CANCELLED -Bison, Bighorns, and Feral Horses

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Old Town Library
Large Meeting Room Combo

Event Details

Ungulate herbivores are an integral part of Rocky Mountain ecosystems, and as such managers need to understand how changing environmental dynamics may limit these large herbivores. Three studies on Rocky Mountain ungulates will be presented and discussed. In a study of bighorn sheep in a designated Wilderness Area, we used non-invasive genetic markers from feces to determine bighorn sheep abundance and survivorship for a herd that was hypothesized to be declining. We sampled from a small but accessible portion of the population’s range and relied on citizen science volunteers to maximize data collection and reduce costs. The method has promise in areas where wilderness character and wilderness values are revered, such as within Rocky Mountain National Park. Second, bison conservation is currently being proposed in the San Luis Valley of Colorado. This cold desert ecosystem is part of the historic range of bison. We studied bison-elk-vegetation interactions to understand the role of bison in this ecosystem, and provide decision-making capacity to resource managers. Finally, a proposed study of feral horses inhabiting a mountain ecosystem will be presented: Ecological modeling to determine appropriate management level and assess ecological integrity of habitat. This is a partnership between Poudre River Public Library District and The Rocky Mountain Environment and Society program in the Natural Resource Ecology Department (NREL) at Colorado State University.
Event Type(s): Programs
Age Group(s): Adults, Teens
Presenter: Dr. Kate Shoenecker
221-6740