Brush control impacts on rangeland wildlife

Excerpt

DEMANDS on rangeland for red meat, water, wildlife, and recreation are increasing. Meanwhile, about 32 percent of the rangeland in the United States is in poor condition, and 50 percent is in fair condition (5).

Invasion of grassland by woody plants caused by overgrazing, temporary cultivation, or a reduction in burning has been the primary cause of the declining rangeland condition over the past hundred years. Once desirable plants are eliminated and brush invasion occurs, range improvement is difficult. Associated with brush invasion is a gradual reduction in groundcover, which can result in serious soil erosion. Many brush species will permanently occupy an area once they have become established, regardless of whether livestock grazing occurs or not. Therefore, range improvements are necessary.

Although heavy stands of brush are generally undesirable, range managers now recognize that limited quantities of woody plants should be maintained even when the goal of management is primarily livestock production. This is because shrubs provide shade in the summer, high quality forage during drought, and a food source during the winter. The deep root systems of shrubs stabilize stream banks and prevent soil from sliding in steep areas. Shrubs also help stabilize rangeland ecosystems as well as …