Tough times for our white-tailed deer

As most of us have feared, this winter looks like it could be a doozy for our white-tailed deer population. I suppose after a handful of mild winters we are now paying our dues, so to speak.

And bitter cold temperatures this year are the least of the deer’s problem. They can handle the cold but it’s the snow I’m worried about!

Snow conditions, with a weak crust formed by our mid-winter melt and pack, make travel and escape more difficult than usual. So far, we are a long way off the massive snow depth experienced back in 2008- 2009, but with higher than average snowfall this winter and a meagre crust unable to support a deer’s weight, times are tough indeed!

Our friend imacdon has witnessed the results first-hand in these graphic deer kill images taken around his property:

It is very disappointing to think that after more than 5 years of a population on the rebound, our whitetail herd could be in store for another big hit.

And with a healthy, relatively uncontrolled, predator population in eastern ON and western QC our whitetails will need to pull out all the stops this year in order to survive. Since December my trailcams have captured scant few deer images, even in the whitetail wintering area. The number of coyote images captured has; however, remained steady.

I know I am crossing my fingers for the deer this year….and my toes too!

So, what can we do to help? Here are three options (I’ve been practising option #2)

1)Backyard feeding

When carried out properly, supplemental deer feeding is a wonderful past-time and can be of benefit to these animals when snow depth reaches more than 1 metre. Finding the proper balance between protein and fibre for the deer’s diet can be tricky and without knowing it many backyard feeders may actually be hurting the animal’s chances of survival. If you had not started a feeding program during early season, it is probably too late to start now, as the animal’s digestive system would have needed to adapt to the supplemented diet.

2)Improved Access and predator control

There are other ways we can help deer during the colder months besides feeding. By creating new access trails and cutting fresh browse, we greatly increase their food availability and expand travel corridors. A network of hard-packed trails will serve as escape routes from predators. By improving access to winter habitat and cutting additional feed, we go a long way to helping these animals make it through the winter. For folks who are looking to help deer this winter, perhaps get out for a little coyote hunting in areas where it is permitted. It is a challenging sport and less predators around would also help the deer’s chance of survival.

3) Call upon MNR for assistance

Through the Emergency Deer Feeding Program – The MNR ‘s Snow Network for Ontario Wildlife looks at risk assessment and on the very rare occasion will implement an emergency feeding program in certain areas. Over the past 15 years, I believe I’ve only seen this program implemented once! During the winters of 2008-2009 when RECORD snowfall was recorded in Central Canada, no measures were put in place to provide aid to whitetail deer in Ontario. An estimated 30% of the population died-off in just two years!

For more information on the Snow Network for Ontario Wildlife:

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@fw/documents/document/mnr_e001298.pdf

Outdoorsguy

December 30, 2013

Safety expert wants deer cull for Eastern Ontario

Following a terrible accident involving a deer near Kemptville on Christmas day, the Canada Safety Council’s past President is speaking-out on the status of Eastern Ontario’s whitetail herd.

The freak accident which claimed the life of 31-year old Roy Khabbaz, was just that, a freak accident, but Emile Therien once head honcho of the Canada Safety Council feels it’s time to thin the herd through a cull.

Therien was quoted as saying;

“There’s a heck of a lot of deer out there and they’re not going to go away, and I think at some point governments are going to have to decide how big the herd is and how many do they want to cull”

An article on the subject appearing this weekend in a local publication pointed-out, among other things, deer collision statistics for Ontario as well as the “Speeding Costs You Deerly” awareness campaign – a program run by the City which I’ve not heard of until now.

Yes, we do have a solid number of deer in this Region, there’s no arguing that…

It will be interesting to see how this recent call for a ‘deer cull’ is perceived, with someone from the Canada Safety Council bringing it to light. Anytime a hunter or conservationist mentions that dreaded four-letter word (Cull) Antis are all over us, like Oprah on a baked ham! (sorry Oprah)

The truth of the matter is, the deer herd in Eastern Ontario is actually in rebuild mode; still down substantially in numbers from 5-6 years ago. You see, Central Canada delivered its own style ‘cull’ at the time in the form of two wicked winters in a row; wiping out as much as 1/3 of the deer in some areas. Fact is, we are a piece off the number of deer this region boasted some 8-10 years ago.

Please don’t get me wrong, the accident on Christmas day is a terrible loss of a young life and my heart goes out to family and friends. As does my heart for the victims of the awful accident along the 148 in 2011 where a large black bear claimed two lives.

But is now the time for an all-out deer cull in eastern Ontario?

