Elk presence inside various-sized cattle exclosures

Accurate measures of the relative resource impacts from elk (Cervus elaphus ) and cattle (Bos taurus and B. indicus) improve land management planning w herever these species cohabitate. Comparisons of utilization inside and out side cattle exclosures are often used for this purpose. The objectives of o ur study were to determine if (1) elk presence differed inside and adjacent to several different-sized cattle exclosures; (2) there was a relationship between cattle exclosure size and elk presence in exclosures; and (3) a mi nimum cattle exclosure size is appropriate for assessing elk impacts. Seven different-sized cattle exclosures (4.00, 2.00, 1.00, 0.50, 0.25, 0.10, and 0.05 ha) were compared in western Montana during the spring of 1996 and 19 97. Trackplots (1-m(2) areas cleared of vegetation) were used to detect elk presence. Chi-square tests indicated elk presence inside all exclosures wa s less (P < 0.10) than elk presence adjacent to the exclosures. Regression analysis indicated exclosure size and elk presence were correlated (P < 0.0 3). Elk presence inside exclosures increased with increasing exclosure size . Our results did not support the minimum exclosure size (0.4 ha) recommend ed in the literature. Cattle exclosures larger than 4 ha appear needed to a ccurately measure relative resource impacts from elk and cattle; however, t his does not ensure that an exclosure > 4.0 ha in size will solve all of th e problems associated with this technique.