Human-wildlife interactions remain low this winter

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - Winter conditions bring out many wildlife to town seeking better living conditions, but that has not been the case for this particular winter.

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game announced they have seen only a scarce amount of reports of animals such as deer and elk within town limits.

They are especially more thankful since this was a huge problem last winter.

The harsh record-high snow pack conditions then made it difficult for many wildlife to thrive in the mountains.

"It's usually snow depths that will drive them down to those valley areas. Just getting, you know, reprieve from the deep snow and also the availability of food sources," Idaho Department of Fish & Game Regional Communications Manager James Brower said. "So being able to to dig down and find those grasses and shrubs, when we get those bad winters and those animals come very close to town, that brings other wildlife with them, predators. That would be preying upon those deer as well."

Experts say the cold, snowy conditions from this past week could kick start these animals back into town.

Yet, Brower tells us these human-wildlife interactions typically become more of an issue if these brutal conditions persist for a long period of time into February and March.