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Show Unusually Heavy Winter Snows Have Stressed Area's Wildlife By Norman McKee Wildlife Biologist Unusually heavy snow this winter win-ter throughout Utah has stressed many species of wildlife. Only the fish are smiling about all the moisture and even they may have some second thoughts during heavy spring runoffs. Of course, considerable precipitation precipit-ation is necessary, following several sever-al years of drought, to replenish underground un-derground aquifers, springs, and reservoir and lake storage. Range-land Range-land plants have also been stressed during the drought years. The increase in-crease in snowfall this winter is a long-term blessing, but it does create cre-ate considerable problems for many outdoor critters. Many species that migrate (waterfowl, mourning dove) or hibernate (bear, prairie dog) are largely unaffected. Those species, however, that do not migrate, and must remain during the winter, struggle to maintain body condition and are now having problems in many areas of the state. Smaller animals usually have the most problems. Metabolism is high and a good consistent food supply is necessary to keep' the body warm and fed. Trees, such as russian olive, are important in some areas because of the consistent consis-tent food supply they provide throughout the winter months. Larger animals, such as deer and antelope, struggle to even move around when snow is too deep. Much of their main food supply (sagebrush) is buried beneath snow. Crusting of snow causes even more energy to be used as they attempt to move and feed. Even elk, which usually do fairly well during winter, are having problems. Calves are especially vulnerable, as they have not had time to develop fat reserves and they cannot paw down or reach as high into mahogany trees, etc. for food. To preserve body condition, animals an-imals generally move as little as possible. Much of the day is spent feeding on what little is available and resting. Harassment by humans, hu-mans, such as snowmobilers, can be devastating. There are laws to help control thoughtless people who would intentionally harass wildlife. Stray dogs can also be a big problem and can be shot on sight if found chasing wildlife or livestock. Tim Provan, director of the Division Div-ision of Wildlife Resources, has determined de-termined that no major effort will be made to artificially feed wildlife this winter. The time and expense expended during the feeding operation opera-tion in northern Utah during 1983 was evaluated to be largely unsuccessful, unsuc-cessful, especially with deer. Elk adapted better to the feeding effort, but became a nuisance the follow ing year when they returned for another an-other handout, even though winter conditions were not severe. The DWR has consistently striven to put their resources and expertise into preserving or enhancing enhanc-ing winter rangelands necessary to feed big game and other wildlife. A lot of expense is also put into fencing fenc-ing for haystacks, and payments for damaged haystacks and orchards. Solutions are continually being sought to lessen agriculture depredation depreda-tion problems and still be able to have healthy wildlife populations in Utah. Most wildlife species are remarkably re-markably resilient to replenish their populations when conditions are good and there is adequate habitat. Opportunities often occur for cooperative coop-erative wildlife projects on federal, state, and private lands. Adequate funding for wildlife habitat protection protec-tion and enhancement is an important impor-tant investment for the future. Game biologists annually conduct con-duct spring range rides, usually in April, to evaluated the effects of the past winter on deer populations. The areas examined are mostly looked at from horseback. Sportsmen Sports-men and ranchers are invited to participate. par-ticipate. Dates of rides and areas of local concern will be announced in the Garfield County News in March. |