Backroads Bill
For Wild Northerner Magazine
What are the deer doing and where are they? You can find out on your snowshoes.
There are thousands of deer in northern Ontario and viewing of the white tails is easy enough within three seasons of the year. At present they are not bounding through the fields, they are conserving energy in certain areas. It is all about the relationships defined within ecology.
The Loring deer yard is not a legislated or protected area, it comprises about five townships south of Lake Nipissing, it is about 500 square kilometres in size, centered on the Golden Valley, Port Loring area, about a third of which is private land. It is special because of the habitat. And it is easy to access because Highway #522 bisects the area with many side roads to explore. (The other significant deeryard, north of the Mattawa River and Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park is best accessed by snowmobile; OFSC, trail A112A.) It is estimated the Loring area has a “carrying capacity” of between 8,000-10,000 deer. Using the idiom “in a nutshell” applies here. Deer migrate, from their summer range, into this wintering yard. Some deer will travel a distance of more than 100 kilometres, seeking refuge for the winter. The deer are attracted to the area for the winter shelter, found under the canopy of the towering hemlock forests. Ground snow depths are reduced under these protective conifers, making travel throughout the winter less demanding on the deer. There is more to understand.
Back Roads Bill contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNR&F) and asked for some information on the deer and habitat ecological relationship.
Paul Kennedy is a Resource Management Technician and has spent a considerable amount of time (25 years) in the Loring area. He said the deer population, in general, is healthy and it has gone through severe winters in the past. “In winter the deer stick to their established runways, it is all about conserving energy. They tend to stay in small areas as their metabolic rates slow down, said Mr. Kennedy. “They eat and sleep and stick to the paths of least resistance to access food.” You may also see well-defined “runways” and the circular holes or “beds” in the snow often under the conifer cover.
He explained the MNR&F last “emergency” fed deer within the area in 2000 which included clearing trails and a deer feeding program during the exceptionally harsh and long winter. Deer management is now mostly regulated by what is called: ‘Antlerless Validations Tags’ and are used to distribute hunting opportunities in Ontario.
Currently it is not illegal to feed deer in Ontario. As for backyard feeding of the deer and there are many examples on and off Highway #522 and the North Bay area in general. He cautions against feeding deer, as it speeds up the deer's metabolism, when it should be slowing down, and can actually make it harder for the deer to cope with the winter. However, he said, “if residents have been feeding deer already, keep at it; it is not a recreational convenience.” Feeding, once started should be carried through until the onset of spring and can become a costly endeavour.
White-tailed deer will typically store fat in summer and fall to get it through winter, and could lose about 20% of its body weight during the season. This year's early snowfall and deep freeze of late January and February means deer are using up their fat reserves which is normal in any winter. Last winter took a toll on fawns and older deer, but that's part of the nature ecosystem process of disease, starvation and predation. “Bucks often use up some of the fat reserves during the rut. Consequently they could go into winter in less than optimum fat reserves. Thereby could fall victim to a unusually harsh winter.” There is more winter to come, however he said deer populations can typically recover quicker as compared to other large mammals.
Locally though, hunters have anecdotally reported there were less deer last year with the prolonged winter. The classic ecological “boom and bust” population cycle may be forthcoming (?).
The Role of Hemlock
Guylaine Thauvette is a MNRF forester she explained the importance of hemlock. “Hemlock trees have wide and dense crowns that hold snow. Snow depth under dense conifer trees is less than in open areas, because the snow falls on the branches rather than falling to the ground. Most of the snow on the branches sublimes (solid to vapor).” Deer use less energy travelling under these dense tree canopies. Conifers that hold a lot of snow are hemlock, white pine, white spruce and cedar. Dense conifer areas also shelter deer from the wind.
“Many of the tree species that provide the best shelter for deer are also their preferred winter browse. This makes it difficult to grow conifers large enough to provide cover. When the deer population is greater than the site can sustain, the deer eat themselves out of house and home.”
At the same time she said hemlock trees regenerate where there is moisture and air circulation, such as under conifers in rolling terrain. The Loring Deer Yard provides these conditions favourable for growing hemlock. Dense conifer areas where hemlock can regenerate are also where deer spend most of their time when the snow is deep.
To help maintain deer habitat, dense hemlock stands are thinned, where required, to open them up enough to provide light to regenerate hemlock, and maintain the density needed to provide shelter. Hardwoods (maple, birch) should be harvested during the winter so that the deer can feed on the tops, and reduce the browsing on shelter species, such as hemlock, white pine and cedar.
“Maple and birch provide most of the winter browse in the Loring Deer Yard. These species sprout new shoots every year, and as long as the deer keep browsing, the hardwoods don’t grow tall. From a deer habitat point of few, browsing hardwoods keeps food coming and does not reduce shelter because large hardwoods do not provide winter shelter. Deer also browse hemlock, white pine and cedar, and these are the ones that need to grow do not provide cover. Also, small conifers cannot survive many years of browsing, the way hardwoods can. Hardwoods store energy in their roots to produce new leaves in the spring. Conifers rely on existing foliage/needles to produce energy to grow new shoots. If the conifers are stripped bare of their needles, there is nothing to produce energy (photosynthesis).
What about hemlock succession? She explained there are two conditions that allow hemlock, and other species, to regenerate and grow. One is a long winter with a lot of snow. “This reduces the deer population. “
The other is that hemlock will regenerate away from concentrations of large and dense conifer areas. “Deer generally do not go to these areas during the winter. As areas of dense conifer die out, the deer move to new sites, where the hemlock and other conifers, has been able to grow. The areas they leave, because of reduced cover, may then regenerate if the growing conditions are suitable.” For more on the hemlock go to, www.ontariotrees.com .
