JACKSON, Wyo. — It’s been a deep winter across Wyoming, and wildlife managers have been actively monitoring the impact of severe conditions on big game species.
“Wyoming is used to tough winters, but it has been a while since we have had a winter where severe conditions were so widespread across the state,” said Doug Brimeyer, Wyoming Game and Fish Department deputy chief of wildlife. “Wildlife managers throughout the state are acutely aware of the effects winter is having on big game populations.”
At this time, one of the biggest concerns is with public safety as some big game herds cross roads and highways as they move to lower elevations and habitats in search of forage. Research shows that slowing down by just five miles per hour can greatly increase a driver’s reaction time to avoid a wildlife-vehicle collision.
This winter, the Jackson/Pinedale Region has seen above-average snow levels on lower-elevation winter ranges and consistently colder-than-normal temperatures.
According to a report from Game and Fish, real-time mortality information through GPS-collared animals is currently showing greater than 50 percent mortality of collared mule deer fawns in the Wyoming Range herd, and currently average mortality of collared adults in the Sublette and Wyoming Range deer herds. Juvenile mortality typically averages about 25 percent in these herds. When inspected, nearly all of the mortalities were found to have gelatinous bone marrow which signifies malnutrition.
“By all accounts, managers are expecting to see above-average mortality for both mule deer and pronghorn,” said WGFD.
Larger ungulates such as elk and moose aren’t typically as affected by winter compared to pronghorn and mule deer, and will likely experience average mortality.
However, wildlife managers are responding to an increased number of elk causing damage on private lands as they seek forage at livestock feeding operations. Due to the increase in damage by the elk and the risk of co-mingling with livestock, Game and Fish officials have initiated emergency supplemental elk feeding in Star Valley.
An accurate assessment of loss won’t be known until later this spring as many animals, particularly adults, won’t succumb to winter until April or May.
