Prey Habitat Sample Clauses

Prey Habitat. Increasing ungulate populations through improvements in habitat is one of the primary management tools for promoting wolf recovery. While black-tailed deer are commonly observed on the Property, Rocky Mountain elk have rarely been seen in the immediate vicinity. The habitat and management practices on the Property under the SHA will provide elk and deer sufficient cover, foraging habitat, and security and thermal cover. To increase wolf prey habitat across the ownership, the Property Owners will implement the following conservation measures: 1) Deer and elk are generally most abundant in early successional forests, oak woodlands, mountain xxxxxxx, shrub lands, and aspen communities. Forest management will maintain or enhance baseline conditions of habitat required for wolf prey populations by creating canopy gaps in portions of the forest to promote understory grasses, forbs, and shrubs; maintaining floristically diverse early seral forest openings and non-forest habitats on portions of the Property; and retaining and regenerating mast producing hardwoods. 2) Riparian Management Zones (RMZs) will be maintained and enhanced with natural vegetative composition typical of riparian areas, including aspen, cottonwood, and large hardwood trees in multi-storied stands. This will benefit deer and elk by providing protected moist sites during critical portions of the year, such as spring parturition and lactation periods in late-summer and fall. 3) With agency participation and support, Property Owners will cooperate in the use of prescribed fire and other methods to curtail conifer (lodgepole pine) encroachment to maintain and restore xxxxxxx to increase deer and elk foraging habitat. 4) An ungulate survey protocol will be developed in conjunction with CDFW during the preparation of the Habitat Enhancement Plan. The protocol will be used to conduct periodic surveys across the Property to assess deer and elk habitat selection and use, population, health, and distribution. 5) Owners will prohibit the use of sport hunting rifles to take ungulates. The Property Owners use high intensity, short duration flash grazing practices with their cattle to prevent invasive weed and conifer encroachment into the xxxxxxx. To minimize impact or potential damage to the meadow systems, cattle are carefully monitored by ranch managers on site periodically while grazing is occurring. The Property Owners use various techniques, such as human presence, salt box placement, and tape fenci...