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Winter ecology of bighorn sheep in Yellowstone National Park

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dc.contributor.authorOldemeyer, John Lee, author
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T04:40:59Z
dc.date.available2007-01-03T04:40:59Z
dc.date.issued1966
dc.description.abstractA bighorn sheep study was conducted on the northern winter range of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming from June 1965 to June 1966. The objectives of the study were to census the bighorn population, map the winter bighorn distribution, determine plant composition and utilization on important bighorn winter ranges, observe daily feeding habits, and assess the effect of competition on bighorn sheep. Two hundred twenty nine bighorn sheep wintered on the northern winter range. These herds were located on Mt. Everts, along the Yellowstone River, on Specimen Ridge, and along Soda Butte Creek. The ewe to ram ratio was 100:78, the ewe to lamb ratio was 100:47, and the ewe to yearling ratio was 100:20. Range analysis was done on MacMinn Bench, Specimen Ridge, and Druid Peak. Range condition was best on Specimen Ridge and poorest on Druid Peak. Grass utilization varied from 50 per cent on MacMinn Bench to over 80 per cent on one key area on Druid Peak. Browse utilization was over 60 per cent throughout the winter range. Grasses made up 61.4, forbs 17.2, and shrubs 21.5 per cent of the bighorn's diet. The most important forage plants were bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum), Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), phlox (Phlox sp.), Douglas rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus), and winterfat (Eurotia lanata). Competition between elk and bighorn sheep was mild during the study. Because of lighter than normal snowfall, elk were not forced to occupy bighorn winter ranges. Competition with elk was greatest on Specimen Ridge, where over 200 elk spent most of the winter.
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifier1966_Oldemeyer_John.pdf
dc.identifierETDF1966100001
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/38369
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relationCatalog record number (MMS ID): 991003748149703361
dc.relationSK305.M6.O4
dc.relation.ispartof1950-1979
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectMountain sheep
dc.subjectAnimal ecology
dc.titleWinter ecology of bighorn sheep in Yellowstone National Park
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineFishery and Wildlife Biology
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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