Effects of Specialized Grazing Systems on Waterfowl Production in Southcentral North Dakota

Authors

William T. Barker, North Dakota State University, FargoFollow
Kevin K. Sedivec, North Dakota State University, FargoFollow
Terry A. Messmer, North Dakota State University, Fargo
Kenneth F. Higgins, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceFollow
Dan R. Hertel, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Date of this Version

1990

Comments

Published in Trans. 55th N. A. Wildt. & Nat. Res. Conf. (1990).

Abstract

The recent decline in numbers of several waterfowl species (Canadian Wildlife Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1986, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service 1988) and poor nesting success indicates that there is insufficient production of ducks in the prairie pothole region to maintain populations at desirable levels (Klett et al. 1988). About 50 percent of the ducks in North America are produced in the prairie pothole region and about 95 percent of the production occurs on private lands (Smith et al. 1964). Thus. a major effort to reverse the decline in duck numbers should emphasize the use of new and improved management techniques on private lands, particularly the use of new rangeland grazing systems.