Healthy habitats save wildlife
Now is the time to speak up for Central Oregon’s wild species.
When we spend time in our Central Oregon landscapes, the signs of wildlife are all around us. We look for golden eagles nesting in the rugged crags of Smith Rock. Walking along the banks of the Deschutes, we catch the watchful eye of the mule deer while the bald eagle soars, looking for its next catch.
Our regional identity is connected to our wildlife. They are a hallowed part of what makes this place exceptional and distinct.
Protecting wildlife is a driving force behind our work at LandWatch. To understand how to best accomplish that, we need the most accurate and up-to-date research on the habitat needs of eagles, elk, and mule deer.
What is a Wildlife Inventory? Under Oregon’s land use system, counties must map (or “inventory”) areas that are significant to wildlife needs. Often, these inventories are created in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Deschutes County’s last Wildlife Inventory was conducted in 1991. In the 30 years since then, Central Oregon has undergone immense change, and our wildlife populations have felt the pressure. A recent report shows our mule deer herds have declined by up to 40%. It’s time for an updated inventory.
This year, Deschutes County worked with ODFW and USFWS to gather new data. This recent proposed Wildlife Inventory Update from ODFW gives an updated picture of the winter range of elk and deer and sensitive habitat areas for bald eagles and golden eagles across Deschutes County.
Expert scientific research shows deer and elk winter range expands beyond the County’s current inventory areas. Inventories for golden and bald eagles reveal updated numbers that show extended sensitive habitat areas. As these updates show, Deschutes County is home to sensitive habitats needed by our deer, elk, and eagles to thrive.
What does the data say?
These updated reports show an expanding range of habitat areas. As wildlife populations are actually declining in number, the expanded ranges shown here give insight into the current habitat needs for the survival of these species in Deschutes County. As animals are displaced by continued development in the rural County, efforts are needed to protect winter range and sensitive habitat that remains.
View an interactive version of these maps here or click on the maps below for a larger view.
Mule Deer Winter Range Habitat
Green shading shows the previous 1991 designation for winter range. Blue shading shows the updated Winter Range Habitat from the 2021 analysis.
Sensitive Bird Habitat: Bald and Golden Eagle Nest Locations
The green areas show the previous 1991 designation for sensitive habitat. Orange shading shows the updated sensitive habitat from 2021 analysis.
Elk Winter Range Habitat
Green shading shows the previous 1991 designation for winter range. Blue shading shows the updated Winter Range Habitat from 2021 analysis.
Take Action
This research is just a first step. We need our Deschutes County Commissioners to take this research and commit to updating its Wildlife Inventory. There are two critical ways to help support the mule deer, the elk, the golden eagle, and bald eagle today.
Tell the County that you value wildlife, wildlife should be protected from development, and that you support updating the County’s wildlife inventories.
We strongly support the proposed Wildlife Inventory Update. At LandWatch, we work to ensure our region’s wild lands are protected to support biological diversity and critical wildlife habitat. We support land use planning and decision-making based on the best available science and most up-to-date research regarding our region’s wildlife populations.
Thank you for your help. Together, we can ensure our region remains one where we can live as good neighbors to our wildlife by recognizing their homes on this landscape.