My opinion is that sustained white-tailed deer harvest is required; based on sound population surveys where available, along with hunter harvest statistics to help control and manage the herd. (Hunter’s harvest statistics are not currently being heavily utilized in Ontario, as the MNR do not have the resources to do so.)

Managing deer in our region has always been a conundrum and it seems nothing has changed. We’ll see if the Canada Safety Council has any pull in that regard.

What do you think?

Outdoorsguy

December 16, 2013

Dogs hazardous for whitetails during winter

Winter weather is tough enough on white-tailed deer populations, and domestic dogs on the loose will only exacerbate the situation!

I can recall one morning a couple of winters ago as I was leaving for work, the howl of a barking animal in the back field broke the early morning silence. At first I thought it was a coyote but its distinctive domestic canine sound reverberated.

One of my neighbour’s dogs had apparently gotten loose and was chasing deer through the field!

My heart sank as I knew the implications. The deer I was feeding at the time, which included an orphaned fawn and a buck with a bad leg (pictured above) were not seen again for more than a week.

I never did locate the dog, but evidently it had put the run on them good as my lame buck returned limping worse than ever. Less than 3 weeks later that same buck could walk no more and the Ottawa Police were called-in to have it put down.

The incident was a first-hand reminder of why we must control our pets especially during wintertime!

Pet owners who allow their animals to run wild -regardless of the breed – are not only breaking the law, their actions can be devastating for deer at a fragile time of year. MNR Conservation Officers deal with belligerent pet-owners every winter and are authorized to destroy any dogs observed chasing or injuring deer in areas where herds gather for the winter. Penalties for allowing your dog to be at large during the closed season for deer, range anywhere from $155 up to $25,000.

Both domestic and feral dogs can create undue stress for whitetails as they gather in yards for protection. At this time of year, when deer subsist largely off fat reserves, the simple act of running through deep snow can drain much needed energy reserves, and leave the animals unable to cope with cold winter temperatures. Winter stress is also directly proportional to the health of fawns born in the spring.

Should you witness any dogs on the loose in your area, please call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667) toll-free any time.

March 8, 2013

Brewer Park Project good for fish habitat!

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority along with the Environment Committee of Ottawa South have been putting their heads together on an exciting neighborhood initiative – to connect the man-made former swimming pond in Brewer Park with the natural Rideau River.

It would be the first time these water bodies have been joined in over 50 years!

The project would allow a channel to be cut on the east-side of the pond allowing the free flow of water from the main Rideau River.

Several ecological benefits have already been identified by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority:

a)	Allow fish species year round access in and out of the pond to the Rideau River.
b)	Eliminate the potential for fish kills as a result of the occurrences of anoxic conditions in the pond in the winter and summer months.
c)	Altering elevations to create conditions suitable for more diverse submergent and emergent aquatic vegetation in the pond.
d)	Creation of new functional spawning, nursery, rearing and food supply habitat in the restored wetland feature for the fish community residing in the adjacent reach of the Rideau River.
e)	Providing new and enhanced winter and summer refuge areas for fish.
f)	Increased biodiversity.
g)	improved water quality for the Rideau River as a result of the wetland enhancement.

(Photo showing how Brewer Park Pond as it appeared in 1950)

(Photo showing how Brewer Park Pond appears now)

I can just imagine hauling-in a 20 pound muskie from Brewer Park Pond….sounds like a dream come true!

Come out this weekend for an Information Session on the project – Saturday from 3:15 to 5 pm, Main Hall Ottawa South Community Centre, 260 Sunnyside Avenue (in Old Ottawa South)

For more information: http://www.rvca.ca/brewerpark/index.html

Outdoorsguy

January 8, 2013

Happy New Year from Safari Club International

Thanks to Bob Valcov(above) – Director of Safari Club International (SCI) Canada for the great letter he sent, on behalf of all hunters across the country!

Cheers Bob and keep up the great work!

January 7, 2013

Hug a Hunter

To Jeff Morrison – Outdoors Guy

As we go forward into this new year, it is time to recognize and show appreciation for everything Canadian hunters do to promote wildlife conservation across our great country. It is time to hug a hunter. I borrow the term from an ad campaign in Colorado.

Hunters have been and continue to be willing to pay the price in terms of volunteer time and in hard cash to protect wildlife and its habitat while others either pay lots of politically-correct lip service or, even worse, simply take the outdoors for granted.

Hunters do more for conservation than any other group. In fact, hunter-founded conservation organizations are principally responsible for bringing back North American wildlife that was almost extinct a century ago. Modern hunters in North America have never caused a wildlife species to become extinct, endangered, or even threatened. The truth is, every game species that is hunted has increased in number. Hunters most probably saved deer, elk, bear and waterfowl from extinction.

