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 Appears to be a limiting factor for some populations. Prefer sparse shrub cover. Prefer sparse shrub cover. Need an abundance of forbs and insects. Need an abundance of forbs and insects.

4. Alternative Methods Mechanical Chemical

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

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

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

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

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

10. Does It Work?

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17. TreatmentExclosureBiomassGrass CoverForb Cover GrazedOpen5.538.349.78 GrazedUngulate10.6023.5013.31 GrazedTotal11.4825.1614.84 ControlOpen5.778.6612.28 ControlUngulate5.4814.9110.03 ControlTotal8.1812.8811.84

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

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

26. QUESTIONS?