Hunter looked at cattle grazing effects on the abundance of pocket gophers in a California annual grassland. One site, that had been ungrazed by cattle for five years, was compared to a similar site that received annual winter and spring grazing for 75 years, to determine the impact of cattle on gophers. Hunter found that active gopher mounds were twenty five times more abundant on ungrazed grasslands than on the winter/spring grazed areas. The author also looked at other factors, such as bare soil, rocks and vegetation differences between the two areas, but was only able to conclude that cattle grazing was the lone causative variable. Pending management plans, cattle grazing can be a benefit for those who want to rid their land of pocket gophers, however Hunter cautions about disrupting the ecosystem by removing a large prey species, as well as a natural cultivator.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.