Payments for hunting and fishing licenses are the main method of financing the management and protection of wildlife and their habitats. Hunting and fishing are essential tools in wildlife management to maintain healthy and diverse populations of wildlife. Hunting and fishing develop a sense of personal accountability for Canada’s natural resources within individuals.

Hunter-based conservation organizations contribute millions to conservation projects. Last year, SCI Foundation alone granted $400,000 to North American wildlife projects; more than $4 million over the last ten years. One of these worthy projects, for example, is the Newfoundland Caribou Strategy. Over five years, the SCI Foundation has granted $250,000 to investigate the decline of woodland caribou in Newfoundland & Labrador; in other words, to establish the sound scientific evidence upon which intelligent future management decisions can be based.

It would be a serious mistake to discount the huge contribution made by Canadian hunters to the conservation of our wildlife and its habitat. So give a hunter a hug and thank them for their support of nature.

Sincerely,

Bob Valcov.

Director: Safari Club International-Canada.

Suite 200, 440 Laurier Ave. W./Ave. Laurier O.,Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1R 7X6; Tel: 613-683-LYNX (5969); www.SCI-Canada.ca

February 20, 2012

Coyote versus raccoon results may surprise you

Everyone knows how much I enjoy playing with trail cameras. Its not only a past-time, it’s a real passion of mine.

Passionate about trail-cams? Is that even possible?

The use of wildlife surveillance is not only addictive, but is as close to hunting as it gets. The thrill of the catch is there, and knowledge and understanding your quarry is also required for proper trail cam set-ups, just like hunting. And as with hunting, you must have at least some comprehension of wildlife patterns and movements to be a successful trail-camer.

Even after taking (& studying) tens of thousands of trail-cam images over the past 7 years or so, I do occasionally surprise myself by capturing a rarity or some neat occurrence in the outdoors.

For example, I have taken several trailcam images of flying-squirrels which is a real rarity captured on surveillance camera.(At least for me it is) Above all else, I find hunting with trail cameras to be great education and a fabulous tool for learning more about wildlife behaviour and interaction.

This past weekend, I captured a series of photos which, I believe, has helped shed some light on a subject I have often wondered about.

Coyotes versus Raccoon

Do coyotes actively pursue raccoons, and if so, are they successful at it?

Coyote predation on the raccoon is something I had secretly hoped was going-on behind the scenes, it would be the one silver lining in an otherwise dark room with our burgeoning coyote population. If these yotes could help manage the coon population they would, at least, be serving as a biological control for another critter in an apparent population boom.(Much in the same way the red fox helps control squirrel numbers in some areas.)

Well, finally I have some hard evidence on the subject and the results may surprise you!

Here in this first photo, a raccoon is seen on the skidoo trail.

The raccoon walks off the skidoo trail and into some brush on the left.

13-second later a coyote appears on the skidoo trail staring in the direction of the raccoon.

Mr coyote is wondering where the raccoon disappeared to

The coyote sniffs the coon tracks while standing there.

16-seconds later, the raccoon suddenly returns into to view; (see glowing eyes)staring straight at the coyote at a distance of perhaps 20 feet.

A stand-off ensues – neither the coyote nor the raccoon move a muscle.

Coyote and raccoon continue the staring contest

Blog10

18-seconds later coyote can be seen with its head turned; this time looking down the skidoo trail and away from the raccoon. The coon has now disappeared from view.

Coyote continues looking down skidoo trail and away from the raccoon. There is no real concern or interest in pursuing the coon at this point.

Coyote eventually looks back in the direction of where the raccoon had been, but it is gone.

Now the coyote too disappears from view. It trotted down the skidoo trail without taking a single step towards the raccoon.

Evidentally the coon was not too scared of the coyote either, as if it perceived there to be no real threat. In the early images you can clearly see the coon had disappeared from view and then came back to check-out the coyote.

So, do eastern coyotes hunt raccoons?

According to this photo series, coyotes have no interest what-so-ever in raccoons as prey. (At least this particular coyote didn’t)

Outdoorsguy

Footnote:
To show how brave these raccoons can be, check-out these photos provided by ‘matt’. You have to look closely at what is poking out of the bear’s bait bucket:

That’s one brave little coon!!!

February 6, 2012

Ottawa coyotes more popular than ever

The eastern coyote has been a huge topic of conversation here on the Outdoors Guy over the past couple of years. Even when the subject is changed, things always seem to revert back to wile e coyote and its place(or lack thereof) in the Nation’s Capital.

MNR Biologist Scott Smithers recently spoke with Ron Corbett of the Ottawa SUN to share, what I would describe as, important insight into the coyote situation from a wildlife management standpoint.

