Wapiti and warblers: integrating game and nongame management in Idaho

Abstract

The primary concern of wildlife managers in the USDA Forest Service (USFS) and ldaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) is maintaining elk herds and quality elk hunting. As a result, nongame species like neotropical migratory landbirds do not receive much management attention. Cause for concern over this neglect are twofold: 1) forest fragmentation may be having detrimental effects on neotropical migrants in ldaho and 2) an emphasis on elk habitat management may not be in the best interests of achieving the broader goal of maintaining biological diversity on National Forest lands. We discuss biological, policy, economic, and political implications for neotropical migrants on USFS lands managed primarily for elk. Our analysis proceeds from a review of forest plans, a review of IDFG comments on these plans, interviews with USFS and IDFG biologists, and a synthesis of literature on the ecology of elk and neotropical migrants. Elk are inappropriately used as an ecological management indicator species because they are habitat generalists. The use of MIS and models to manage habitat for elk (habitat effectiveness models) are reviewed and critiqued. The extent to which forest fragmentation, to which elk appear well-adapted, may be negatively impacting neotropical migrants is discussed. A landscape-level approach for managing habitats for neotropical migrants is broadly outlined. We give recommendations for improving management of elk and neotropical migrants, and for improving individual and collective abilities of USFS and IDFG wildlife personnel for management of all wildlife species on USFS lands in Idaho.

Parent Publication

• Status and management of neotropical migratory birds

Citation

Groves, C. R.; Unsworth, J. W. 1993. Wapiti and warblers: integrating game and nongame management in Idaho. In: Finch, Deborah M.; Stangel, Peter W. (eds.). Status and management of neotropical migratory birds: September 21-25, 1992, Estes Park, Colorado. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-229. Fort Collins, Colo.: Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service: 408-417