Upper Snake Region Winter Wildlife Conditions Report for January 27, 2017
BIG GAME WINTERING CONDITIONS:
Animals were in good to excellent condition entering winter. The middle weeks of January again saw moderate snowfall with improving temperatures. Elk, deer, and antelope are in large groups in response to recent cold temperatures and moderate snowfall over the last two weeks.
Sand Creek, Hamer
Snow depth is 12-14 inches with light to moderate crusting. Animals are moving freely on winter ranges.
Swan Valley
Snow depth is 18-20 inches on the valley floor with light to moderate crusting. South facing slopes are at 20-22 inches. Animals are moving freely on winter ranges.
Teton Basin
Valley floor has 20-22 inches of snow with light to moderate crusting. South facing slopes are at 14-16 inches. Animals are moving freely on winter ranges.
Big Desert, INL
Snow depth is 14-16 inches on valley floor with light to moderate crusting observed. Animals are moving freely on winter ranges.
Birch Creek
Snow depth is 17-19 inches on the valley floor. South facing slopes are at 6-8 inches with light to moderate crusting. Some slopes have blown free of snow. Animals are moving freely on winter ranges.
Big Lost River
Snow depth is 12-20 inches on the valley floor with light to moderate crusting. South facing slopes are at 12-14 inches with some slopes blown free of snow. Animals are moving freely on winter ranges.
Little Lost River
Snow depth is 12-14 inches on the valley floor with light to moderate crusting. South facing slopes are at 8-10 inches with some slopes blown free of snow. Animals are moving freely on winter ranges.
Tex Creek
Snow depth is 18-20 inches with 6-8 inches on the south facing slopes with some of those slopes blown free of snow. Light to moderate crusting observed. Animals are moving freely on winter ranges.
Big game depredations and winter feeding update:
Recent winter storms and colder temperatures resulted in an increase in haystack depredations throughout the region during the last two weeks. Depredations are heavy throughout the region. Landowners are encouraged to move haystacks out of high depredation areas if possible. Due to the recent fire on the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area, an emergency winter feeding order was implemented and feeding operations started December 8th on the wildlife management area. Currently department personnel are feeding approximately 3500-4000 big game animals due to lack of suitable forage lost in the fire. All roads into the Tex Creek WMA have been closed this year due to feeding operations and the prevention of causing added stress to the animals. With the exception of Tex Creek, winter feeding has not been implemented in the region. Monitoring of snow depth and condition of animals are being closely monitored. Regional staff is in close contact with the regional winter feeding advisory committee in the event that winter feeding is warranted based on regional winter criteria.
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