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The Effects Of Mowing On The Rodent Community Of A Native Tall Grass Prairie In Eastern Nebraska, Cliff A. Lemen, Mary K. Clausen

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Our results indicate that mowing, like burning, greatly reduces the use of an area by Microtus and increases the density of Peromyscus maniculatus until the grass can grow back. Depending on the rate of growth of the grass this process can take more than a year. If the prairie is mowed every year to maximize the production of hay, populations of Microtus cannot be maintained at high densities.

The study site, Nine Mile Prairie, is one of the few natural tallgrass prairies remaining in eastern Nebraska. It covers about 240 acres and is located 5 km north and 9 km …