Redcedar Removal Restores Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat

Redcedar Removal Restores Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat
A new study by researchers from Kansas State University and US Geological Survey resoundingly confirms that redcedar encroachment on the Southern Great Plains greatly impacts lesser prairie-chickens.

Woody plant encroachment is a leading threat to remaining grassland habitat in the Southern Great Plains. Results from a new study show that female lesser prairie-chickens (LEPCs) did not nest in grasslands with more than 1 tree/acre, placed nests at least 1000 feet from the nearest tree, and stopped using grasslands altogether when tree density reached 3 trees/acre. Removing encroaching redcedars is critical to LEPC habitat conservation. To improve habitat most effectively, conservation efforts should focus on low-density sites, especially those occupied by LEPCs or adjacent to occupied sites. Download the report here.