Animal community
Wildlife Interpretations.
Animal Community – Wildlife Interpretations
This rangeland ecological site provides diverse habitat for many native wildlife species. Large herbivore use of this ecological site is dominated by mule deer and elk. Pronghorn antelope occasionally utilize this site depending on shrub height and density. Important seasonal habitat is provided for resident and migratory animals including western toad, sagebrush lizard, western rattlesnake, shrews, bats, jackrabbits, ground squirrels, mice, coyote, red fox, badger, sage-grouse, Ferruginous hawk, prairie falcon, horned lark and western meadowlark. Changes in the plant community composition can reduce the number and diversity of wildlife species in the area. With reduced shrub cover, shrub obligate avian and mammal species become rare including sage-grouse, brewer’s sparrow, sage thrasher and pygmy rabbits. An increase in three-tip sagebrush would also decrease wildlife use due to a corresponding decrease in favorable understory vegetation. Also encroachment of noxious and invasive plant species (cheatgrass and medusahead) can replace native plant species which provided critical feed, brood-rearing and nesting cover for a variety of native wildlife. The loss of herbaceous understory vegetation has a negative impact on ground nesting birds, while the loss of shrub cover negatively affects both ground and shrub nesting avians. Water is limited, being provided only by seasonal runoff, artificial water catchments and spring sites. This rangeland ecological site may be associated with pre-historic lava flows which provide unique cave habitats for several sensitive animal species, including the Blind Cave Leiodid Beetle, Cave Obligate Mite, Bats and Cave Obligate Harvestman.
State 1 Phase 1.1, Reference Plant Community Phase - Three-tip Sagebrush/ Bluebunch Wheatgrass/ Thurber’s Needlegrass Reference Plant Community (RPC): This plant community provides a diversity of grasses, forbs and shrubs, used by native insect communities that assist in pollination. The reptile and amphibian community is represented by leopard lizard, short horned lizard, sagebrush lizard, western skink, western rattlesnake, western toad, boreal chorus frog and northern leopard frog. Amphibians are associated with springs and isolated water bodies adjacent to this plant community. Spring developments that capture all available water would preclude the use of these sites by amphibians. Area sensitive species reliant on the native shrub-steppe plant community include the Brewer’s sparrow, sage sparrow, sage thrasher and sage-grouse. Critical habitat (lek sites, nesting areas, winter cover and food) for sagebrush obligate avian species is provided by this diverse plant community. The plant community supports limited seasonal needs of large mammals (mule deer and elk). The dominant shrub (three-tip sagebrush) provides limited forage value for large mammals. A diverse small mammal population including golden-mantled ground squirrels, chipmunks, yellow-bellied marmots and pygmy rabbits would utilize these areas.
State 1 Phase 1.2 - Three-tip Sagebrush/ Sandberg Bluegrass/ Bottlebrush Squirreltail Plant Community: This plant community is the result of improper grazing management and lack of fire. The increase in three-tip sagebrush and loss of vigor in the historic perennial herbaceous vegetation has reduced the habitat value for many resident and migratory native animal species. Grasses, forbs and shrubs, are used by native insects that assist in pollination but the reduced herbaceous understory results in reduced diversity and numbers of insects. The reptile community is represented by leopard lizard, short horned lizard, sagebrush lizard, western skink and western rattlesnake. The reduction of grasses and forbs in the plant community would reduce the available prey species and cover for these resident reptile species. Development of spring sites that collected all available water would preclude the use of these sites by amphibians. Shrub-steppe obligates including Brewer’s sparrow, sage sparrow, sage thrasher and sage- grouse would utilize the site. Critical habitat (lek sites, nesting areas, winter cover and food) for sage grouse is limited due to the change in plant community, dominated by three-tip sagebrush and reduced understory of herbaceous vegetation. The plant community supports limited seasonal (spring through fall) needs of large mammals (mule deer and elk). The dominant shrub (three-tip sagebrush) provides limited forage value for large mammals. A diverse small mammal population including golden-mantled ground squirrels, chipmunks, yellow-bellied marmots, and pygmy rabbits would continue to utilize these areas.
State 1 Phase 1.3 - Bluebunch Wheatgrass/ Sandberg Bluegrass/ Bottlebrush Squirreltail Plant Community: This plant community is the result of fire. The plant community, dominated by herbaceous vegetation with little or no sagebrush provides less vertical structure for animals. Insect diversity would be reduced but a diverse native forb plant community would still support select pollinators. Habitat for native reptiles would be limited or excluded for the short horned lizard, sagebrush lizard and western rattlesnakes. The dominance of herbaceous vegetation with little sagebrush canopy cover would prevent use of these areas for nesting by Brewer’s sparrow, sage sparrow, sage thrasher, and sage-grouse. This plant community may provide limited brood-rearing habitat for sage-grouse when adequate shrub cover is nearby, but use as winter habitat and nesting cover by sage-grouse is eliminated. The dominant herbaceous vegetation improves habitat for grassland avian species (horned lark and western meadowlark). Large mammal (mule deer, antelope, and elk) forage use would be seasonal and the site would offer little thermal cover and young of year cover. Small mammal diversity would be reduced and the plant community would not provide suitable habitat for pygmy rabbits.
State 2 - Sandberg Bluegrass/ Cheatgrass and Annual Plant Community: This plant community is the result of continued improper grazing management and/or frequent fire. The plant community does not support a diverse insect community. The reduced forb component in the plant community would support a very limited population of pollinators. Most native reptilian species would not be supported by this plant community. This plant community does not support the habitat requirements for sage-grouse, sage thrasher, Brewer’s sparrow or sage sparrow. Diversity of grassland avian species is reduced due to poor cover and food. Birds of prey including hawks and falcons may range throughout these areas looking for prey species. Large mammals may utilize the herbaceous vegetation in the early part of the year when the invasive annuals (cheatgrass) are more palatable. At other times of the year large mammals would not regularly utilize these areas due to poor food and cover conditions. The reduction of insect populations and diversity would reduce suitability of the site for bats. The populations of small mammals would be dominated by open grassland species like the Columbian ground squirrel.
State 3 - Range Seeding Plant Community: The seeding mixture (native or non-native) determines the animal species that would utilize this site. A diverse seed mixture of grasses and forbs would provide similar habitat conditions as in the herbaceous plant community described in State 1 phase 1.3. A diverse seed mixture of grasses, forbs and shrubs would provide similar habitat conditions as described in State 1 phase 1.1 or 1.2. A monoculture of non-native grass species would not support diverse populations of insects, reptiles, avian, mammals or sagebrush obligate species. Grassland animal species including western meadowlark, horned lark, savannah sparrow and elk would utilize this site for nesting and/or foraging. Birds of prey including hawks and falcons may range throughout this community looking for prey species.
Grazing Interpretations.
This site is suited for grazing with domestic livestock in late spring, summer, and fall. Usually this site is a key area in a management program.
Estimated initial stocking rate will be determined with the landowner or decision-maker. They will be based on the inventory which includes species, composition, similarity index, production, past use history, season of use, and seasonal preference. Calculations used to determine estimated initial stocking rate will be based on forage preference ratings.
Recreational uses
This site has hunting opportunities for big game and upland birds. Hiking, horseback riding, and photography are additional uses. ATV’s use this site due to the gentle slopes.
Other information
Field Offices
Mountain Home, ID
Gooding, ID
Shoshone, ID
Rupert, ID
Arco, ID
