Don't let dogs chase deer and elk

This winter has been one to remember in southern Idaho. Some of the snow measurements in the southeastern part of the state are 165 percent of normal. People will be talking about the winter of 2016-2017 for a long time in southern Idaho.

Heavy snowfall and below average temperatures have put more stress on big game animals than “normal” winters in southern Idaho.

In the northern part of the state, significant snows fell starting in early December leading many of us to believe we were in for a harsh winter as well. However, by late January the snow pack measurements were only between 63 percent and 71 percent of normal.

The length of time when there is continuous snow cover can have an impact on the number of animals that die of natural causes and from predation in the winter. Snow reduces the accessibility of many foods utilized by big game. In addition, all of us who have trudged through deep or crusted snow know well that every step requires a lot more energy than walking on bare ground. Reduced quantity and quality of food, expending more energy to move around, and higher caloric needs from cold air temperatures all work together to make winter a tough time for big game animals.

In the last few weeks, rain and sun on the existing snow have formed a crust on the snow surface. With relatively small feet for their weight, big game animals break through the crust when other animals do not. This makes it easier for predators such as mountain lions and wolves who can run on top of the crust to catch deer and elk.

One stress on big game animals that people can help reduce is the stress created when domestic dogs chase deer and elk. In some of the chases, the dog catches the deer and the results are gruesome. In a chase where the deer is not caught, just being forced to run uses up valuable energy.

According to Idaho law, “Any person who is the owner of, or in possession of, or who harbors any dog that is 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.

When snow begins to melt and patches of bare ground appear, 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 and elk a higher 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 could result in a deer not making it through an already tough time.

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Phil Cooper is a wildlife conservation educator employed with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in the Panhandle Region.