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Browsing by Author "Alldredge, A. William, committee member"

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    The bighorn sheep of Battlement Mesa - a low elevation population
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 1991) Cunningham, Mary Louise, author; Bailey, James A., advisor; Alldredge, A. William, committee member; Lehner, Philip N., committee member
    I studied bighorn sheep on Battlement Mesa, Colorado, from 12/88 to 7/90, to determine present and past herd status and distribution, so that 1) management options are clarified and 2) future management activities may be evaluated. I studied the herd by tracking 1 radio-collared ewe and obtaining visual observations and by systematically sampling study area units for sheep, sheep sign, potential competitors, potential predators and sheep carcasses. I recorded water sources that were encountered. I developed an historic perspective of the herd by searching agency files and local newspapers and interviewing local residents. The herd numbered up to 200-250 animals in the early 1900s and declined to an estimated 50 animals by 1970. Minimum herd sizes during 1989 and 1990 were 23 and 26, including lambs, respectively. Since 1961, the herd has abandoned approximately 56 km2 of historic range in the Mamm Peaks area. The herd decline corresponded with probable vegetation changes on Battlement Mesa, intensive livestock grazing through the 1950s, reports of poaching and an increasing elk herd. Sheep remained on the western portion of the range during winter and spring, 1989. Ewe/juvenile groups migrated to Anderson and Durant Gulches between 5/15-7/15/89 for lambing. Rams were more dispersed and in groups of 1-3, except during the rutting season. Ewe/juvenile group size ranged from 1-13. During dry months, (7/89, 8/89, 6/90) sheep concentrated in Anderson and Durant Gulches where a free-flowing spring and a seep were located. Bighorn sheep on Battlement Mesa appear limited by dense mountain shrub stands which separate all productive meadows from escape terrain and cover historic migration routes. A significantly greater use of the shale slope habitat contributed most to rejecting the null hypothesis that sheep use habitat types in proportion to their availabilities on Battlement Mesa. Sheep remained on shale slopes most (75% of all observations) of the time, using scattered grasses, forbs and shrubs for forage and seeps for water. Intensive and long term habitat management for bighorn sheep on Battlement Mesa is required. I suggest a 4-phase management program to improve existing range and later to reestablish and maintain historic migration corridors to productive historic summer range. Without management to improve existing conditions, this small, unique herd will remain static or decline.
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    Wildlife values and management in northern Sudan
    (Colorado State University. Libraries, 1983) Nimir, Mutasim Bashir, author; Nagy, Julius G., advisor; Young, Robert A. (Robert Alton), 1931-2013, committee member; Decker, Eugene, committee member; Alldredge, A. William, committee member
    An overview of wildlife resources and wildlife values and management are presented in this study. Information on history of wildlife distribution, wildlife values and management practices have been obtained from writings of early travelers and explorers and government archives. Information on present status of wildlife has come from surveys conducted by the author and other workers during the last 15 years. The Wildlife Administration records were reviewed for information on laws, policies, and records of game license sales and export of wildlife products. The province of Southern Darfur was chosen to develop a case study and to make conclusions which could be applied elsewhere in Northern Sudan. Wildlife has been more abundant in Northern Sudan in the past than it is today. Information on present distribution and abundance of wildlife is very limited. The conservation status in national parks, game reserves and sanctuaries is rated as unsatisfactory. Factors causing losses of wildlife resources are inadequate laws, loss of habitats, lack of qualified personnel, lack of public awareness about wildlife conservation and conflicts in land use planning. Economic values of wildlife are of central importance to the future of wildlife conservation in Northern Sudan. The present economic values of wildlife are related to hunting, trade in wildlife products and wildlife damage to agriculture and livestock. Legal hunting is of limited significance as possession of firearms is restricted by law and wildlife areas are remote from where the majority of the population live. Ivory and reptile skin trade provide considerable revenue. As most of the wildlife products are collected through illegal hunting and traded illegally the economic benefit from wildlife is not appreciated by the government. Wildlife damage to agriculture and livestock is most serious in Southern Darfur where it is mostly caused by baboons and hyenas. Recommendations include that surveys should be conducted to present realistic estimates of wildlife distribution and abundance. Realistic conservation goals should be adopted based on surveys' results. Wildlife conservation should be incorporated in national land use plans. The Wildlife Administration should recruit biologists and relocate its personnel and vehicles closer to wildlife areas. Wildlife programs should be coordinated in Northern and Southern Sudan. New laws should be adopted. The trade in ivory and other wildlife products should be controlled. The Wildlife Administration should monopolize all ivory export and taxes should be increased in export of wildlife products. The Wildlife Administration should be more involved in controlling wildlife damage. Laws should be changed to allow the Wildlife Administration to direct revenue generated from wildlife towards wildlife conservation projects. It is recommended that education in wildlife conservation should be included in school programs and in the Sudanese media.