Greater sage‐grouse habitat restoration with range management, revegetation, and herbicide

Populations of Greater sage‐grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ), an iconic symbol of sagebrush ecosystems, are declining in native grasslands due to habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. We conducted a field experiment in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada, to investigate how disturbance and land management (cattle grazed, bison grazed, watered, and ungrazed) affected Greater sage‐grouse habitat and the efficacy of common restoration methods. Restoration treatments consisted of a seed mix of native forbs, grasses, and sagebrush; seeding season (fall and spring); planted sagebrush seedlings; and applications of glyphosate herbicide. Total vegetation cover, moss, and lichen cover, and species richness were greater, and litter cover was less with cattle grazing than with other management treatments. Herbicide increased native forb cover and negatively affected established sagebrush. Seeding season (fall and spring) had little effect on vegetation parameters. Establishment of native forbs and grasses by seed was mostly unsuccessful. Planting sagebrush seedlings was more effective than broadcast seeding; although, after 2 years, seedling survival was very low. There was an abundance of diverse forbs for the dietary requirements of pre‐laying hens, chicks, and juveniles with most management treatments. The proportion of litter cover played a significant role in successful vegetation establishment. All sites had key components of sage‐grouse habitat and showed potential for restoration success given some land management modifications.