Get reliable science

In the Intermountain West, elk (Cervus elaphus) often occur in high numbers and in some cases over-use the best quality rangeland, potentially threatening other wildlife species such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Many shrub-dominated communities are in late successional stages, dominated by mature even-aged shrubs with little recruitment of young plants. Elk supplementation is an attractive option for reducing competition and for rejuvenating sagebrush stands through browsing since specific nutrients allow ungulates to ingest a greater proportion of low-quality and secondary compound-containing woody species like sagebrush. We offered choices of high-energy (granular molasses) and high-protein (soybean meal) supplements presented in 3 feeders stationed at three sites (one feeder per site, each feeder divided to contain each supplement) to encourage elk to visit and forage unproductive sagebrush stands. Elk preferred (3:1) molasses to soybean meal and a scan sampling technique using trail cameras revealed elk consuming supplement and browsing sagebrush on 42� 8.5 % and 57� 4.8 % of the scans recorded (N=435), respectively. Sagebrush utilization was indicated by recording pre and post treatment measurements of shrub canopy cover, sagebrush density along a 1 m wide belt transect with a distance of 100 m from the feeders with three transects at each site. Drop point measurements were taken along each transect post treatment. Three control sites were selected prior and all mentioned measurements were taken post treatment. In conclusion, manipulating elk foraging behavior through supplementation is a promising strategy to rejuvenate sagebrush stands and to enhance ecosystem services in the intermountain west. Keywords: competition, browsing, preference, supplementation, sagebrush, behavioral manipulation.