Idaho Fish and Game says tough winter affecting some game animals, but not all

Tough winters aren’t unusual for eastern Idaho. Yet despite the reputation, the past few years have been warmer and shorter than average. That’s one reason why this year’s “more traditional” winter has felt a lot tougher for both people and wildlife.

“We’ve got a lot of animals that are really highly stressed right now,” said Kelton Hatch, a regional conservation specialist with Idaho Fish and Game.

Deer and antelope in particular have benefited from the milder winters. Now that we’re seeing a harsher winter, Hatch said those populations are really feeling it.

One recent example of the tough winter affecting wildlife happened January 16 on Lake Walcott, which is northeast of Rupert. A large herd of pronghorn antelope were attempting to cross the frozen lake when something spooked them.

“For some reason the heard was startled and the remaining group of them, about 250, went back the way they had come from,” said Hatch. “Unfortunately, we had about 47 that got slipping and sliding around, and they couldn’t get off the lake.”

By the next morning when Fish and Game could investigate, several antelope had died as a result of coyotes, and about 20 others had to be euthanized due to broken joints or bones. “It’s something you don’t want to do, but it’s necessary,” said Hatch. “It’s also something that’s not very common.”

Farther north, Idaho Fish and Game is providing winter feed for deer and elk in the Tex Creek area. Much of the region east of Ammon was burned in the Henry’s Creek fire in August, meaning the foliage that helps tide the animals over during the winter burned with it. Fish and Game said the feeding program is to help tide the animals over during the winter, and to help provide a boost to the populations for game and ecological purposes.

Greg Losinski with the Idaho Fish and Game said the practice does help, but it’s not perfect. “We still have the situation where deer are not chivalrous,” Losinski said. “And so rather than let the fawns and the does eat, you’re going to have the big bucks, who probably need it the least go in first, and then they leave out the does and the young ones.”

Even if the deer do walk up to the feed lines and eat, Losinski said it can take some time for the feed to work as deer have sensitive and complicated digestive systems.

Elk on the other hand, are actually doing really well this season. The elk themselves are healthy and their population as a whole is large. “Our biggest problem is that they might wander onto private lands getting into the stock and the operations and the haystacks and things like that as well as getting across the highway,” said Losinski. “Like Highway 26 outside of Ririe is a big concern for us right now as there are so many elk out that way.”

With the healthy elk populations, hunters should have a great hunting season ahead of them. “When fall comes next year, we really do want folks out there and make every efforts to help us with these populations, by harvesting the animals,” said Losinski.

Idaho Fish and Game also takes volunteers in helping with the winter feeding program. If you would like to help, call them at (208)-525-7290