YELLOWSTONE ARBORETUM
" Stewards of the Natural Environment "
Billings, Montana @ ZooMontana
More About Browsing.....
Browse is defined as any natural plant material that an animal is provided access to. This may be given for many reasons including bedding,
shelter, enrichment, or as a part of their diet. The goal of the ZooMontana browse program is to provide an assortment of safe plant materials to our animals, while at the same time striving to prevent exposing our animals to potentially hazardous plants. This
is done by providing easy to access reference materials such as the "ZooMontana Browse Book".
Arboretums serve as vital, natural, habitats for local wildlife and, in some cases, provide browse (fresh foliage) for zoo animals. Common wild browsers like deer, rabbits, and rodents frequently forage, while, in urban areas, horticulturalists sometimes partner with zoos to provide sustainable browse—such as, willow, poplar, cottonwood and maple—to herbivorous animals.
Key Aspects of Animal Browsing in Arboretums
Wild Animal Foraging:
Native herbivores like deer can heavily browse young trees, particularly in winter when food is scarce, potentially causing significant damage to collections.
Zoo Browse Program:
Arboretums, such as the Yellowstone Arboretum , are a vital part of the ZooMontana browse program since it is a part of the Zoo. Collected trimmed branches (browse) for goats, red pandas and other zoo animals provides necessary nutritional benefits and behavioral enrichment.
Ecological Role:
The plants and trees offer food and habitat for various animals, including birds, insects, and small mammals.
Signs of Activity:
Visitors can look for evidence of browsing, such as deer browsing on twigs, rabbit gnawing, or, in some cases, bird damage (e.g., woodpeckers).