Intermountain Journal of Sciences

Caragana Establishment, Survival and Regeneration in the Black Hills, South Dakota

Daniel W. Uresk, Thomas M. Juntti, Donald R. Dietz — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0700

The purpose of this study was to determine the adaptability and potential wildlife value of Caragana also known as Siberian peashrub for establishment, survival, growth, regeneration, and nutritional qualities. This study was initiated in 1968 in the Black Hills, South Dakota on the McVey Burn (1939), within an open stand of a ponderosa pine forest. Bare rootstock was planted in 1968, and after 35 years survival was 74 percent. Average height was 3 m (10 feet) and plants did regenerate by seed bt did not expand into adjacent habitat. Ideal growing condition evaluated at 35 years, was in a closed tree canopy with 35 percent overstory and basal area 17.7 m2/ha (77 ft2/ acre). Open growing conditions was had exposed areas, canopy cover 17 percent and basal area 5.4 m2/ha (24 ft2/acre). Tree overstory cover on North facing slopes was approximately 2 times greater than on more open south facing slopes. Caragana has not shown signs of spreading from original planting sites. A model developed for habitat assignment defining Closed and Open tree overstory cover for growth, regeneration, and establishment for future sites was 90 percent accurate. Utilization of Caragana by deer based on volume (length x width x height) was 77 percent, 12 years after establishment, with greatest use on south facing slopes. Nutritional qualities of Caragana are generally greater than native shrubs for winter use, with only phosphorous being marginal. The adaptability of Caragana and its qualities makes this browse species suitable for white-tailed deer use for winters. Plantations of Caragana in key wintering areas for white-tailed deer on south facing slopes with Open tree overstory cover and low basal area is recommended for restoration on over browsed ranges.

Avian Response to Old-growth Maintenance Logging in the Swan River State Forest, Montana

Leah S. Breidinger, G. Ross Baty — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0700

Old-growth maintenance silvicultural treatment is a tool implemented to retain old-growth forest attributes, remove shade-intolerant trees, and create canopy gaps. Our objectives were to examine how these treatments affect avian diversity and density. We used a Before-After/Control-Impact Pairs study design by pairing old-growth stands proposed for harvest with nearby untreated stands, based on their pre-treatment forest structure and composition similarity. Logging reduced basal area by 40 percent (P < 0.05), overstory canopy cover by 31 percent (P < 0.05), and the density of trees >42 cm dbh (P < 0.05). No major changes in bird species composition or diversity were detected. Only the relative densities of evening grosbeaks changed (58% reduction in density, P < 0.05), likely due to the removal of insect-infested trees. All old-growth associated bird species continued to occupy treatment stands under the landscape conditions we observed. We did not evaluate avian survival or reproductive success, which would provide beneficial metrics for further interpretation of the potential effects of old-growth maintenance treatments.

Long-Term Band Encounters of Rehabilitated North American Eagles

Al Harmata, George J. Montopoli, Becky Kean — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0700

Between 1973 and 2020, 122 Golden Eagles and 115 Bald Eagles submitted to veterinary medical rehabilitation were banded and released upon recovery in three western states. Adults of both species comprised the most commonly banded age class of rehabilitated (rehab) eagles. Bald Eagles admitted for toxins spent less time in rehabilitation than for those admitted for collision trauma. Encounter (band read for any reason) data from banded eagles provided by the Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) were analyzed and fitted to appropriate functions in an attempt to describe underlying distributions inherent in the data. Up to March 2020, 28 (12.2%) rehab eagles had been encountered. Encounter rate was 7.4% for rehab Golden Eagles and 16.5% for rehab Bald Eagles, slightly different than those reported by BBL overall (8.0%, 12.2%, respectively). All Golden Eagles were recovered (encountered dead) but 26.3% of Bald Eagles were encountered alive. Days in rehabilitation were not different between species or between Bald Eagles encountered dead or alive. Sex ratio of encountered eagles was not different from ratio of banded eagles of either species. Median time between release and encounter for Golden Eagles was 1.75 yr and 1.42 yr for Bald Eagles. Median distance from banding to encounter site for Golden Eagles was 7.5 km and 115.7 km for Bald Eagles. Number of encounters per year was not related to number of rehab eagles banded that year or for any year previous. Encounters of live Bald Eagles > 30 yr old are discussed. Rehab Golden Eagles may have originated predominantly from western Canada and Alaska while Bald Eagles may have been a mix of a local, non-latitudinal migratory population and seasonal latitudinal migrants. Small sample sizes and lack of precise encounter data prevents utility of rehab eagle encounters to contribute to demographic vital rate estimates needed for effective management of either species. Banding rehab eagles may not justify the manpower investment by BBL required to manage data from banders that band rehab eagles exclusively. Falconry training may be warranted to increase survival potential of rehab Golden Eagles. If recent trends continue, increased rehabilitation effort focused on Golden Eagles may be warranted.

Snowshoe Hare use of Silviculturally Altered Conifer Forests in The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Mark D. Kurzen, Daniel P. Tyers, Joao L. Rossi, Lance B. McNew, Bok F. Sowell — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0700

Information about snowshoe hare habitat use in key Canada lynx recovery areas, such as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, is critical for the conservation of lynx. Although research conclusions differ in regard to the types and ages of forests preferred by snowshoe hares, restrictions on silvicultural practice have been implemented by forest managers to protect snowshoe hares in this area. However, some research suggests that regenerating lodgepole pine stands associated with silvicultural treatments benefit snowshoe hares. We evaluated three indices of snowshoe hare use within a timber management area in southwest Montana, inside the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (1999–2012) to assess the relative use of forest types. We analyzed: 1) 11 years of data collected from 280 pellet plots using linear mixed models and AICc model selection, 2) 13 years of track counts from 2,202 km of roadway travel using Chi-squared goodness-of-fit tests of proportional segment lengths and the associated cover types, and 3) 76 nights over one winter of live-trapping using a hare/night index. Overall, we observed the greatest use within the youngest two classes of regenerating lodgepole pine stands that were associated with clear cutting and pre-commercial thinning. These results suggest snowshoe hares prefer silviculturally influenced 30–60 years old lodgepole pine forests.

Private Lands Conservation: Where it has gone and where it is going - 2020 Annual Meeting

Brett Dorak — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 00:00:00 -0700

Our theme for this year’s conference takes a look at what is going on across the state on private lands and how landowners are working with different agencies, NGOs, developing grass root programs, and utilizing other avenues to improve and conserve the resources right here in our backyard. Approximately two thirds of Montana is privately owned, and without private lands conservation, many of the flora and fauna species that call this place home would not be as abundant as they are now. For the most part, wildlife does not understand anthropogenic lines drawn on a map, but the mosaic of landownership across the state requires everyone to do their part to conserve not only the wildlife, but also the way of life and traditions that have been associated with these lands for centuries.