|
Big game animals feel effect of drought, fires By PERRY BACKUS The Montana Standard DILLON – Montana’s big game populations are going to feel this year’s severe drought long after the smoke settles this fall.
Forage dried to a crisp early this year after spring rains failed to materialize. Sagebrush didn’t add much new growth – an important staple for wintering big game. And in some cases, winter ranges were charred by this summer’s huge wildfires. All of which are ingredients to disaster should this winter turn out cold and snowy. “If we have a severe winter this year, it could be very difficult for wintering animals,” said Gary Hammond, a Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist stationed in Dillon. Hammond has already seen the indications that area wildlife are feeling the effects of the drought. He just completed his annual survey of antelope herd in Beaverhead County. The biologist recorded a dramatic drop in numbers of fawns from last year. He said that’s probably due to sparse forage production this spring. “The does had to spend a lot more time searching for high quality forage,” he said. “The resulting low milk production is likely the factor in low fawn numbers. The well being of the mother just took priority over the lactation demands for the fawn.” Quantity and quality of milk production dropped and the fawns didn’t survive, he said. Hammond expects to see the same kind of low fawn production in mule deer during upcoming winter and spring surveys. “The real bottleneck is going to be this winter,” he said. “That’s when the below average forage production from the drought is really going to play a role.” In southwest Montana, where three lackluster years of elk hunter success has resulted in high elk numbers, there is a potential for larger than normal winter kills. Hopefully, Hammond said conditions will allow hunters a good harvest this fall. Hammond said it’s a good thing that mule deer numbers aren’t at high levels this year. Sagebrush plants – a winter staple for mule deer – are already stressed and too many deer could have easily affected those plants, he said. In some places mule deer are already using sagebrush on winter ranges, which could spell trouble this winter for deer and into next year for the sagebrush plants, he said. “There is usually enough disturbance through archery and rifle seasons to keep animals off winter ranges,” Hammond said. “Hunters are going to see a different distribution of animals this year. Most will be keying in on green areas. The distribution will be anything but random.” The state did keep antelope quotas high this year in an effort to reduce numbers so wintering ranges won’t be impacted dramatically, said Hammond. Some area ranchers are already seeing wildlife key in on hay meadows and Hammond predicted that game damage to private lands will be a problem throughout the winter. In an effort to give some relief, Hammond said the state may allow hunters holding A-7 antlerless permits to hunt on private property where ranchers are experiencing problems. Displacement of animals off winter range and onto private lands won’t be limited to extreme southwest Montana. Joel Peterson, Fish, Wildlife and Parks regional wildlife manager in Bozeman, said fires in the Townsend, Maudlow and Elkhorn areas have burned on winter ranges. That could cause big game to move elsewhere to find feed, he said. The Bozeman office is already hearing from ranchers experiencing game damage. “It’s a lot earlier than normal,” he said. “We’ve set up some scare guns. We’re trying to deal with it as it shows up.” “Across the region, I think we’re still OK,” Peterson said. “I’m just hopeful we’ll get a good harvest and some moisture this fall.” Peterson’s counterpart in Missoula, John Firebaugh, said quite a bit of winter range has been burnt in the Bitterroot area. Grasses on the winter ranges was already short due to a lack of moisture, he said. “There will certainly be a change in distribution this winter,” Firebaugh said. “They are going to end up where ever there is a some feed and there’s a distinct possibility that could be on private lands.” “We see come chronic game damage most years,” he said. “I think it will just be accelerated this year.” Over the long term, this year’s fires will change the landscape. Hammond said the change will benefit some species. For others, the effect could be detrimental. For instance, on forests west of the Continental Divide, where timber is typically heavier, the fires will create good habitat for deer and elk. But east of the divide, hiding cover is often the limiting factor. Loss of cover from fires could have a detrimental impact on elk, Hammond said. “I’ve heard people say these fires are destroying habitat. But I think it’s better stated that fires are altering the habitat and there will be winners and losers,” he said. “Within 10 years we’ll see an entirely new environment that many different species will be able to exploit.” In lodgepole forests, trees typically come back thick following a fire. That provides perfect habitat for prey species, like snowshoe hares. That could be a boon for lynx, which are dependent on snowshoe hares, Hammond said. There will be plenty of long-term issues to deal with, Hammond said. Many of those center around man’s influence on the fires. Noxious weeds may come in on firefighting equipment. New trails and roads created to battle fires will have to be managed. And salvage logging of trees killed by the fire will be an issue, he predicted. And people will be looking for a scapegoat, Hammond said. “I’ve heard people trying to put the blame on the Forest Service for these fires,” he said. “But in reality, you get conditions like this once a century. When they all come together, things are going to burn and there ’s not a thing anyone can do about it.”
|