Deer Winter Range
by Eric Peterson
WELL, IT’S WINTER, AND DEER ARE ON THEIR WINTER RANGE. WHAT IS WINTER RANGE AND WHY ARE THEY THERE?
DEER ARE ABLE TO DIGEST FIBROUS MATERIALS. THEY ARE BROWSERS. THEY LIKE TO EAT THIS YEAR’S GROWTH OFF SHRUBS AND OTHER KINDS OF PLANTS. THE PART OF THE SHRUB THAT IS OF THE HIGHEST NUTRITIONAL QUALITY IS THE PART OF THE PLANT THAT GREW THIS YEAR AND THAT IS THE PART THAT THE DEER WILL SELECT FOR THEIR BEST QUALITY DIET.
AND IT COMES OFF PLANTS LIKE BITTERBRUSH, SAGEBRUSH, SERVICE BERRY, CHOKECHERRY, AND YES, THOSE DECORATIVE PLANTS YOU HAVE PLANTED IN YOUR YARD. NOW IN THE SUMMERTIME, FOOD IS EASY FOR A DEER. BUT IN THE WINTER THAT’S NOT THE CASE WHERE THEY WERE, AND THAT’S WHY THEY HAVE MOVED AND MIGRATED TO WINTER RANGE, THE PLACE IN THEIR HABITAT WHERE THEY CAN FIND THAT HIGH QUALITY FEED THAT THEY NEED TO SUBSIT THROUGH THE WINTER.
NOW AS IT HAPPENS A LOT OF TIMES THE TOWNS AND OTHER PLACES WHERE WE HUMANS LIVE AND HAVE PLANTED SHRUBBERY IS A PLACE WHERE DEER REALLY FINDS THAT HIGH QUALITY NUTRITIONAL FEED THAT HE NEEDS THROUGH THE WINTER. IT’S BECOME HIS WINTER RANGE. SO THE NEXT TIME YOU’VE GOT A DEER EATING YOUR SHRUBBERY, JUST THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT HE’S SHOPPING FOR THE HIGHEST QUALITY PRODUCE HE CAN FIND. FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, I’M ERIC PETERSON.