Winter is a challenging time for many of us—warming up vehicles, shoveling driveways and layering on our clothes to just do our daily routines.
Imagine how challenging winter can be for Montana's wildlife.
Snow, subzero temperatures and wind is winter in Montana and for wildlife, this season takes a little more energy and there are some simple things we can do to help them make it through to spring.
“It does not involve feeding wildlife. Wildlife have the tools they need to survive on their own as long as we give them space,” noted FWP spokesman Morgan Jacobsen.
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There's nothing quite like seeing a herd of deer or elk moving across a field. It’s a great photo opp. However, if you're causing them to move by being where you are then you're too close and they will suffer the consequences.
“This time of year they are not putting on any extra weight they're losing weight all throughout the winter and that's energy that they have built up during the summer which now they are spending it, if we're causing them to have to spend more of that energy unnecessarily it can be detrimental to wildlife so it’s important they we give them space,” Jacobsen noted.
That space is equally important if you recreate with a pet. Dogs like to chase animals and this time of year, that can be deadly for either.
"If there are any concerns or any possibility that they're going to chase wildlife, it’s important to keep the pet at your side even with a leash,” Jacobsen said. “Number one for the pet's safety and number two to reduce the stress on wildlife
Thanks to high mountain snow, our chances of seeing wildlife this time of year increase. Jacobsen notes seeing them is great but at a non-invasive distance.