It would seem apparent that even an MNR Biologist realizes something needs to be done about predator control, but alas politics and animals rights rear their ugly heads.

I see the coyote now like that kid in elementary school who was always getting in trouble. My parents would tell me “yeah, but he has troubles at home”, and the teachers would label him a problem child or blame it on upbringing. Sure, he’d be good for few days but you just knew things were on the edge of boiling over at any given moment.

Our coyotes are like this troubled kid in school. Sure, it may not be completely the child’s fault but they continue to disrupt the class so something needs to be done about it.

Here is Ron Corbett’s article:

Put people before coyotes, biologist

By Ron Corbett

On Sunday, I wrote about the problems a woman in Nepean was having during the Christmas holidays with a coyote in her backyard.

The eastern Ontario biologist for the natural resources ministry is aware of the story and thinks it should be a wake-up call for the city of Ottawa, especially as it pursues a new wildlife management strategy.

“Most cities in Ontario are in denial when it comes to coyotes,” says Scott Smithers. “For years we have been telling people that coyotes are not dangerous, that there have never been coyote attacks on people in Eastern Canada.

“Well, we can’t say that anymore. There have been attacks. And the truth is, coyotes are changing – their habits, the sheer number of them – it’s a very different situation from what it was even five years ago.”

Last month a seven-year-old girl was bitten by a coyote in her backyard in Oakville. In October 2009, a teenager was attacked and killed by coyotes in Cape Breton. These are the attacks Smithers is talking about.

He says a reassessment on how the city handles wildlife issues – from beavers in Stittsville to coyotes in Nepean – is “long overdue” although he worries “a lot of emotional arguments” may doom the exercise before it even gets started.

He won’t come right out and say it, but he’s talking about political correctness. About treating wild animals like Disney characters, little doe-eyed Bambis that can never be hunted, trapped, or even bothered.

Yet we need this debate. You just have to look at an aerial map of Ottawa to see why. We are surrounded by wilderness, with green space running like the spokes on a wagon wheel from the rural boundary right up to the downtown core.

Smithers says there are probably coyotes living within a kilometre of Parliament Hill. “We are a southern Ontario city,” he says, “with Northern Ontario wildlife issues.”

Despite this rather unique characteristic of our city, we have no strategy on how to manage our wildlife, or what to do when there are conflicts between animals and people. We simply refer people to other levels of government. Or expect the police to deal with it.

Two years ago — when coyotes started eating lap dogs in Osgoode — the city finally decided it was time to come up with some sort of plan. It formed an advisory committee, to make recommendations on a municipal wildlife management strategy.

Smithers sits on that committee, although he is not optimistic the city will end up with a good plan.

“To be frank, I found it a frustrating experience,” he says. “A lot of stakeholders were involved, and there was a lot of emotion at the meetings. I’m not sure good science is going to dictate the city’s policy.” What might carry the day is the “emotional argument” that says animals should never be hurt, under any circumstances.

Smithers says such a policy would be foolhardy. He says people should come first in a city, even though he is a trained biologist and hopes the city policy will respect wildlife.

“It’s like that woman in Nepean with the coyote in her backyard,” says Smithers. “That coyote clearly is showing no fear of humans, and that’s dangerous. You can’t just tell her to co-exist with that animal.” Yet that’s exactly what many animal rights groups tell municipalities to do. The most egregious example might be Glendale, Arizona, which debated a cull of coyotes after a four-year-old girl was killed by coyotes.

Animal Defense League member Pamelyn Ferdin, covered in fake blood, appeared at the council meeting to oppose the cull and to argue the child had not actually been killed by coyotes, but had been the victim of child abuse.

The cull went ahead, and within 80 days 56 coyotes had been trapped or killed within half-a-mile of the attack site.

“You shouldn’t walk around in fear of coyotes. You need to realize these attacks are extremely rare,” says Smithers. “At the same time, you shouldn’t walk around thinking wild animals are pets.” City staff is currently putting the finishing touches on the wildlife management strategy report. It should come before city council this spring.

It will be interesting to see how the city has responded to the various stakeholders in this debate. Let’s hope people get as much respect as animals, and science trumps emotion.

Other related coyote articles:

http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/02/04/coyotes-run-wild-in-ottawa

http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/01/20/coyote-bites-girl-after-chasing-her-home

Outdoorsguy

January 31, 2012

Asian Carp barrier talks long time coming

Last June I Blogged about the Asian Carp and the MNR’s Rapid Response Plan – a strategy put together by that jurisdiction to deal with this horrible invasive species.

