Washington Hunter
Well-known member
By SCOTT McMILLION, Chronicle Staff Writer
Deer have been gathering in larger numbers on Bozeman's southeast side this winter, causing one Kagy Boulevard resident to be concerned both for the deer and for motorists.
Cathy Weeden said she has seen two deer struck by vehicles near her home so far this winter, and the number of deer is larger now than at any other time in the six years she has lived in the neighborhood.
That's probably because this winter is one of the hardest in several years, said Craig Jourdannais, Bozeman-area biologist for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
"It's partly because we're having a winter, which we haven't had in awhile," Jourdannais said Monday. "That seems to cause a redistribution of things."
Deer naturally gather in larger groups in the winter, Jourdannais said.
In addition, a freezing-thawing pattern has formed a crust of ice on the snow cover, making it more difficult for them to find food, he said. However, feeding deer is a bad idea, wildlife managers warn, and it only makes the problem worse.
Deer are living in several parts of town and the number of deer/vehicle collisions is increasing, said John VanDelinder, the city's street superintendent.
"Every winter, we see more," he said.
So far this winter, city crews have hauled away 20 dead deer, one elk and one skunk.
The elk carcass was located along Cattail Road near Costco, he said.
"I don't know if somebody hit it or dumped it there," he said.
The number of roadkill deer in the city limits is growing steadily, VanDelinder said.
"It used to be we'd pick up one a year," he said. "Now, we're picking them up year-round."
Groups of deer live along West Main Street and along North Rouse Avenue, he said. But the biggest group is in the Kagy Boulevard/Valley View Golf Course area.
Urbanized deer also have learned to ignore people and cars, often to their own peril.
"They're not nervous about walking out in front of you" VanDelinder said.
Jourdannais said he's heard reports of people pulling into their driveways, finding deer in their yard "and the deer seem unconcerned."
But in other Montana cities, the situation is worse. Deer naturally gather in larger groups in the winter, Jourdannais said,
Helena, Billings and Missoula all have bigger populations of urbanized wildlife, he said.
In Helena, a newspaper carrier had to take refuge under a parked car last year when an aggressive buck deer chased him. Four aggressive deer have been shot in that city in recent months.
"We haven't heard of anything like that around here," Jourdannais said. "The urban wildlife population here isn't nearly as severe."
But it is growing. Spring weather will attract more deer looking for food, VanDelinder predicted.
And it will bring skunks.
"As soon as we see a couple 50-degree days, we'll see more skunks," he said.
Scott McMillion is at [email protected]
Deer have been gathering in larger numbers on Bozeman's southeast side this winter, causing one Kagy Boulevard resident to be concerned both for the deer and for motorists.
Cathy Weeden said she has seen two deer struck by vehicles near her home so far this winter, and the number of deer is larger now than at any other time in the six years she has lived in the neighborhood.
That's probably because this winter is one of the hardest in several years, said Craig Jourdannais, Bozeman-area biologist for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.
"It's partly because we're having a winter, which we haven't had in awhile," Jourdannais said Monday. "That seems to cause a redistribution of things."
Deer naturally gather in larger groups in the winter, Jourdannais said.
In addition, a freezing-thawing pattern has formed a crust of ice on the snow cover, making it more difficult for them to find food, he said. However, feeding deer is a bad idea, wildlife managers warn, and it only makes the problem worse.
Deer are living in several parts of town and the number of deer/vehicle collisions is increasing, said John VanDelinder, the city's street superintendent.
"Every winter, we see more," he said.
So far this winter, city crews have hauled away 20 dead deer, one elk and one skunk.
The elk carcass was located along Cattail Road near Costco, he said.
"I don't know if somebody hit it or dumped it there," he said.
The number of roadkill deer in the city limits is growing steadily, VanDelinder said.
"It used to be we'd pick up one a year," he said. "Now, we're picking them up year-round."
Groups of deer live along West Main Street and along North Rouse Avenue, he said. But the biggest group is in the Kagy Boulevard/Valley View Golf Course area.
Urbanized deer also have learned to ignore people and cars, often to their own peril.
"They're not nervous about walking out in front of you" VanDelinder said.
Jourdannais said he's heard reports of people pulling into their driveways, finding deer in their yard "and the deer seem unconcerned."
But in other Montana cities, the situation is worse. Deer naturally gather in larger groups in the winter, Jourdannais said,
Helena, Billings and Missoula all have bigger populations of urbanized wildlife, he said.
In Helena, a newspaper carrier had to take refuge under a parked car last year when an aggressive buck deer chased him. Four aggressive deer have been shot in that city in recent months.
"We haven't heard of anything like that around here," Jourdannais said. "The urban wildlife population here isn't nearly as severe."
But it is growing. Spring weather will attract more deer looking for food, VanDelinder predicted.
And it will bring skunks.
"As soon as we see a couple 50-degree days, we'll see more skunks," he said.
Scott McMillion is at [email protected]
