Species?
As stated earlier in this course, Multiple-Use is a key element of rangeland management. It is mandated by the Federal Lands Management & Policy Act “with emphasis on striking a balance in land use planning among the competing values of recreation, grazing, timber, watershed protection, wildlife and fish, and wilderness.” - US Department of Justice.
But, a manager must recognize, that management aimed at enhancing one activity or species, will reduce resource values for other activities or species. )

4. Interactions It Depends Negative Positive
Not all species are compatible. Management for some species will compromise habitat for other species. However, the potential conflict or benefit of species living together can be enhanced or minimized with careful management.
J. Peterson
K. Launchbaugh
J. Olness
K. Launchbaugh
K. Launchbaugh
Connor White
K. Launchbaugh

5. Domestic Sheep & Bighorn Sheep
Presentation (.ppt)
Animal Relationships
Type of Interaction
Effect on species A
Effect on species B
Example
Mutualism +
Cattle Egrets & Bison
Neutralism
Mason Bees & Pronghorn
Competition -
Coyotes & Wolves
Commensalism
Ravens & Wolves
Antagonism
Ticks & Elk
Amensalism
Domestic Sheep & Bighorn Sheep
-Mutualism: Cattle egrets are birds that eat insects and parasites off the backs of cattle. They benefit with a meal of insects. The cattle or bison benefit by getting rid of insects and parasites.
-Neutralism: Mason bees have no direct impact on pronghorn and vise versa.
-Competition: Coyotes and Wolves compete for the same resource (hebivores). If populations of coyotes and wolves are high, both species can lose weight or ability to reproduce.
-Commensalism: Ravens often follow wolves and feed on the meat remaining on carcasses after the wolves have gotten all they want.
-Antagonism: Predator-Prey relationships are examples of Antagonism. For example Coyotes preying on Sheep, coyotes benefit and sheep are harmed.
-Amensalism: Domestic sheep can carry a type of pneumonia that has little effect on them but can be deadly if passed to wild bighorn sheep

6. Domestic sheep and Bighorn sheep
Presentation (.ppt)
Domestic sheep and Bighorn sheep ?
Have the class think about the interactions between these two and come up with what relationships exist and why.
Domestic sheep carry pneumonia pathogen but are not affected by it-deadly to Bighorns
Historically management was reactive
Attempting to be proactive now – attempting to figure out what herds are more likely to contract and what individuals within the herds
Research is expensive and limited. Capture of sheep is dangerous and very stressful
Often management is killing infected sheep to reduce spread
Debi Lander
Joshua Miller

7. Competition?
Two species in same are using same resource… often assumed COMEPTITION
But, Competition only occurs if:
Both species are using the same resource
e.g., food or space
The resource is in short supply
At least one species loses fitness because of the interaction
e.g., lose weight, loss of fertile, reduced health
NPS.gov
Many people assume competition occurs of two species are competing if they are using that same resource. However, it is important to realize that competition only occurs if: 1) Both species use the same resource, 2) the resource is in short supply, and 3) at least one species is harmed by the interaction. Therefore, it is difficult to prove true competition.
Connor White

8. Livestock →Wildlife: Potential Positive Impacts
Proper management
Improve forage quality for wildlife
Manage habitat and cover for wildlife
Maintain water quality
Increased wildlife populations
Some species well adapted to ranching
NRCS photo
There is no doubt that the mismanagement of livestock can degrade rangeland habitat for wildlife and livestock. However, research has shown that with proper management, livestock can be used to properly manage and improve forage quality for wildlife.
Grazing and Positive Impacts on Wildlife
In addition to the economic benefits (such as increased hay and livestock production), healthy pastures help reduce erosion, improve water quality, and provide food and habitat for wildlife.
Many ranches and land managers have reported an increase in wildlife populations following the use of livestock rotational grazing management systems.
UDSA-USFS

9. Land of Contrasts: Ranching’s Commitment to Wildlife
Rancher often care deeply about wildlife on the lands they manage. In this video is an example of how ranchers in Washington worked with fish and game agencies to get the Columbia white-tail deer off the endangered species list.

10. Livestock →Wildlife: Potential Positive Impacts
Improved Forages
Higher quality grasses
Energy-rich seeds
Forbs
Insect
Cover
Reduce cover
Pronghorn
Prairie dogs
Birds of Brey
Travel corridors
D. Clark - BLM
Improved forages can also affect small mammal and upland game bird populations that rely on annual forbs and grasses for energy-rich seeds, vegetation, and cover. Further, it has been reported that moderate grazing increases the number of forbs and grasshoppers, which are an important food source for many birds.

11. Livestock →Wildlife: Potential Positive Impacts
Improved Habitat
Grazing – patchy, mosaic pattern
Create patchy habitat with high structural diversity.
Open up dense vegetation canopies
Feeding, nesting, and hiding sites
Encouraged establishment of shrubs
Selective grazing
Create travel corridors
Remove rank grass
Stimulate browse production by reducing grass biomass
Use livestock to manage weeds & fire risk
Since cattle grazing is often patchy, a mosaic vegetation pattern is created that may enhance wildlife populations. Of particular importance is the creation of feeding, nesting, and hiding sites created in short proximity of one another. The removal of grass by grazing of cattle and sheep encourages the establishment and growth of shrubs. At higher stocking rates, livestock may browse existing shrubs which encourages lateral sprouting causing the growth of tender, nutritious shoots and creating more dense “bushier” shrubs for excellent hiding cover.
Where utilization is somewhat greater, a better habitat may be produced for ground squirrels which are a major food source for hawks and owls. Livestock can be carefully used to open dense vegetation and remove rank grass. This creates travel corridors from small wildlife, like turkeys, and encourages high quality regrowth of grasses to improve forage quality for deer.
NRCS photo
nrcs.usda.gov

12. Livestock →Wildlife: Potential Negative Impacts
Improper grazing can:
Reduced nest sites for upland game & waterfowl
Trample nests
Decrease water quality
Disturb big game during fawning or calving
Reduce cover to hide from predators
Attract predators and parasites
Transmit disease
Improperly managed livestock grazing can have detrimental effects on the landscape and wildlife populations. These include:
reduced nest sites for upland game and waterfowl
decreased water quality
trampled nests for waterfowl
disturbed big game during fawning
reduced cover that permits wildlife to hide from predators
reduced biomass of desirable wildlife forage
increased noxious weed populations
decreased vegetative diversity for bird, mammal, and insect communities
increased attraction of predators
potential spread of parasites or disease

13. Effects of Ranches on Wildlife
Don’t forget… livestock grazing comes with human activities and structures as part of ranching.
Some are positive, some are negative:
Water
Fences
Large blocks of land
Weed control
Disturbance
nrcs.usda.gov
Ranching includes many structures and activities on the land that may benefit of be detrimental to wildlife.
Gary Kramer (nrcs.usda.gov)

14. SS Cattle Company in Idaho
In this video we see a rancher in Idaho who works to improve wildlife habitat on his ranch.

15. Interactions It Depends Negative Positive
Species of livestock & wildlife
Type of plants
Topography
Cover attributes
Skill of manager
The potential positive or negative aspects depends on the animals involved, the habitat, and the skill of livestock and wildlife managers.
J. Peterson
K. Launchbaugh
J. Olness
K. Launchbaugh
K. Launchbaugh
Connor White
K. Launchbaugh

16. Wildlife & Livestock Interactions
Kevin Hurley
Colin Braley
Rangeland Principles (REM 151)