Winter Wildlife Woes

This winter is shaping up to be one that might restore depleted water supplies to many of our reservoirs, offer a good spring runoff for boaters, and bring some needed vegetative growth to the land. It has been too dry for too long. On the flip side of those positive benefits, however, a harsh, early, and lasting winter can cause problems for wildlife in some instances. As of the weekend of December 8 - 9, the Fish and Game Department (Department) began feeding elk at its six commission-approved feed sites in the Magic Valley Region. This is much earlier than in many years past. At this time there are approximately 50 head of elk at the Bullwhacker site in the Warm Springs drainage, west of Ketchum; 300+ at the Big Smoky site on Big Smoky Creek; 100 at Lightfoot Bar, downriver from Big Smoky; a couple of dozen at Big Water near Baumgardner campground; and a few milling around at Schoolhouse Gulch south of Featherville. All elk feeding at these sites is contracted out to private individuals. Big game depredations are keeping regional personnel busy delivering protective plastic materials for covering haystacks. Landowner/Sportsmen Relations Coordinator Steve Elam reports, "Big game depredation phone calls are running from three to six a day." To date he has responded to a total of 35 calls, mostly regarding deer eating stacked hay, but also some elk and antelope depredation problems. In a usual winter, Elam would expect to go through a couple of dozen rolls of depredation materials. Since early December he has given out over 85 rolls of the plastic barrier. This amounts to about 14,000 feet of plastic fencing that the Department has given to private landowners to protect their hay. All indications from the fall showed deer and elk were in good body condition to make it through the winter. Brisket fat measurements taken at deer check stations showed the average to be almost 10 mm deep; measurements over 8 mm are considered a good indicator that an animal can make it through the winter. Most big game animals cope with adverse winter conditions by drastically reducing their activity patterns. They spend more time resting in order to conserve energy. This means that it is critically important not to harass these animals, causing them to move and therefore use up precious energy reserves they desperately need. Animals can be disturbed whether you are on a snow machine or cross-country skiing past a herd of elk. The mere presence of people, within sight, can cause an elevated heart and respiration rate in these wild animals. The overall body and health condition of a deer or elk before winter sets in is what will really determines its survival chances through winter and into the next spring. Animals that do not have adequate fat reserves stored up before winter will most likely not survive, whether they are artificially fed or not. The wildfires on public lands have forced many deer onto private agricultural lands; also, many animals are attempting to cross the interstate. Drivers are reminded to be extra wary this time of year for animals on the roadways. Conservation officers have investigated several reports of antelope being struck by trains in the region.