RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN VEGETATIONAL STRUCTURE AND PREDATION OF ARTIFICIAL SAGE GROUSE NESTS

Because of high nest predation and long-term declines in sage grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) productivity in Oregon, we assessed the eff ects of vegetational cover and height on predation of artificial sage grouse nests (n = 330). Artificial nest fate was positively associated with tall grass cover and medium-height shrub cover collectively (P = 0.01). No other vegetation, predator, temporal, or spatial variables explained any additional variation in the probability of predation. Th is study supports the hypothesis that greater amounts of tall grass an d medium-height shrub cover at nest sites lower risk of nest predation for sage grouse. Management practices that increase cover and height of native grasses in sagebrush communities with medium-height shrubs a re recommended to enhance sage grouse productivity.