Winter Conditions Report
Animal condition: Animals came into the winter in average-to-good condition. Severe weather conditions could drain energy reserves quickly. Human disturbance can speed this up.
Winter conditions: With the warmer weather, snow levels have decreased and animals are able to move around without expending a lot of energy.
Depredations: There have been light-to-moderate depredations on haystacks from deer and elk.
Sand Creek, Hamer: Snow has settled, and crusting has increased over the last week. There has been no further mortality of radio-collared deer.
Elk in the Hamer area have been feeding on cull potatoes left in the fields from harvest. Some haystacks have been fed on, but owners took protective measures and elk moved on.
Swan Valley: Snow depths have settled and animals are moving about. Elk baiting in Rainy Creek has been successful in pulling elk away from area cattle.
Teton Basin, Victor Area: Emergency deer feeding continues. Warmer temperatures have decreased snow depths on some south-facing slopes and deer have resumed feeding on brush in these areas. Areas where snow compaction has increased, deer numbers at feed sites remain the same or have increased.
Big Desert/INEEL: Snow has settled and animal movement is not restricted.
Big and Little Lost Rivers: Snow depths have decreased and snow is melting on south-facing slopes.
Birch Creek: Animals are wintering in 4-6 inches of lightly compacted snow.
Tex Creek: Animals are wintering in 0-16 inches of light snow. Elk are still moving in many different areas.
This report is brought to you by Paul Faulkner, Upper Snake Region Landowner/Sportsman Coordinator, Idaho Department of Fish & Game.
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