Responses of Large Mammals to Prescribed and Wildfires in Southwest

Jemez Mountains, New Mexico

James W. Cain III1, Robert Parmenter2, Mark A. Peyton2, Sarah R. Kindschuh3, Kamal

Humagain4, Caleb Roberts4, Robert Cox4

1U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University

2Valles Caldera National Preserve3Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Ecology, New Mexico State University

4Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University

Forest Landscape Restoration Act (PL 111-11, Sec. 4003(c)), the natural resources monitoring program objectives are:

(1) contribute toward the restoration of the structure and composition of pre-fire-suppression old growth stands,  (2) reduce the risk of uncharacteristic wildfire, and/or maintain or re-establish natural fire regimes,  (3) improve fish and wildlife habitat, including endangered, threatened and sensitive species,  (4) maintain or improve water quality and watershed function, and  (5) prevent, remediate, or control invasions of exotic species.

Monitoring Objectives:

RX Burn Untreated

Veg Type Open canopy Closed canopy Open canopy Closed canopy

Mean (SE) Mean (SE) Mean (SE) Mean (SE)

Mixed Conifer 667.7 (93.8) 453.2 (27.9)

Ponderosa 849.1 (98.8) 661.7 (122.3) 517.7 (41.8) 556.4 (36.6)

P-J 782.2 (92.4) 460.6 (69.9) 542.0 (33.1) 319.4 (77.8)

Wildfire

Veg Type Open canopy Closed canopy

Mean (SE) Mean (SE)

Mixed Conifer 1,494 (530.8) 1,011.7 (91.4)

Ponderosa 980.1 (270.6) 823.5 (121.6)

Black bear use of burned areas:(34,013 of 53,153 locations recorded in CFLRP Project area since 2012)

• Proportion of locations by individual bears in burned areas:

• RX Burns• Range 0 – 24%

• All except one bear 1-6%• Mean (SD) = 1% (5%)

• Wildfire• Range 0-100%

• Mean (SD) = 30% (29%)

Black bear use

Black bear use

Mule deer use of burned areas:(20,214 of 23,638 locations recorded in CFLRP Project area since 2012)

• Proportion of locations by individual deer in burned areas:

• RX Burns• Range 0 – 68%

• 3 of 15 made extensive use of RX burned areas

• Mean (SD) = 12% (21%)• Wildfire

• Range 0-49%• Mean (SD) = 8% (15%)

Mule deer use

Elk use of burned areas:(37,933 of 47,681 locations recorded in CFLRP Project area since 2012)

• Proportion of locations by individual elk in burned areas:

• RX Burns• Range 0 – 9%• Mean (SD) = 0.4% (2%)

• Wildfire• Range 4-100%

• Mean (SD) = 67% (25%)

Elk use

Expected outcomes and timeframe:•Expected elk to utilize prescribed burns first and within 1 year of burn, followed by mule deer and bears after 3-5 years following recovery of browse and mast producing species•Increased forage production in prescribed burns compared to control areas•Increased nutritional content of forage•Selection of burns over untreated areas

Observed outcomes:•Most prescribed fires occurred at mid-elevation in areas occupied primarily by collared bears and mule deer

• Use of prescribed burns by elk was low, use of wildfire burned areas was high• Mule deer use of prescribed burns was highest of the three species, but still

relatively low, even for burns <1 years old• Increased spatial extent and recovery of prescribed burn areas will likely have more

use by mule deer and bears in the future•Increased herbaceous forage production in burned areas (both wildfire and RX)