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Livestock & Wildlife Interactions
REM Integrated Rangeland Management
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Land of Contrasts: Ranching’s Commitment to Wildlife
Stop and watch the following video Or, search - Land Of Contrasts Ranching Wildlife
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ASSUMPTIONS - integrate wildlife & livestock
Nothing stays the same: Vegetation Changes! Succession Invasive Species Climate & Weather Catastrophic Change Other?
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ASSUMPTIONS - integrate wildlife & livestock
Rangeland is managed by “Multiple Use Principles” Often mandated by law on public lands Desirable on most lands .nrcs.usda.gov
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ASSUMPTIONS - integrate wildlife & livestock
Rangeland is managed by “Multiple Use Principles” Often mandated by law on public lands Desirable on most lands You can’t please all the critters all the time Management focus on one species will compromise others. Ecosystem Management & Umbrella Species
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ASSUMPTIONS - integrate wildlife & livestock
Managers need to understand how their local ecosystem functions Need to know laws and policies Success depends on bargaining & negotiation skills
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Interactions It Depends on….? Negative Positive
Photos: Pronghorn – Jen Peterson, Sheep & Cows – Karen Launchbaugh, Elk –Justin Olnes, Rabbit and Lizard- Connor White.
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Interactions Often assumed to be competition.
However – “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 fertility, reduced health
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Potential Positive Impacts
Proper management Maintain water quality Improve forage quality for wildlife Manage habitat and cover for wildlife Increased wildlife populations 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 landmanagers have reported an increase in wildlife populations following the use of livestock rotional grazing management systems (Smith A.1998; Peterson C. 2002; Lapointe, S. et al. 2000). NRCS photo
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Potential Positive Impacts
Improved Forages Small mammal & upland game birds Energy-rich seeds Cover Forbs Ants & Beetles Ground squirrels and small rodents Birds of prey k. Launchbaugh 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 (Holmes et al. 1979).
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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 Encourage 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/
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A few good examples Cattle --- Mountain Plovers & Dove
Cattle & Sheep --- Upland Game Birds Cattle -- Elk & Deer Fall Forage Quality Horses & Cattle -- Winter/Spring Shrubs Goats to reduce dense oak brush
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Potential Negative Impacts
Improper Grazing Reduced nest sites for upland game & waterfowl Trampled nests Decreased water quality Disturbed big game during fawning or calving Reduced cover to hide from predators Attract predators, parasites, or disease .fws.gov 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
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Effects of Ranches on Wildlife
Don’t forget that livestock grazing comes with human activities and structures as part of ranching and ranches. Some are positive, some are negative: Water Fences Large blocks of land Weed control Disturbance nrcs.usda.gov nrcs.usda.gov
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SS Cattle Company in Idaho
Watch the following Video here Or, search SS Cattel Company Idaho in YouTube
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Grazing systems can: Use strategic rest or deferment to improve nesting cover Remove livestock from fawning areas to reduce disturbance Heavy stock in some pasture to create “weedy” patches Stocking other pastures with moderate rates to create high quality regrowth nrcs.usda.gov
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Livestock for Wildlife Habitat Interactions
Can be good or bad Depends Species and Situations Situation Type of plants Topography Cover attributes Skill of manager nrcs.usda.gov
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Presentation (.ppt) Animal Relationships Mutualism/Protocooperation: Both benefit from the association. Commensalism: One derives some benefit while the other is unaffected. Antagonism (i.e. predation/parasitism): One species benefits at the expense of another. Amensalism: One is adversely affected and the other is unaffected by the association. Competition: Occurs when both animals in an association are harmed when they use the same resource (such as food or water) that is in limited supply. Neutralism: Two animals do interact or share the same habitat but do not affect each other.
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Animal Relationships + Benefit -- + Benefit -- Harm No Effect Harm
Presentation (.ppt) Animal Relationships + Benefit No Effect -- Harm + Benefit Mutualism Commensalism Antagonism Neutralism Amensalism -- Harm Competition V
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Finding Examples + Benefit -- + Benefit --Harm 0 No Effect Harm
Presentation (.ppt) Finding Examples + Benefit 0 No Effect -- Harm + Benefit Mutualism Egret & Cow Commensalism Wolves & Raven Antagonism Cougar & Deer Commensalism Cow & Dung Beetle Neutralism Deer & Butterfly Amensalism Disease from one species to another --Harm Antagonism Parasites Amensalism Deficate in Stream Competition Cattle & Elk
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