Frequent wildfires are threatening sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat by eliminating sagebrush (Artemisia sp.) and hindering shrub reestablishment. Monitoring data and grazing schedules from Squaw Valley Ranch, located in north central Nevada, suggest that rest from grazing following fire is one factor enabling shortened fire return intervals and subsequent reductions in sagebrush cover in critical sage-grouse habitat. A case-study on Squaw Valley Ranch suggests that flexible and appropriate livestock grazing management may reduce wildfire frequency and ultimately benefit sage-grouse habitat and populations.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.