Landscape-scale factors affecting feral horse habitat use during summer within the rocky mountain foothills.

This research investigates the factors affecting the habitat utilization of feral horses during the summer in the Rocky Mountain foothills of Alberta, Canada. The study explores habitat preferences in relation to different landscape features and the impact of horse presence on other herbivores and grassland conservation.

Study Methodology

• The researchers studied horse presence and their abundance in relation to various landscape attributes using a Geographical Information System (GIS).
• The study area consisted of 98 field plots within a part of the Rocky Mountain Forest Reserve in SW Alberta, Canada.
• The regions examined included grassland, cut block habitats, conifer forests, mixedwood forests, and other landscape characteristics.

Results

• Researchers found that the abundance of horses was the highest in grassland and cut block habitats, but lowest in the conifer and mixedwood forests.
• Horses seemed to prefer areas closer to water sources, less rugged topography, and located farther from forests. They also preferred areas farther from primary roads and trails often used by recreationalists but closer to smaller linear features like cut lines, which might serve as beneficial travel corridors.
• The presence and abundance of horses were closely associated with the presence of cattle during the summer, implying that both herbivores utilized the same habitats.
• However, horses showed a negative association with the abundance of wild ungulates (hoofed mammals), but the underlying cause of this inverse relationship remains unclear and needs further investigation.

Implications and Recommendations

• The observed estimate of forage biomass removal by horses stood at approximately 44% by mid-July, near the maximum acceptable levels.
• The findings indicate complex habitat selection patterns of feral horses during spring and summer, including overlapping usage with livestock.
• These results stress the need to assess and manage herbivore populations, considering the rangeland carrying capacity and the health of the range.
• Comprehensive and consistent management strategies are paramount to minimize land-use conflicts among different stakeholders, such as feral horses, livestock, wildlife, and grassland conservation initiatives.