Wapiti Selection of Forages That Have Potential Use in Reclamation

Time spent foraging on 18 different plant species was estimated for 4 wapiti during winter (February 14-27), spring (June 12-18) and late summer (August 2O-September 2). Creeping red fescue and hard sheep fescue were selected frequently during the winter trial and infrequently during the spring and summer trials. Russian wild ryegrass was used extensively only during the late summer trial. The legumes as a group received the greatest attention in the late summer trial and were selected less frequentl1 in other seasons. Sanfoin was the exception and was selected frequently.in all trials. Timothy and bromegrass were also used heavily in all seasons with the greatest use occuring in the spring trial. The other nine species were infrequently selected in all trials. The
implication of these results on reclamation strategies designed to provide range forage for wapiti was discussed.