Climate change...deer numbers

[Flyjunky]

I wanted to see if any of you have heard your state game department blame climate change as a major factor in mule deer decline in your state? Last night here in Oregon a meeting was held in my town to discuss the new management strategy for mule deer. Climate change was brought up as a significant factor, #1, in suppressing our deer herd. Anybody heard such a thing? Seems to me they are using it as a scapegoat because it's something they obviously can't control so they basically don't have to do anything because it's all the result of climate. Just to make this clear, they are not saying a bad winter here or there....actual climate change.

They are saying that because of climate change the deer are malnourished which results in them being easier to prey upon. Ok, I can understand that to a point but to say it's the #1 factor....what a crock of sh*t. It couldn't have anything to do with the 10,000 cougars we have in this state. Nah, that would be controllable and they'd actually have to do something. I guess this is what I get for living in a blue state that hates hunters.

 

[flathead#2]

It's either Climate change or racism.

 

[IdahoBeav]

The three reasons why mule deer populations are declining are climate change, Russia, and racism.

 

[Phaseolus]

In Colorado we’re experiencing 20 years of drought which has affected some of our herds, especially in overwintering grounds.

 

[Flyjunky]

In Colorado we’re experiencing 20 years of drought which has affected some of our herds, especially in overwintering grounds.

That drought is because of climate change or a natural cycle?

 

[scrubs]

Maybe they are confused about their gender or sexual orientation so they aren`t breeding?

 

[Flyjunky]

Maybe they are confused about the gender and sexual orientation so they are breeding?

Those are only the deer on the westside of the state. The deer over here in eastern Oregon are all red voting deer who know their gender.

 

[Flyjunky]

Seriously though, has anyone heard their game departments use the climate change excuse? I'm genuinely curious if ODFW is the only one.

 

[fshaw]

Not in my state (attribution from game department) but before dismissing climate change as a possible impacting factor it might be worthwhile to read some science about it. Our deer herd has been impacted by a couple different diseases which are not traditionally typical for our area. Is climate change a possible impactor on population numbers, likely. The sole reason for a wholesale short term decline, I think that would be unlikely.

 

[Customweld]

Seriously though, has anyone heard their game departments use the climate change excuse? I'm genuinely curious if ODFW is the only one.

Not directly.

 

[Grundy53]

I live in Washington. I'm sure our game department will steal the idea from you guys.

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[Koda_]

just google "climate change, deer, elk, state" and you will find it.

https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/environment/article268145847.html

Climate change is a factor but the cougar population and banning dogs in Oregon is the major factor mule deer herds are struggling. ODFW needs to say it.

 

[grfox92]

At this point I wish I could live the rest of my life without ever hearing the term "Climate Change" again.

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[MuleyFever]

That drought is because of climate change or a natural cycle?

They are not mutually exclusive.

 

[KurtR]

Climate change helps our deer. Cold and snow out here kills a bunch more than warm and no snow.

 

[Ozarkansas]

Climate change gets brought up a ton in Arkansas regarding waterfowl, and honestly in that circumstance it’s probably warranted. Changing weather patterns have kept the ducks from pushing as far south until later than usual, and abnormally wet springs have hammered our green tree reservoirs, killing lots of timber.

The whole wetter springs thing has also been pointed to as a big reason for our Turkey decline, resulting in terrible nesting success and poult survival.

 

[InkedElkSlayer]

In Montana, climate change has mainly affected the mature mule deer bucks. About 10 years ago, mature bucks in MT started questioning their gender. Several years later, it became apparent that most of the mature bucks weren’t identifying as male, female, transgender, or nonbinary… they were actually furries.

So with a majority of the mature mule deer bucks identifying as furries, what MTFWP found from studies and telemetry data was that the limiting factor in the habitat was not food, or hiding cover, but the limiting factor was actually the lack of clean litter boxes for the furries to shit in.

About that same time, MTFWP began tracking a significant increase in mature mule deer buck sightings around the high schools in Missoula. They are obviously migrating towards the litter boxes in the high schools as a result of climate change.

 

[rhsmith3]

The ambiguity ODFW slips into every statement they make is ridiculous. It’s always a moving target with no accountability. And up until the point commissioners for ODFW are not appointed by the Governor, or at least the majority aren’t, those type of statements and hands off management will be the only thing we really see done.

 

[jmez]

At this point I wish I could live the rest of my life without ever hearing the term "Climate Change" again.

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Don't worry, in a few more years there will be a new buzzword and boogyman. Climate change will go by the wayside as did global warming, hole in the ozone, acid rain, ice age.............................. All existential crisis, until they're not.

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[Mag_7s]

I think it would be ignorant to suggest the earth's climate has remained a constant throughout millennia. Of course the earth's climate has changed and will continue to change with or without human presence. I believe there is more of an "agenda" behind the climate crisis. I believe the decline in mule deer are multi faceted. Habiat loss/fragmenting, fire suppression and over predation are more of their concern. However, I do believe some ungulates are more affected than others, and less adaptive to changing environments like mountain goat. Where I live we have seen goat numbers decline. In many conversations with the state ungulate specialist, his local theory is two fold. One, being we are loosing our snowpack earlier and feed is simply drying up faster and the habit is a limiting factor. The second, too many predators on the landscape.
Perhaps this would be a great conversation for @robby denning to have on his podcast with Kevin Monteith. I really enjoy listening to their conversations.