Winter road closures keep mule deer safe and healthy
Photo: Brent McGregor
Winter road closures keep mule deer safe and healthy
Photo: Mike Lewinski
It’s easy to think of a winter road closure as nothing more than a seasonal inconvenience. In reality, these closures are life-saving measures deserving of our respect.
Nothing comes easy for Central Oregon’s mule deer during the harsh winters. Temperatures drop precipitously and deep snow falls across the higher elevation habitat in the Cascade mountains where they spend their summers. In order to survive, these iconic animals must descend to the lower elevations on the eastern foothills of the Cascades. They’ll spend the winter in the juniper woodlands and high desert shrub steppe. Here, snow cover is not as inundating and exposed vegetation can still be found giving them opportunities for food that are few and far between. Even still, they must maintain a treacherous balance between limited food resources and the substantial energy demands of winter. To put it simply, mule deer populations are strategically starving themselves just to make it to spring. Furthermore, the annual breeding season for mule deer takes place in the fall and results in winter pregnancies for female deer. This makes their seasonal survival all the more crucial to sustaining the overall health of the herd. Learn more about mule deer winter range.
Coexisting with wildlife in Central Oregon
But here’s the thing. These lower ecoregions that mule deer depend on during winter are also where we live. They are where we’ve built our cities, towns, and infrastructure. Our growing communities exert an unmistakable presence across land that has for prior millennia been the open, intact habitat of Central Oregon’s wildlife. Striking a balance between the needs of wildlife and our collective impact on the land is essential to preserving the exceptional quality of life Central Oregon provides for both human and more-than-human species.
For Central Oregon mule deer, the urgency to achieve this balance is greater than ever. A recent report from the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife revealed that local mule deer populations have plunged by 56% since 2004. The urbanization of migratory corridors, more traffic and road development, increased fencing, poaching, and disturbance from recreation are all obstacles that have contributed to a stressed and dwindling population.
Tumalo Winter Range Cooperative Closure
Luckily, some of the best intact winter range habitat remains located just outside of Bend and Sisters. The Tumalo Winter Range Cooperative Closure (TWRCC) extends from Sisters down past Bend, and includes the vast majority of the privately owned Skyline Forest. This agreement between the Bureau of Land Management, Deschutes National Forest, Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, and cooperating private landowners prohibits unauthorized motorized vehicle travel in an effort to minimize human disturbance and improve the seasonal quality of habitat for mule deer, elk, and other wildlife. The closure extends from December 1 through March 31, and it is essential that we all observe the requirements.
Those of us who enjoy skiing at Peterson Ridge or snowshoeing out to the Whychus Creek Overlook might have caught a frosty glimpse of the mule deer that so depend on the nearby closure. These iconic animals traverse the landscape in search of the best seasonal habitat and nutrition, completely unaware of any perimeter established in their interest.
Skyline Forest is essential winter habitat for Mule Deer
Photo: James Parsons
Just east of Three Creeks Lake road, Skyline Forest makes up a substantial portion of the TWRCC area. The 33,000 acre private property holds swaths of ponderosa pine that provide abundant tree cover for mule deer to hide behind. Since food is scarce and their natural instinct to flee from any notion of danger would cause them to expend precious calories, it is essential the deer feel secure in their winter habitat. Skyline Forest has historically been managed for commercial timber operations and enjoyed for recreational opportunities, so there is an absence of motorized transportation infrastructure. This minimizes the potential for distressing encounters with loud human recreation. Still, all motorized and electric assist vehicles, including OHVs and snowmobiles, are prohibited from accessing the area’s vast network of trails until March 31 to provide vulnerable mule deer with the best winter habitat possible.
Recognizing and respecting winter road closures Helps Wildlife
Photo: Wells Hall
We can all do our part to respect our wild neighbors by observing seasonal road closures on trails and roads both near and far. Tell your friends and family about the importance of intact winter range. A collective awareness of and commitment to prioritizing the needs of wildlife is the first step towards revitalizing regional mule deer populations.
Interested in knowing more about road closures across Central Oregon?
Learn more about the life and times of Central Oregon mule deer from our friends at the High Desert Museum through this interactive web display.
Support wildlife in Central Oregon
When we understand our relationship with Central Oregon’s public lands and open space as one of stewardship and reciprocity, we see that, just as the land cares for us, we must care for the land.
A big part of that is making sure Central Oregon’s iconic wildlife continues to thrive in this region. 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.