This is that post:

http://blogs.canoe.com/outdoorsguy/safety/asian-carp-mnr-rapid-response-plan/

Here we are 8-months later and talks in the US of a ‘permanent’ physical barrier being built, is finally back in the news. Unfortunately, though, the news south of the border is not great as a private consulting firm put the Asian Carp Barrier price-tag at over 3 Billion dollars!

USAtoday had this to say on the subject:

The cheapest solution would cost taxpayers more than $3 billion and would take at least a decade to complete.

The study, which cost $2 million and was funded by several foundations, says separating the two watersheds would create jobs and could end up being cheaper than spending money every year to fight invasive species.

The article went on to say:

The engineering study proposes one to five new barriers near Chicago, rerouting cargo and pleasure boats, and building huge tunnels to handle floodwaters that could no longer go into Lake Michigan.

Funding would need to come from Congress. More than $80 million has been spent fighting Asian carp in the past two years from federal Great Lakes funds; the fight against invasive sea lamprey costs $20 million per year.

Some scientists fear Asian carp could take over the Great Lakes if they were able to get into Lake Michigan in sufficient numbers.

A similar study by the Army Corps of Engineers is due in late 2015.

Still, whether Congress is willing to foot the multibillion-dollar bill for stopping invasive species is unknown.

“Physically separating the Great Lakes and Mississippi watersheds watersheds is the best long-term solution for preventing the movement of Asian carp and other aquatic invasive species, and our report demonstrates that it can be done,” said Tim Eder, executive director of the commission.”

With a pretty good understanding of what would happen should these ugly fish make it into the Great Lakes, I don’t think I’m the only one who’s a tad nervous!

Outdoorsguy

This is a totally unrelated blast from the past hunting photo from November, 1990 ….Yukon Bob is pictured in the top left and yours truly is in there as well, cept I’m not sure which one (could be the Waylon Jennings look alike):

January 23, 2012

Misfit deer duo an unlikely winter team

Unlike other winters in my area, it seems I have a couple of regular visitors to my backyard deer feeder this year.

Back in early December coyotes claimed a deer in my neighboring property; leaving a 6-month old orphan buck fawn to fend for itself.

This little guy was wandering around aimlessly in the backfields for a couple of weeks and I feared for the worse. There was another lone doe back there I captured on trail cam and I had hopes he might eventually team up with her.

(As many people know, a fawn on its own the first winter is quite vulnerable)

But it never happened – the loan doe actually seemed to shun him, from what I could tell, so a new ‘adopted mother’ idea was out of the question.

Then by the end of December there was another deer in the back that caught my eye. It was a 3.5 year old buck I know very well. He was actually the biggest 8-pointer I have in the back, and you may have seen in earlier posts from last summer and fall.

I call him Andrew.

Well, poor Andrew wasn’t looking very good at all. He had already dropped his antlers and was acting rather peculiar (they usually shed in mid-late Jan)

I could see from trailcam images that he always held one hind leg up while feeding, and then when I saw him in person it all became very clear.

(It is worth noting that by this time of year my deer have usually moved to the upper fields to yard. I have not fed deer regularly the last two winters)

Anyhow, Andrew had what appeared to be a broken ankle. It was right above his hoof and caused him grief when walking. He had a terrible limp and walked very gingerly on the bum leg. (Had his front leg been broken instead, he’d be much better off.)

It was not the healthy and bold buck I knew from the fall, he was now a wounded soldier.

Over the next week or so, both the fawn and gimpy Andrew appeared at my deer feeder with some regularity, until eventually they started hanging out together and the oddest thing began to happen…

From observing their behavior (usually through binoculars) into January, I could see that the fawn was started to serve as Andrew’s eyes and ears. The buck would bed down while the fawn stood guard. When it came time to feed, though, hierarchy took over and the buck would nudge the fawn out of the way from time to time.

Never-the-less, they continued to travel together fulltime from the bedding area back to my feeder, and around the fields about twice a day. (Andrew’s limp has improved slightly) They make the oddest team I’ve ever seen but it appears to be working.

The unlikely duo has so far been able to stay one step ahead of the coyotes too, which is incredible.

It is one ‘symbiotic relationship’ I have never before witnessed and there’s no telling how long it will last.

It does; however, demonstrate how resilient white-tailed deer can be; learning to adapt to situations presented to them. I know I will probably take heat from some readers for continuing to provide supplemental feed for deer during the winter, but that’s ok.

Outdoorsguy

Speaking of winter feeding, here’s a photo of a nice cow elk that feeds at Carol K’s place:

Here’s another pic of the same elk..Carol K says this cow has no problem hopping over that (Goat/sheep pen) fence the elk is standing beside.