Laserfiche WebLink
Site Type: Rangeland Sandy Bottomland <br />MLRA: 67B -Central Higb Plains, Southern Pazt R067BY031CO <br />Ecological Site Interpretations <br />Animal Community -Wildlife Interpretations <br />Sand Bluestem, Prairie Sandreed, Switchgrass, Indiangrass Plant Community (HCPC) <br />The structural diversity in the plant community found on the HCPC is attractive to a number of wildlife <br />species. Common bird species expected on the HCPC include Cassin's and Brewer's sparrow, <br />chestnut collared longspur, lark bunting, western meadowlark, and ferruginous and Swainson's <br />hawks. The combination of mid-tall grasses and shrubs provides habitat for greater and lesser prairie <br />chicken in the eastern reaches of the MLRA. Scaled quail may also use this community. <br />White-tailed and black-tailed jackrabbit, badger, pronghorn, coyote, swift fox, plains pocket gopher, <br />long-tailed weasel, and several species of mice are mammals that commonly use this plant <br />community. Reptiles using this community include western rattlesnake, bullsnake, plains garter snake <br />western hognose snake, racer, western box turtle, and six-lined racerunner. <br />Blue Grama, Sand Sagebrush Plant Community <br />All HCPC species are expected in this plant community, however, the loss of some of the vegetative <br />structural diversity in this plant community make it less attractive to many HCPC species. <br />Low Plant Density, Excessive Litter Plant Community <br />All HCPC species are expected in this plant community, however, the wildlife species are shifting <br />toward the typical shortgrass prairie species such as horned lark, killdeer, long-billed curlew, <br />McCown's longspur, and ferruginous hawk. In addition, mountain plover, black-tailed prairie dog, and <br />burrowing owl might use this community where slopes are less than 5%. <br />Sand Sagebrush Plant Community <br />Species typically associated with sand sagebrush communities are pronghorn, scaled quail, lesser <br />and greater prairie chicken, mule deer, and Eastern fence lizard. <br />Grass Dominant Plant Community <br />This plant community can be quite variable. The wildlife species expected here would be those listed <br />for the plant community most similar to this community. <br />Early Perennials, Annuals and Bare Ground Plant Community <br />The presence of tall species such as kochia, pigweed, sunflower, Russian thistle, and others in this <br />community limit use by mountain plover, prairie dogs, and other species requiring unobstructed visual <br />distances. Most HCPC species are not expected here in large numbers because of the changes in <br />plant community. <br />Other Potential Species <br />The plains spadefoot is the only common species of frog or toad inhabiting grasslands in Eastern <br />Colorado. This species requires water for breeding. Tiger salamanders may be found on grassland <br />sites, but require a water body for breeding. Either of these species may be found in any plant <br />community if seasonal water requirements are met. Mule and white-tailed deer may use this <br />ecological site for feeding, however the shrub cover is too low to provide escape or hiding cover. On <br />ecological site locations near riparian areas, deer will use the vegetation for feeding. Big brown bats <br />will use any plant community on this ecological site if a building site is in the area. The gray wolf, <br />black-footed ferret, and wild bison used this ecological site in historic times. The wolf and ferret are <br />thought to be extirpated from Eastern Colorado. Bison are currently found only as domestic livestock. <br />Technical Guide USDA NRCS <br />Section IIE 11 Rev. 3/04 <br />