Effectiveness of Sharp-tailed Grouse Transplants in the Tobacco Valley, Montana
Volume 18, No. 1-4, 2012 • Manuscript[pdfjs-viewer url=”http://www.intermountainjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/IJS-2012-v18-n1-4-Manuscript-Young-Wood-pp31-38.pdf” viewer_width=644px viewer_height=700px fullscreen=false download=false print=true openfile=false]
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Authors
Young, D. Lewis, Wood, Alan K.
Keywords
Ecology, Montana, wildlife management, sharp-tailed grouse, Population augmentation, grouse, Eureka, Kalispell, sharptailed, sharptailed grouse, tobacco valley, tobacco valley montana, wildlife parks, montana fish wildlife, fish wildlife parks, sharptailed grouse tympanuchus phasianellus, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus, extirpation
Scientific Disciplines
Biological Sciences - Terrestrial
Abstract Text
Records extending back to 1861 document the presence of sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) in the Tobacco Valley of northwestern Montana. However, following a similar trend throughout the species’ range, populations of sharp-tailed grouse in the Tobacco Valley declined sharply until only three males were observed on one lek by 1987. Seven years of transplanting birds (1987 to1997) increased the numbers of individuals on one lek and led to the establishment of a second lek that persisted for three years. After each of the transplant periods ended, the number of males counted at leks gradually declined until the last lek activity was recorded in 2000. Sharp-tailed grouse in the Tobacco Valley likely were extirpated by 2003.
Citation
Yong, D. L., Wood, A. K. 2012. Effectiveness of Sharp-tailed Grouse Transplants in the Tobacco Valley, Montana. Intermountain Journal of Sciences 18(1-4): 31-38.