Effect of Snow Depth on Mule Deer in Middle Park, Colorado

摘要: The distribution of mule deer (Odocoiless hemionus) on tSheir winter range in Middle Park, north-cenbal Colorado, is largely governed by snow depi. Snow over 18 inches deep essentially precludes use. In two three winters study, 90 percent o£ the was excluded from use because snow. Fluctuations m counts were negatively correIated with NovemberFebruary precipitation. EFFECT OF SNOW DEPTH ON COLORADO DEER * Gxlbert et al. 15 northern Alaska. Univ. Kansas. Museum Nat. Hist. Misc. Pub. No. 8. 309pp. Bos, G. N. 1967. Range types and their utilization muskox Nunivak Island, Alaska; A reconnaissance study. WI.S. Thesis Alaska, College. 113pp. Photo offset. BUCKLEY J. L., D. L. SPENCER, AN:D P. ADAMS. 1954. Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) longevity. Mammal. 35(3):456. HONE, ELIZABE@1H. 1934. present status arctic North America Greenland. Am. Comm. for Internatl. Wildl. Protection Spec. 5. 87pp. KLIEN R. introduction, increase crash reindeer St. Matthew Island. Mgmt. 32(2):350367. PALMER, 1938. Management muskoxen Island7 Unpubl. Rept. Bur. Sport Fisheries Wildl., Juneau. 2Spp. Mimeo. , AND C. H. ROUSE. 1936. Progress investigations 193>1935. 35pp. . 1945. Study Alaska tundra reference to its reactions other grazing. U. S. Fish Serv. Research 10. 48pp. ROUSE, 1948. Muskoxen 9pp. SCHEFFER, V. B. 1951 rise fall a herd. Sci. Monthly 73(6):35S362. TENER, 1965. Canada. Queens Printer, Ottawa. 166pp. GOVERNMENT, BUR. SPORT FISHERIES WILDL. 1947-1968. 34 misc. unpubl. repts. file Washingtonn C., Bethel Anchorage, VIBE7 Arctic animals relation climatic fluctuations. Meddelelsen om Gr0nland. 170(5):15>162 181-lD2. Received publicstion May 27, 1969. Winter critical time year big game much Northern Hemisphere. general, factors are primarily responsible this fact: ( 1 ) forage nutritional quality abundance at lowest, (2) limits amount accessible central Rocky Mountains, where valleys above 7,00() ft) dieoffs considerable magnitude occur contribution Colorado Division Game Parks, Pittman-Robertson Project W-38-R) Mountain Forest Experiment Station, U.S.D.A. Service. inter fo seve e winters. Because starvation presumed be ffie predominant eause deaths) it believed that yields inadequate management must directed increasing maintaining adequate It does not follow ffiat all inadequate, but portions may maintenance populations. important know what determine is, so appropriate priorities can set planning. Snow, as hinders movement This content downloaded 157.55.39.17 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 05:13:44 UTC All subject http://about.jstor.org/terms 16 Journal Wildlife Management, Vol. 34, 1, January 1970 restricts availability forage, has paramount influence. opinion Severinghaus 1947:220) that, while weather severity characteristics influence mortality, ". Adirondacks region, depth eritical factor affecting mortality among deer." Loveless 1967 considered principal deterrent East Slope Roeky Mountains Colorado. effects upon annual differences survival Utah discussed Robinette 1952) influences also Hosley 1956 ), Smith 1954 Cowan (1947). Edwards (1956) linked major fluctuations populations western Canada depths. Russia, Abramov (1959) attributed population declines Altai wapitis wildboar (Cersus elaphus Sus scrofa) heavy snowfall. cooperative research program Game, Parks Service, an initial effort made characterize north-central Some results reported here derived data separately collected since 19154. STUDY AREA METHODS Park (Fig. 1) drainage River. Except narrow outlet through Gore Canyon, 7,300 ft elevation, hemmed mountain ranges varying 9,000] 13,000 ft. Coniferous forest predominates 9,OOiO unforested area below elevation vegetated predominantly Fig. 1. location intensive study areas. s.agebrush (Artemisxa tridentata). average minimum temperature 4.7 F Hot Sulphur Spring.s station. varies exposure, gradient; sometimes exceeds 2 lowest elevations, southerly exposures or wind-exposed sites those levels seldom snow-covered throughout winter. With very few exceptions, spend summer 9,000 Downward migration begins usually late October when accumulate summ.er range. Approximately 11,00012,000 wintered 196748. These studies conducted (a) (b) vicinity Gulch considerably year, Gilbert 17 (c) Cedar Ridge more less constant.