LOGAN – With snow finally accumulating and getting deeper in the mountains some of Utah’s wildlife may come down to populated areas in Cache Valley and surrounding areas to find nourishment.
Snow increases encounters or animal sightings, but not all need to be reported to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
“As snow falls in the mountains, turkeys, deer, moose and other wildlife species move to lower elevations looking for food,” said Faith Jolley, the DWR spokesperson. “Cougars, which prey mostly on deer, often follow the deer into the valleys.”
While it may seem like cougars and other wildlife are migrating into neighborhoods more frequently, it is a combination of a few things:
- Increased building in the foothill areas and canyons (where wildlife is naturally located).
- An increase in the number of doorbell and security cameras on people’s homes (which capture more wildlife sightings that previously went undetected).
If there is wildlife in a neighborhood or yard, people should always keep their distance for their own safety and for the safety of the animal.
DWR Big Game Coordinator Dax Mangus said getting too close to a wild animal can cause the animal to feel threatened.
“If it feels threatened, it will sometimes act aggressively to protect itself, which can be unsafe for you or your pets. However, these encounters can also be harmful for the animal,” he said. “Because it’s harder for some wildlife to find food in the winter, they need to conserve their energy in order to survive.”
Mangus also said while a one-off encounter may not be fatal, repeatedly disturbing or chasing species such as moose and deer can cause them to use up some of the essential fat reserves and energy they need to survive the winter.
Another important way to avoid conflicts and to prevent harming wildlife is to never feed them. While it is not illegal to feed wildlife there are several reasons that it is highly discouraged except in cities that have ordinances against it.
The spread of chronic waste disease among deer, elk and moose and the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza among waterfowl and birds of prey. There is also potential harm to wildlife from introducing foods not in their diets, particularly during winter months
“Whenever someone feeds wildlife, those animals will often return to that area in search of food,” Mangus said. “These areas are often near highways and towns. Concentrating on deer and other wildlife near inhabited areas can sometimes result in increased traffic accidents and other human/wildlife conflicts.”
He said attracting deer to your property through feeding can also attract predators, like cougars that follow deer herds. And while deer and moose are not predators, they are still wild animals and can be aggressive, particularly around dogs.
Any time you are injured by wildlife, you should receive immediate medical attention, if needed, and report the incident to the DWR.
Here are some other wildlife scenarios that should be reported to the DWR:
Cougars
Cougars can be found throughout Utah, usually in the foothill and canyon areas, but also sometimes down in the valleys, especially during the winter months when they follow food-seeking deer to lower elevations. Report a cougar siting if:
- It has killed something in a neighborhood or yard.
- It exhibits aggressive behavior.
- It appears several times on your security cameras.
One-time sightings of cougars are typically when the animal is moving through an area, and it is often left by the time DWR biologists and conservation officers can respond.
Bears
Black bears are the only species of bear currently found in Utah. Similar to cougars, they can also be found in the foothill areas, canyons and other similar habitats throughout Utah. If bears are in these areas, they should only be reported if they are being aggressive or if they are getting into trash, fruit trees or causing damage.
Bears typically go into hibernation from November to March, so you likely won’t see one during the winter.
Moose
Moose are also commonly found in the foothill areas since that is their natural habitat. You should report a moose that has wandered into lower-elevation areas and is within city limits or heavily populated areas, so the DWR can relocate the animal.
Avoid approaching moose or attempting to “herd” them out of yards or roads. Moose can be very aggressive, especially around dogs.
Deer
You should only report deer sightings in a neighborhood if the animal is acting aggressively. Buck deer can often be aggressive during their breeding season, which takes place in November. If you are having issues with deer damaging your landscaping or garden, the DWR website can give people preventative measures to try.
If a deer is hit and killed by a vehicle in a neighborhood or is found dead in a yard or park, call your nearest DWR office to report it, so crews can remove the dead animal.
The DWR also launched the Urban Deer Program to give cities the ability to deal with ever-increasing deer/human conflicts in expanding urban areas.
Bobcats
While bobcat sightings aren’t as common as cougar sightings in urban areas, the smaller cats are also sometimes spotted in neighborhoods. You only need to report a bobcat sighting if the animal has caused property damage, attacked a person or attacked a pet or livestock.
Turkeys
You should report turkeys that are causing a negative impact on your property, so the DWR can relocate them to areas where they won’t cause conflicts with people. Turkeys can become aggressive, so you should make sure to keep a safe distance.
Putting out backyard bird feeders to feed songbirds and hummingbirds is a common practice, and while turkeys are a bird species, the DWR strongly discourages placing corn or other bird seed on the ground to feed them. Wild turkeys are large birds that often travel in flocks and feeding them can cause property damage and nuisance issues for homeowners and their neighbors.
Birds of prey
During the winter, Utahns may often see hawks, eagles and other birds of prey on the sides of the road. Occasionally, these birds gorge themselves on roadkill and are unable to fly for a period of time. Drivers need to be attentive and watch carefully for these birds so they don’t hit them if the birds do start to fly away. You only need to report these birds if:
- They are in the roadway (and at risk of being hit by a vehicle).
- They have been in the same spot for over 12 hours.
- They have an obvious injury.
For more wildlife-related safety tips and information, visit the Wild Aware Utah website.