Alberta’s Freezing February – How did this affect the animals?

[Sirgallagher]

Given Alberta’s record-breaking low temperatures throughout February, was wondering if anyone had some insight on its affects (if any) on the ungulates.

Wondering if the cold temps killed off a bunch of the ungulates? Maybe more so the smaller ungulates like white tail? Maybe Elk and moose would be less affected? Maybe only the very old, very young, or very sick ungulates were affected?

What’s your take?

~SirGallagher

[Husty]

Yes you pretty much hit the nail on the head with body size of an animal and cold weather. Should be interesting down south with antelope populations, I remember my old man saying some cold in the 90s decimated populations as we are on the north extent of their range. Small mammals like rabbits will get hit too but they reproduce a lot faster than large mammals.

[HoytCRX32]

What about the pine beetle? Would be nice if some good came from this

[Husty]

Originally Posted by HoytCRX32

What about the pine beetle? Would be nice if some good came from this

Those should be hit hard too. from my understanding they build a natural anti-freeze that builds up with a gradual decrease in temp.. They need a week or two of -25 to be killed and because we went from balmy summer weather to a-30 deep freeze in a day they were very vulnerable.

[Smoky buck]

I have always been under the impression a deers ability to build up fat reserves before winter, available winter feed, and the overall length of winter depleting their reserves played the biggest roll in winter survival.

Winter took its time to show up so deer should have had plenty of time to build fat reserves and even though it has been cold once things kicked in the overall length of winter conditions may not be that long this year

Maybe I am being optimistic but I think the deer might come through winter alright as long as spring starts showing up in a reasonable time

[3blade]

Lots of unharvested crops, warm oct, nov, dec...they went into winter in good condition. The ones I have seen still are.

What kills deer is cold and wet at times they aren’t prepared for it, like may and June. Or a crust on snow that allows coyotes to run but deer sink. Neither has happened this year. Or arzehole shed hunters/dog owners running them off wintering areas - but that’s not the fault of the winter.

Alberta deer are well adapted to cold and biologically/behaviorally speaking they “expect” cold in February. Their coats are still maxed out, they are in their winter habitat, eating their winter feed. nothin really unusual about -20 to -30...gotta wonder why people think that’s cold for winter?

Elk don’t care about winter much, and moose are quite literally made for it. Those animals only suffer when predation becomes an issue.

[Sledhead71]

Spring is the hardest on the population, a cool wet spring will be detrimental to populations... The antelope seem to have done ok, have a herd of 70 or better wintering and they seem fine...

[SageValleyOutdoors]

Originally Posted by Sledhead71

Spring is the hardest on the population, a cool wet spring will be detrimental to populations... The antelope seem to have done ok, have a herd of 70 or better wintering and they seem fine...

That’s good to hear... I’m up for my archery antelope this year, but i think I’m gonna hold off at least until 2020. This winter has me worried, AND i have to go to my wife’s stupid cousins wedding the 3rd week of sept. So that screws me on the best time to be hunting them anyway...

[Redhorse Ranch]

Usually about 20 mulies show up at my bin yard at sundown to clean up spilled grain. They're fat and sassy.

[35 whelen]

Originally Posted by SageValleyOutdoors

That’s good to hear... I’m up for my archery antelope this year, but i think I’m gonna hold off at least until 2020. This winter has me worried, AND i have to go to my wife’s stupid cousins wedding the 3rd week of sept. So that screws me on the best time to be hunting them anyway...

Who gets married in the 3 week sept , I had 2 friends do this.

[Dick284]

I’ll tell you this for free....
It ain’t done no good, and we gots some of our heavier snow months to come.

[pikeman06]

Deer herd looks pretty good in the central /east central area nice healthy lookin animals both mules and whiteys. Cold doesn't hurt the deer as much as real deep snow, at least in the farmland anyways.

[Kov]

Yeah I think it has a lot more to do with deep snow than how cold it gets. I mean obviously its a tough go when you have 4+ weeks of -20/30 but when there is deep snow I think finding food is a lot harder for deer and elk. Moose are more adapted in that they feed on willow, etc which can be found above the snow.

[warriorboy10]

I’ve been in the bush quite a bit throughout the winter and from what I see there a pile of deer and moose around. In several different areas and deep snow in many areas. Lots of cow calves and doe fawns.

[HunterDave]

Cold doesn’t bother the critters too much. I trapped all winter and the deer and moose did great around here. I get a feel for the health of deer by how long they carry their antlers. Whitetail started dropping about the third week of February and Mulies were still sporting theirs last week. Lots of them everywhere and they are doing just fine. There are a lot fewer coyotes around here though.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Dave, trappers in BC observed moose dropped their antlers early when very cold winter, carried them longer during mild winters. PS You cannot find yotes because you trapped them all.

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

Dave, trappers in BC observed moose dropped their antlers early when very cold winter, carried them longer during mild winters. PS You cannot find yotes because you trapped them all.

This doesn’t surprise me in the least. What i’m Saying is that shedding antlers comes down to the overall heath of the animal. Cold probably contributes to it but food sources, etc plays a large part. I’ve found sheds at the end of November some years.....maybe in poor heath going into the winter due to a hard winter the previous year?

This year the deer that i’ve Seen look very healthy and have sported their antlers very long in comparison to other years. That to me tells me that they have done very well. I saw two roadkill driving to Stony Plain today too. Another scientific observation that indicates that the deer are doing well.