• IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE
• PALATABILITY
• NUTRITIONAL VALUE
• COVER VALUE
• VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES
• OTHER USES AND VALUES
• MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS

IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE:

Because of its abundance and wide distribution, mountain snowberry is important forage on many mountain ranges. Although not highly nutritious or palatable, mountain snowberry is frequently one of the first species to leaf out, making it a highly sought after food in the early spring [46]. Use by livestock and game is moderate throughout the summer and declines in fall. Mountain snowberry's low growth form makes its foliage easily available. Plants withstand browsing well and produce numerous basal sprouts following browsing [65]. Results of clipping experiments carried out in the mountain-brush zone of Utah indicate that mountain snowberry can withstand early season browsing if given sufficient time to recover [16].

PALATABILITY:

Mountain snowberry is readily eaten by all classes of livestock, particularly domestic sheep. Palatability varies in different localities and different plant communities. In general mountain snowberry has greater palatability in the Intermountain region than on more southern or western ranges [12]. Mountain snowberry is a highly valued elk and domestic sheep forage within quaking aspen types in Colorado and Wyoming [7]. Mountain snowberry is of no value for horses [43].

Mountain snowberry is an important forage species for deer and elk on high elevation summer ranges. On quaking aspen forest summer range in Utah, mountain snowberry comprised 24% of the diet for elk and 20% for mule deer [6]. Ruffed grouse, ring-necked pheasants, and yellow-billed magpies utilize the fruits [50].

The degree of use shown by livestock and wildlife species for mountain snowberry is rated as follows [14]:

                     CO      MT     OR      UT      WY
Cattle               Fair    Fair   ----    Fair    Fair
Domestic Sheep       Fair    ----   ----    Good    Fair 
Horses               Poor    ----   ----    Poor    Fair 
Pronghorn            ----    ----   ----    ----    Fair 
Elk                  Poor    ----   ----    Good    Good 
Mule deer            Poor    ----   Good    Good    Good 
Small mammals        ----    ----   ----    Good    Good 
Small nongame birds  ----    ----   ----    Fair    Good 
Upland game birds    ----    ----   ----    Good    Good 
Waterfowl            ----    ----   ----    Poor    Poor 

NUTRITIONAL VALUE:

Mountain snowberry has been rated fair in energy and protein value. Nutritional value of mature browse for snowberry species is as follows [41]:

Ash              8.3%
Crude fiber     15.8%
Ether extract    5.9%
N-free extract  62.6%
Protein          7.4%
Calcium          1.88%
Phosphorus        .28%  

COVER VALUE:

Due to its relatively low growth form, mountain snowberry provides moderate to low cover for most ungulates. In Oregon mule deer utilize mountain snowberry-dominated communities for cover where these communities provide the only diversity in large expanses of big sagebrush [34]. Mountain snowberry provides important hiding cover for a variety of small mammals and birds. Cover ratings by state have been summarized as follows [14]:

                        OR           UT           WY    
Pronghorn              ----         ----         Poor 
Elk                    ----         Poor         Poor 
Mule deer              Good         Fair         Fair 
White-tailed deer      ----         ----         Fair 
Small mammals          ----         Good         Good 
Small nongame birds    ----         Good         Good 
Upland game birds      ----         Good         Good   
Waterfowl              ----         Poor         Poor 

VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES:

Mountain snowberry is useful for establishing cover on bare sites and has done well when planted onto roadbanks [38]. Once established it persists well and spreads vegetatively through layering [46]. Revegetation has been particularly successful using transplanted wildings. Transplants are easily obtained by pulling up small rooted portions of plants in the early spring before leaf growth has begun. Plants can also be propagated via stem cuttings [17] and seed [38]. Mountain snowberry is recommended for riparian plantings in wet meadow and forested communities [37]. Direct seeding is generally recommended in the fall or winter on well-drained sites in the following types: big sagebrush, mountain brush, pinyon-juniper, quaking aspen openings, and subalpine herblands. Commercial seed may be dried fruits or cleaned seed. Seeds have a pronounced dormancy; acid treatments break down the seedcoat. Stratification should be employed for spring planting. Maximum storage period for mountain snowberry seeds is 10 years [54]. Cultivated seedlings can reach 30 inches (76 cm) within 5 years [38].

OTHER USES AND VALUES:

Mountain snowberries are highly regarded for the beauty of their foliage and fruits and are widely grown as ornamentals [60].

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS:

Mountain snowberry's tendency to sprout enables plants to persist and even increase following browsing. However, plant densities decrease substantially in response to prolonged browsing [9].

On high summer ranges in Oregon, domestic sheep have browsed mountain snowberry to the ground in areas also heavily utilized by cattle [13].

Related categories for SPECIES: Symphoricarpos oreophilus | Mountain Snowberry