Mapping Idaho Herbivores' "Salad Bar" from the Sky

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A sage-grouse, a pygmy rabbit and a pronghorn visit a lunch-buffet. They take second helpings of some dishes, completely bypass others and sniff tentatively at still more. While these proceedings might seem arbitrary or ultimately impenetrable to a human, nothing could be further from the truth.

For Boise State postdoc Peter Olsoy and biology professor Jen Forbey, the daily buffet occurring in the sagebrush steppe of Idaho is an incredible opportunity to discover the sensitive and singular tastes of the state's herbivores. After all, an animal's dinner-time decisions could impact not only their own health, but the surrounding environment and possibly even the state's economy.

Research team from BSU, ISU and CI watch as drone launches. Photo credit, Jen Forbey.