Wyoming pronghorn and mule deer populations growing

A Wyoming Game and Fish Department study published last week shows pronghorn and mule deer population growth is on the rise in Wyoming.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s annual survey showed an increase in numbers of both animals in the recent year with continued growth expected through this next winter barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Gary Fralick, a Game and Fish biologist said that most of the deer measured in the survey should survive the winter.

“Unless the severity of the winter is substantial in the next few months, the deer now on the winter ranges should have a high survival rate,” Fralick said. “To finish off the winter, we will be hoping for spring precipitation with the resulting plant growth the deer need during the annual migration from their winter to summer ranges.”

The population growth of a species is measured by looking at the number of fawns per one hundred does in a population, specifically the number of fawns that survive until their first birthday. By taking that information and comparing it to previous years, game and fish computes the average growth of a population.

In the Western half of the U.S., decreases in mule deer and pronghorn population growth is common, making this study a welcome change.

Reasons for the mule deer and pronghorn decline until now include drought conditions and disease outbreaks. Growing numbers may be a product of improved moisture conditions and habitat location.

Corey Class, wildlife coordinator for the Laramie region of the Game and Fish Department said, “We’ve got good fawn production this year and a mild winter which means a low mortality rate. However, a lot of the population depends on climate and the timing at which it comes.”

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department collars mule deer in the winter ranges near LaBarge, Kemmerer and Evanston with a goal of fitting radio collars on 70 does in these areas to determine habitats preferred by the deer. Once habitat usage is documented, wildlife managers assess the nutritional carrying capacity of the population to determine how many deer the landscape can support in a given year.

Migration routes and stopover areas the deer use as they depart winter ranges on their annual migration to summer ranges are also important for monitoring populations, according to the game and fish website.

Wyoming Game and Fish plans to reexamine the populations in June.

Tanner Kailby, a UW student majoring in natural science, said that as a hunter, she is pleased by population growth.

“I remember hunting deer, antelope and elk. I didn’t really think about the populations too much but it is good to hear they are on the rise,” Kailby said. “It’s important to think about what we leave for the next generation.”