Greater Sage Grouse at Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, Montana

Abstract

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located 256 km west of the North Dakota border and 63 km south of the Canadian border in the Milk River Valley of central Phillips County, Montana. Most of the 6273-ha refuge has been ungrazed by domestic livestock since the mid-l 970s. The refuge is approximately one-half shallow marshes and lakes and one-half upland grasslands. Grasslands on Bowdoin NWR are composed of mixed-grass species interspersed with shrubs and forbs. Plains silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana cana) is the predominant sage on the refuge, but its density is low throughout most of the grasslands. Much of the plains silver sagebrush is heavily browsed by pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana).