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return to the killing fields Two weeks ago, nine of our ten radio-collared elk were in their normal winter ranges, right where they were supposed to be. With one down low, not too far from where we don't want them to go. Today, four of them were here: In the killing fields. Along with over 130 of their friends and relations. Now, this is no cause for alarm. Around a hundred and fifty of them came up this far north last winter, too. Stayed a couple weeks, then left. No problems. But it is worrisome. Most of the elk the pilot and I found were standing, looking like ordinary elk in winter. One group that was mostly bedded down we rousted, and they all got up, and all looked fine. But it is worrisome. We know now that the lichen that fatally poisoned hundreds of elk on these fields three years ago changes toxicity. Lichen collected here in 2006 was nowhere near as poisonous as that we picked up in 2004. So who knows what it is like this year? But 2004 followed an exceptionally dry summer. As we just had. And 2004 had unusually heavy snowfall. As we are having now. With bitter cold temperatures. Like those earlier this month, and predicted for later this week. So it is worrisome. But the 2003-04 winter had exceptionally warm December and January weather. We had rain in both of those months. A form of precipitation that just does not fall in this Divide country in the middle of winter. But it did that year. Nothing like that this year. And I suspect that the warm, wet weather that year may have made the normally dry, crisp lichen considerably more green, soft and palatable come February. Which is not the case, this year. Still, it is worrisome. Which is why one of the wardens is heading out there tomorrow on a snowmachine. To look for the telltale pink and orange urine stains in the snow. Indicative of lichen being consumed. And I'll be on standby by the phone. In case he gets stuck. |
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