#conifer encroachment

[monohedron]

[baskingbadger]

Winter range

Biologists in British Columbia are working to reverse the trend of conifer trees encroaching on historic grasslands. Crews will slash dense conifer thickets and either pile and burn them or prescribe a fire for the area. This work helps support wintering ungulates, such as Bighorn sheep where winter range becomes ingrown. This ingrowth gives the edge to predators, such as mountain lions as they can stalk their prey easier in the dense cover.

Bighorn sheep ram found in area where dense conifer regeneration has invaded open grassland winter range. This ram likely fell victim to a mountain lion.

Mountain lion (cougar, puma) tracks in snow.

Conifer ingrowth in bighorn sheep winter range (above).

Wide open spaces are needed to allow wintering bighorn sheep to survive harsh winters and avoid predators.