Juniper invasion marring Oregon’s high desert habitat

FRENCHGLEN — Rancher and outfitter John Witzel’s boots crunch through 4 inches of snow in a stand of high-desert Western juniper listed on a U.S. Bureau of Land Management cutting schedule.

He wonders unhappily what effect all the chopping has on wildlife.

One concern this time of year is that juniper collects snow in its canopy, leaving bare grass below for wildlife to get something to eat. When it’s cut, there’s no break in the snow cover on the ground, he said…

Article Link: Juniper invasion marring Oregon's high desert habitat. OregonLive. February 12, 2013.

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