During September, 2000, pre-treatment vegetative surveys were conducted in Southeastern New Mexico on both the Weaver Ranch (treatment area) and the adjacent North Bluit Prairie Chicken Area (control area) owned by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to determine if differences existed in the vegetative composition of the two land parcels.  No significant differences were observed.  During October, 2000, tebuthiuron was applied to approximately 1600 ha of the Weaver Ranch at the rate of .65 kg/ha (0.6 of the labeled rate) to suppress shinnery oak (Quercus harvardii) and restore grasses to their former dominance.  No tebuthiuron was applied to the dune areas that were historically dominated by dense shinnery oak mottes.  Following the treatment there was the expected reduction in shrub occurrence, with much of the reduction observed in shinnery oak, and a corresponding increase in grass occurrence.  The increase in grass occurrence was a result of the expansion of grasses present before the treatment, not planted grasses or seed that sprouted post treatment.  Initially forb occurrence was similar on treated and non-treated areas but by the spring of 2003 the density of forbs was greater on treated areas.  The resultant landscape is a mosaic of grasslands and shinnery oak, similar to that described by early settlers.  Following treatment, the treated area produced more forage, grass seed and forbs than did the control area and forage quality was similar on both areas.  Soil moisture has been higher on treated than non-treated areas each time soil moisture was measured.  No clear pattern has been observed as a result of small mammal trapping, bird occurrence surveys and invertebrate sampling.