. The Canadian field-naturalist. 1977 STELFOX and VRIEND: FlRES AND PRONGHORN USE OF CACTUS 283. Figure 2. A small herd of pronghorns on a recent burn in mixed prairie range. Note the pattern of recent burns over the grassland. emergency grazing during periods of drought, the remainder has been used for miUtary manoeuvres. In addition, gas exploration ac- tivities commenced in the northwest portion of the reserve in 1976. Extensive prairie fires are associated with lightning strikes and military operations. As much as 30% of the range is burned annually as a result of these fires (Cameron, unp
. The Canadian field-naturalist. 1977 STELFOX and VRIEND: FlRES AND PRONGHORN USE OF CACTUS 283. Figure 2. A small herd of pronghorns on a recent burn in mixed prairie range. Note the pattern of recent burns over the grassland. emergency grazing during periods of drought, the remainder has been used for miUtary manoeuvres. In addition, gas exploration ac- tivities commenced in the northwest portion of the reserve in 1976. Extensive prairie fires are associated with lightning strikes and military operations. As much as 30% of the range is burned annually as a result of these fires (Cameron, unpublished report). It was on 4 November 1975, while conducting a range survey of the Suffield Block, that the authors recorded incidental observations of the prong- horn antelopes feeding and bedding on these burnt-over areas (Figure 2). Study Area The Suffield Military Reserve is located north of the city of Medicine Hat, adjacent to the South Saskatchewan River. It is generally described as mixed-grass prairie with undulating to rolling topography (Figure 2). Hilly areas and sand dunes are present within the Middle Sand Hills complex, and coulees are present near the river. The variable surficial deposits display dominantly brown Chernozemic soils. The grassland is predominantly a spear grass - blue grama community (Stipa comata - Bouteloua gracilis) as reported by Mitchell and Smoliak (1971) and by Jaques (1977). The incidence of silver sage (Artemisia cana) is low to moderate throughout most of the area. The pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) is the most abundant wild ungulate on the Reserve, numbering between 750 and 2000 animals depending on its seasonal migratory patterns and weather conditions (Stelfox, unpublished report; Bibaud, unpublished report; Vriend 1977). Observations A close examination of the recently burned area on which the pronghorns were foraging revealed no new forage growth since the fire. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page imag
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