Has oil affected ND mule deer? Foundation to research and offer answer
January 26, 2012 at 6:00 pm in The Dickinson Press
Mule Deer Foundation representatives want to engage in a study that will determine what influence the oil industry is having on the area’s mule deer population.
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I recently took part in an interview with Dan Sullivan on the impact of oil on mule deer. I would like to take this opportunity for some clarification as the article, published on Friday January 27th, was short and incomplete from what we spoke about. I felt the article was skewed negatively toward the oil and gas industry as the sole reason for the decline in mule deer population.
The wildlife, and specifically the Mule Deer, has gone through the perfect storm in Western North Dakota. As stated in the article, oil does have an impact on mule deer population as does any development that directly impacts habitat such as housing and the conversion of CRP to crops. This is only one prong of the storm, unfortunately the primary reason for mule deer population losses are due to the weather. North Dakota has suffered three horrendous winters in which a domino effect occurs to the mule deer population. First, when you have that much snow for that length of time, the mule deer’s food is unavailable as it is covered, deer starve. Secondly, predation increases on the mule deer as mule deer’s ability to escape predators is hampered by the deep snow and even one coyote can take down an adult deer. Add into this the fact that the Coyote and Mountain Lion populations are at all- time highs. Third, add in the stress of poor nutrition and predation and you have the issue of low fawn birth rates. When a doe is stressed she may not conceive or will abort the fawn as her body is unable to handle the rigors of pregnancy. This past year, the ND Game & Fish observed the lowest doe to fawn ratio since they have been recording this statistic.
Another subject not brought up in this article, yet spoken about, is the fact that the ND Game and Fish, the Mule Deer Foundation as well as other conservation organizations are working with the companies within the oil & gas industry. Not only is the industry providing funds for studies and habitat projects, many companies will contact the ND Game & Fish and/or professional habitat consultants to identify and mitigate potential effects to habitat and wildlife prior to drilling.
As stated in the article, the Mule Deer Foundation is not opposed to oil and energy development as long as it is responsible oil and energy development. We would also like to thank those companies in the oil and gas industry that are mitigating habitat issues, providing funds for conservation and the support that many companies have provided to our local Mule Deer Foundation banquets. Their support and your support will ensure that North Dakota will have self-sustaining, healthy, free ranging and huntable deer populations for future generations. Please join us at the Teddy Roosevelt Chapter banquet on April 14th to celebrate this magnificent icon of the west.
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