B116 



(leaf 2) 



heavily grazed ranges. In Washington the plant is eaten with only 

 moderate relish, and in Montana it is classed merely as fair forage 

 for cattle and fairly good for sheep. These variations in palata- 

 bility have not been satisfactorily explained. In part they may be 

 due to fixed feeding habits of the grazing animals in certain locali- 

 ties; to a large extent doubtless the palatability may change with 

 different plant associations or forage combinations; furthermore, 

 there is a possibility that the variation may occasionally be due to 

 the presence of certain chemicals absorbed from the soils which 

 render the plants unpalatable. 



Bitterbrush is generally grazed with relish throughout the year 

 but its palatability ordinarily appears to be greatest in spring, winter, 

 and late fall. This species is among the first plants to leaf out in 

 the spring and holds its leaves until early in the winter. Conse- 

 quently, it is especially important oil spring-fall and winter ranges. 

 The forage is of high quality and is said to be a strong feed because 

 it produces solid fat which is not readily lost during inclement 

 weather when feed is scarce or when the animals are shipped long 

 distances. 1 Indicative of the high quality of this forage, fat lambs 

 produced during the spring and summer grazing seasons on the semi- 

 desert bitterbrush ranges of the Deschutes National Forest region of 

 eastern Oregon have equaled or excelled those raised on the neigh- 

 boring high summer ranges of the Cascades in both weight and 

 quality. 



Bitterbrush also withstands heavy grazing remarkably well. On 

 many overgrazed ranges, however, this choice plant is being slowly 

 killed out by excessive use and there is an alarming lack of seedling 

 reproduction over large areas. Forsling and Storm, in their studies 

 of browse utilization in southwestern Utah, determined that continued 

 close utilization of bitterbrush would eventually eliminate it from 

 the range. Under close grazing the upright stems may be killed 

 back to the surface of the ground, whereupon the plant assumes a 

 more or less prostrate, spreading form. It seems resistant to graz- 

 ing in this shape as the remnant stubs of branches become harsh and 

 serve as a protection against closer grazing. However, continued 

 close grazing of this species in southwestern Utah has proved in- 

 jurious even in the decumbent form and parts of the plants were 

 found to be dead or in a much weakened condition. 2 



In many parts of the West bitterbrush is one of the chief browse 

 plants for game animals, being especially important as a winter and 

 early spring feed for deer, elk, and antelope. These game animals 

 seek the herbage and eat it with great relish. Dixon 3 lists it as an 

 excellent winter feed of great importance for mule deer in California. 

 This not only holds true in California but elsewhere throughout the 

 range of the plant. 



1 Sampson, A. W. NATIVE AMERICAN FORAGE PLANTS. 435 pp., illus. New York. 1924. 



2 Forsling, C. L., and Storm, E. V. THE UTILIZATION OF BROWSE FORAGE AS SUMMER 

 RANGE FOR CATTLE IN SOUTHWESTERN UTAH. U. S. Dept. Agr. Circ. 62, 30 pp., illus. 1929. 



3 Dixon J S A STUDY OF THE LIFE HISTORY AND FOOD HABITS OF MULE DEER IN CALI- 

 FORNIA, PART 2. FOOD HABITS. Calif. Fish and Game 20 (4) : [315]-354, illus. 1934, 



