Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Alternation of bison and black-tailed prairie dog grazing interactions by prescribed burning
Author
Coppock, D. L., J. K. Detling
Publication Year
1969
Body

Coppock and Detling observed bull and cow-calf bison (Bison bison) herd selection of feeding sites on a prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colony, before and after a prescribed burn on a nearby grassland, at Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. Prior to the burn, cow-calf herds grazed the young portion of the prairie dog colony 3 times more than expected during summer, while post-burn these herds reduced their use of the colony by 35% per visit. Bulls were less attracted to the burn site that the cow-calf herds, likely due the presence of wallows on the colony, which are especially important during the rut.

Language
en
Keywords
bison
burning
grazing
Bison bison
black-tailed prairie dog
Cynomys ludovicianus
Wind Cave National Park
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