IFG: Dogs, deer don't mix
Last week brought the first snowfall of the season to much of the Panhandle. Relatively early snows are exciting news to skiers and snowmobilers who love to be enjoying their pursuits by Thanksgiving. With the holiday coming late in the month this year and snow already falling, many are optimistic they will be on the slopes and groomed trails on turkey day.
Deer hunters like snow on the ground too because it can concentrate deer and make it easier to locate and to track deer. With seasons open through and including December 1 in most of the region, the new snow should aid hunters in their efforts to put healthy and nutritious meat into the freezer.
At higher elevations where lots of snow has already fallen, it will likely stay there for the entire winter. Although most of the snow did not last on the ground at lower elevations, it is likely that subsequent snowfalls in the very near future will be with us until at least April.
Impacts of snow on wildlife in northern Idaho are significant even in ‘average’ winters. Snow cover reduces the amount of accessible food for most species in the wild, so the length of time there is continuous snow cover has a lot to do with the number of animals that die of natural causes in the winter. Snow in mid-November is somewhat early for our area and can add to the challenge of surviving. Reduced quantity and quality of food when coupled with the energy demands of cold weather creates survival challenges for animals that have no options other than to wait out the conditions.
One avoidable stress on big game animals, particularly deer, is the stress created when being chased by unconfined domestic dogs. In some of the chases, the dog catches the deer and the results are gruesome. In chases where the deer is not caught, just being chased by dogs uses up valuable fat reserves.
Many dog owners reading this probably think their docile and well fed domestic dog would never chase a deer. But when dogs see deer and natural instincts take over, the chase is often on.
The situation worsens as the winter drags on and the snow becomes crusted. Dogs, with their lighter weight and larger feet run on top of the crusted snow. The heavier deer with small hooves break through the snow. In this instance, a deer has little chance of escape.
If concern about the welfare of individual deer or the deer population is not enough to make a dog owner control his dog, Idaho law may. According to Idaho law, “Any person who is the owner of, or in possession of, or who harbors any dog found running at large and which is actively tracking, pursuing, harassing or attacking, or which injures or kills a deer, or other big game animal within this state, shall be guilty of an infraction.”
Dog owners violating this law face a fine plus a potential civil penalty of $200 for the illegal taking of a deer. The effort it takes to keep ‘Rover’ at home and not roving is well worth it.
When snow begins to melt, it is easy to think dogs are no longer a threat to deer. However, low temperatures and limited food supplies over the long term have cumulative effects that compromise a deer’s survivability. The additional energy expended to outrun a dog may be the determining factor between life and death. Yearlings and fawns are particularly vulnerable to winter hardships as they have a smaller body mass and fewer fat reserves, and their shorter legs make travel more difficult in snow.
As home sites continue to develop in prime winter ranges, the problem intensifies. The same features we like for our home sites, such as sunny southern exposures at the base of mountainsides with numerous trees and shrubs, are the same components necessary for good deer winter range.
Please keep your dog confined to give deer a chance of survival in tough winter conditions. As a dog owner, it is your responsibility to keep your dog out of situations where instincts to chase deer may ultimately result in a deer not making it through an already tough time.