Habitat Use by Federal Horses in the Northern Sagebrush Steppe

Abstract

Distribution patterns of feral horses (Equus caballus) relative to plant communities, herbaceous production, and perennial water sources were studied from April 1979 to March 1981 in Oregon's Owyhee Breaks. Repeated observations of radio-collared and easily identified horses allowed estimation of home range sizes and documentation of the plant communities utilized. A map of plant communities was constructed, and composition and herbaceous production of key communities sampled. Time-lapse cameras monitored the daylight watering patterns of horses. One hundred thirty-three horses were initially censused and identified on the study area with the total population subsequently increasing at an annual rate of 13%. Home ranges averaged 12 km2 with the minimum convex polygon procedure and 27 km2 with the 90% confidence ellipse method. No seasonal shifts in home ranges occurred, and no correlations were detected between home range size and number of horses per band, densities of perennial water sources, or levels of forage production within home ranges. Six distinct herds were identified on the area. Only one band of horses moved from one herd to another during the 2-year study. Animals in each herd made greatest use of the most prevalent plant community, with no community being universally preferred to over another. Watering activities were most intense during the first and last periods of daylight. Horses rapidly vacated the watering areas after drinking. A seasonal trend was observed in which horses remained slightly closer to perennial water sources during warm, dry summer months than during spring periods when additional seasonal sources were available. Seasonal differences were not statistically significant, however.