May 4, 2001

Habitat

• Burning of conifers important (but risky), logging is another management tool.
• USGS report on modeling will be available in August 2001
• 1 inch snow water equivalent (SWE) is approximately equal to 4 inches (but it depends on the density of the snow)
• It is important to manage conifers after they are harvested.
• There is good cooperation among APHIS, WY G&F and private landowners
• Bison are heavily impacting the habitat
• A regional analysis is outside the scope of Hobbs’ model (i.e. migration, reducing densities, increasing distribution)
• Controlling densities is a very costly process in terms of time and money
• It is important to consider the impacts of predators on model numbers
• Hobbs’ model doesn’t incorporate animal behavior
• They are working on predicting mortality rate based on forage deficits
• A forage deficit does not necessarily equal immediate mortality – it usually results in movement (migration)
• Temperatures are being included in the developing population mortality model.

• A variety of innovative techniques need to be used the manage the herd
• Wild horses should be considered in migration discussions.
• History can be interpreted in many ways – use caution
• There is a need to analyze habitat of "historic" migration routes
• Climate is a huge factor in population numbers
• Tribes would like to see animals use natural corridors

Disease

• Free ranging means not confined by a fence
• CWD (chronic wasting disease) is more prevalent in mule deer than in elk
• No CWD has been found in the Jackson herd
• Apparently there is low risk of CWD to cattle
• Exploration/migration is natural for bison and elk
• A variety of management tools should be used
• It is crucial to get this information out to the public
• Disease management and testing can be extremely expensive
• Predators impact distribution
• Is info from peri-feedgrounds (area surrounding feedgrounds) important for management decision?

• Pellets can be stored for 4-5 years
• Bison cost about 3 times more than elk to feed
• Use of pellets has lead to increased browsing of woody vegetation
• Refuge has no requirement for feeding
• Refuge has some orders, mandates, etc that are 100% compatible
• A team and sled are used to spread hay on the state feedgrounds
• Wolf/bison distribution rarely overlap
• Jackson bison have very high calf survival despite similar pregnancy rates as in YNP
• Animal numbers are interrelated