In this study, Beck and Peek determined the effects of elk (Cervus elaphus) use and cattle (Bos taurus) use on three mountain meadows in northeastern Nevada during different seasons through exclosure fencing and simulated grazing (clipping). In wildlife and control treatments, graminoids tended to increase over the grazing season, while declining in cattle-grazed pastures; indicating little vegetation use by wildlife. Forbs tended to decline over the grazing season, especially in cattle-grazed and heavily clipped pastures, during early- or mid-summer; while light clipping did not limit regrowth or stimulate compensatory growth. Overall, cattle use of vegetation was 2-4 times greater than wildlife use. This suggests that wildlife probably have a significantly lower impact than cattle in the study area. However, the combination of cattle and elk grazing may require ranchers in northeastern Nevada to alter their grazing management plans to compensate for the combined use, especially on forbs, to maintain vegetative condition.
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.