Dry winter impact on Elk

[Waddi]

Currently we’re hanging around 50% of median snowpack in Colorado. Another La Niña year most likely means a warm and dry spring as well.

What does this mean for the Elk herd? Obviously we can expect a bad summer for wildfires and water becomes more important. I also imagine this will diminish green up and good feed will become less available.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Poser]

I expect that food sources will be lower quality across the board, likely having more of an impact as we move into next Fall and wintering ground season next winter.

 

[MuleyFever]

Obviously we can expect a bad summer for wildfires...

Not necessarily. Some of the worst fire conditions start with a wet spring and then a dry summer. If there is not a lot of moisture in spring and we don't get a good green up then there is less light fuel for fires to start. Lots of parts to it but a dry spring doesn't just automatically mean a bad year for fires.

 

[Waddi]

Not necessarily. Some of the worst fire conditions start with a wet spring and then a dry summer. If there is not a lot of moisture in spring and we don't get a good green up then there is less light fuel for fires to start. Lots of parts to it but a dry spring doesn't just automatically mean a bad year for fires.

Fair point and I’m familiar with the idea, I spent 4 years as a wildland firefighter. However, walking around in the woods right now everything is crunchy and seems like it’s trending towards a bad fire year.