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Plovers, prairie dogs, and fire: Managing semi-arid rangelands for wildlife and livestock

New synthesis from the Great Plains Fire Science Exchange on Mountain plover and prescribed fire research.

Introduction: The mountain plover (Charadrius montanus) is a bird species with very specific habitat needs when it breeds in the shortgrass and mixed grass regions of the western Great Plains. Plovers are a ground-nesting bird with cryptic coloring that allows them to blend in well with the short vegetation and bare soil typical of prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies, their most preferred habitat. Prairie dog colonies are increasingly rare and seen as undesirable by ranchers as prairie dogs compete with livestock for forage and pock the ground with holes and mounds. Providing additional desirable plover habitat compatible with livestock production can be challenging. Better understanding how plover, prairie dogs, fire, and livestock interact may provide possible solutions.

Full Publication can be found here

Baldwin, Carol and Augustine, David. Plovers, prairie dogs, and fire: Managing semi-arid rangelands for wildlife and livestock. GPE publication 2020-5.

Image Credit Great Basin Fire Science Exchange.

Posted by:
Gloria Edwards
Published on:
September 4, 2020

Categories: Research Brief/SynthesisTags: disturbance, disturbance interactions, disturbance regimes, fire science, Fire Science Exchange Network, Great Plains, livestock grazing, Prescribed Fire, rangeland, rangeland fire, rangeland management, rangelands, Wildlife

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This regional Fire Exchange is one of 15 regional fire science exchanges sponsored by the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP).
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