Habitat selection, foraging behavior, and dietary nutrition of elk in burned aspen forest.

Authors(s): S. K. Canon, P. J. Urness and N. V. DeByle

Publication: Journal of Range Management

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Publication Date: 0000-00-00

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Abstract: Prescribed burning is frequently used to enhance regeneration of aspen. The effects of burning aspen on wild ungulates are poorly understood. We used free-ranging tame elk to assess diet composition and quality on a site containing a 40-ha aspen burn, pure unburned aspen, mixtures of aspen and conifers, and other habitats. Foraging preferences of eik among the habitats were also investigated. Overall, no dietary nutritional differences were found between burned and unburned aspen habitats. Diet composition by forage class varied somewhat, due primarily to an abundance of very paintable post-fire forbs on the bum. Time spent feeding was significantly different among habitats. The bum was substantially more attractive for foraging probably because preferred forages were consistently available and greater foraging efficiency was possible than in other habitats. The experiment was conducted on the Caribou National Forest in southeastern Idaho during the summers of 1983 and 1984. The study site consisted of a 40-ha area burned in September 1981, located in the midst of pure aspen and aspen-Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga mensiesii) mixed forest.

Keywords: diet selection, animal, mammal, behavior, wapiti, Cervidae, Cervus elaphus, elk, fire, burning, aspen, nutrition, habitat, forage , food, Caribou National Forest, Idaho