Vaccinium uliginosum ssp. In some areas, it is considered fair to good sheep and goat browse, particularly during the fall. Berries of western huckleberry are readily eaten by many birds including blue and spruce grouse.
Fruit is highly palatable to many birds and mammals.
Western huckleberry provides good cover for a variety of wildlife species. Seedlings grown in the greenhouse can be transplanted onto favorable sites 6 to 7 weeks after emergence. Fruits of western huckleberry were traditionally used by many native peoples. The habitat value of huckleberry shrubfields to grizzly bears can be increased by permanent or at least seasonal road closures, by coordinating timber harvest dates to have minimal impact on habitat use patterns, and by considering the cumulative effects of habitat modification across a broad area. In general, site preparation should include minimizing soil compaction, using cool broadcast burns rather than hot slash burns, or by eliminating site preparation entirely wherever possible.