It’s that time of year again when the public is asked to stay out of areas closed as winter habitat for deer and elk.
Deep snow and cold stresses the cervids, said Brad Weinmeister, a biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
“They’re in energy-deficiency mode, using energy to find food,” Weinmeister said. “This makes them susceptible to health problems.”
Females impregnated during the rut in September and October can lose a fetus, Weinmeister said.
People entering wildlife winter ranges add to the stress and people with dogs even more, Weinmeister said. Dogs off leash put tremendous pressure on deer and elk, he said.
Violations are frequent by scofflaw hikers, cross country skiers, bicyclists and snowmobilers, Weinmeister said.
A survey by a Colorado State University team in Utah found that 50 percent of those interviewed didn’t think the presence of themselves, their pets or their vehicles impacted wintering deer and elk, Weinmeister said.
If there is impact, they thought it must originate with a group other than their own, Weinmeister said. Skiers would blame hikers and vice versa, he said.
As of Monday, the Perins Peak and the Bodo state wildlife areas are closed to the public.
In fact, the Perins Peak area has been closed since Nov. 17, per the agency’s standing regulations. The effective date of closure is the day after the closing of the last elk/deer season.
The Bodo wildllife area is open April 1 through Nov. 30 for general use. It is open south of County Road 210 only for small-game hunting Dec. 1 through March 31. Smelter Mountain Trail is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the same period to foot traffic only. No dogs.
The Bureau of Land Management has not yet put areas such as Animas Mountain, Grandview Ridge and Twin Buttes off limits for the winter, agency spokeswoman Shannon Borders said Monday.
“It depends on weather conditions,” Borders said.
Twin Buttes is city of Durango property. The city defers to BLM opening and closing dates.
daler@durangoherald.com
