November 17, 2003 - Earth

sagar: Author=’Eleanor Imster’ program=’3969′ video=”Space image of the ocean topography. Photo courtesy of © NASA._JB:_ This is Earth and Sky. The mountain plover is just one of several species of North American grassland songbirds in danger of extinction.

_DB:_ But in the treeless grasslands of north central Montana, you can find a healthy summer population of mountain plovers. They’re on the Nature Conservancy’s Matador Ranch – both a working cattle ranch and a reserve for the mountain plover and other endangered prairie plants and animals.

_JB:_ Linda Poole runs Matador Ranch. She’s both a wildlife biologist and the daughter of a rancher. She says using a single piece of land for both ranching and the protection of endangered species is an important new approach to conservation.

_DB:_ The plovers’ favorite habitats are “towns” made by black-tailed prairie dogs. These “towns” are open dirt areas riddled with burrows. Prairie dogs compete with cattle for the grass, so ranchers don’t like them. Prairie dog populations have dwindled – but Matador Ranch is now working with ranchers and conservationists to protect prairie dogs – and in turn mountain plovers.

_JB:_ For example, ranchers are grazing their cattle on Matador land for a reduced rate, in exchange for improvements in prairie dog habitats on their own ranches. And that’s our show. Special thanks to the “National Fish and Wildlife Foundation”:http://www.nfwf.org/ and to the “Bureau of Land Management”:http://www.blm.gov/. We’re Block and Byrd for Earth and Sky.

Written by earthsky