Where to See the Deer
Combine this ecology lesson with a snowshoe experience or a Sunday drive. Take Highway 11 South and exit the Hemlock Rd., Trout Creek and Port Loring exit. Take 522b to 522; in Trout Creek turn west on to Highway 522; travel 39 km to Little River Rd and turn east (left). Set your odometer. Travelling slowly and you will see deer tracks on and crossing the road; you are almost guaranteed to see a deer.
Travel 3.9 km and you see the remains of the former interpretative trail signs; park, tight to the snow bank, alongside the road. (You can travel another 0.9 km and turnaround at the snowmobile OFSC c105d trail.) The former walking trailhead is at WGS 84 17 T E597257 N5085675 or N45° 55’ 03.9” W79° 44’ 45.0”. Follow the faded blue blazes north eastwards. Within 100 m you will see the viewing platform where you once could see deer feeding, from above. There was a supplementary program where a grain mix was provided as a food source and viewing opportunity. You can see what was, the elevated structure is now on the ground.
It is a great snowshoe through a hardwood forest. You can follow the trail in a clockwise orientation, veering south to southwest, then crossing the Little River Road, now on the west side of the road and travel NW while winding your way back at the former trailhead. You are never too far from the road; it is about a 2 km for the loop. For anyone this is better than turning to page 47 in the text or watching YouTube; a natural lesson relating fauna behaviour to flora attributes. Follow the deer tracks, they take the path of least resistance, as you will. Contact the author at [email protected] or www.steertonorthernontario.ca for Google Earth maps and more.
What are the deer doing and where are they? You can find out on your snowshoes.
There are thousands of deer in northern Ontario and viewing of the white tails is easy enough within three seasons of the year. At present they are not bounding through the fields, they are conserving energy in certain areas. It is all about the relationships defined within ecology.
The Loring deer yard is not a legislated or protected area ; it comprises about five townships south of Lake Nipissing, it is about 500 square kilometres in size, centered on the Golden Valley, Port Loring area, about a third of which is private land. It is special because of the habitat. And it is easy to access because Highway #522 bisects the area with many side roads to explore. (The other significant deeryard, north of the Mattawa River and Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park, is best accessed by snowmobile; OFSC, trail A112A.) It is estimated that the Loring area has a “carrying capacity” of between 8,000-10,000 deer. Using the idiom “in a nutshell” applies here. Deer migrate, from their summer range, into this wintering yard. Some deer will travel a distance of more than 100 kilometres, seeking refuge for the winter. The deer are attracted to the area for the winter shelter, found under the canopy of the towering hemlock forests. Ground snow depths are reduced under these protective conifers, making travel throughout the winter less demanding on the deer. There is more to understand.
Back Roads Bill contacted the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and asked for some information on the deer and their habitat ecological relationship.
Paul Kennedy is a Resource Management Technician and has spent a considerable amount of time (25 years) in the Loring area. He said the deer population, in general, is healthy, and it has gone through severe winters in the past. “In winter the deer stick to their established runways, it is all about conserving energy. They tend to stay in small areas as their metabolic rates slow down, said Mr. Kennedy. “They eat and sleep and stick to the paths of least resistance to access food.” You may also see well-defined “runways” and the circular holes or “beds” in the snow often under the conifer cover.
He explained the MNR&F last “emergency” fed deer within the area in 2000 which included clearing trails and a deer feeding program during the exceptionally harsh and long winter. Deer management is now mostly regulated by what is called: ‘Antlerless Validations Tags’ and are used to distribute hunting opportunities in Ontario.
Currently it is not illegal to feed deer in Ontario. As for backyard feeding of the deer, and there are many examples on and off Highway #522 and the North Bay area in general he cautions against it, as it speeds up the deer's metabolism, when it should be slowing down, and can actually make it harder for the deer to cope with the winter. However, he said, “if residents have been feeding deer already, keep at it; it is not a recreational convenience.” Feeding, once started should be carried through until the onset of spring and can become a costly endeavour.
White-tailed deer will typically store fat in summer and fall to get it through winter, and can lose about 20% of their body weight during the season. This year's early snowfall and deep freeze of late January and February means deer are using up their fat reserves which is normal in any winter. Last winter took a toll on fawns and older deer, but that's part of the nature natural ecosystem process of disease, starvation and predation. “Bucks often use up some of the fat reserves during the rut. Consequently, they could go into winter with less than optimum fat reserves and could fall victim to an unusually harsh winter.” There is more winter to come, ; however, he said deer populations can typically recover quicker as compared to other large mammals.
Locally though, hunters have anecdotally reported there were less deer last year with the prolonged winter. The classic ecological “boom and bust” population cycle may be forthcoming (?).
The Role of Hemlock
Guylaine Thauvette , an MNRF forester, explained the importance of hemlock. “Hemlock trees have wide and dense crowns that hold snow. Snow depth under dense coniferous trees is less than in open areas, because the snow falls on the branches rather than falling to the ground. Most of the snow on the branches sublimes (solid to vapor).” Deer use less energy travelling under these dense tree canopies. Conifers that hold a lot of snow are hemlock, white pine, white spruce and cedar. Dense conifer areas also shelter deer from the wind.
“Many of the tree species that provide the best shelter for deer are also their preferred winter browse. This makes it difficult to grow conifers large enough to provide cover. When the deer population is greater than the site can sustain, the deer eat themselves out of house and home.”
At the same time she said hemlock trees regenerate where there is moisture and air circulation, such as under conifers in rolling terrain. The Loring Deer Yard provides these conditions favourable for growing hemlock. Dense conifer areas where hemlock can regenerate are also where deer spend most of their time when the snow is deep.
To help maintain deer habitat, dense hemlock stands are thinned, where required, to open them up enough to provide light to regenerate hemlock, and maintain the density needed to provide shelter. Hardwoods (maple, birch) should be harvested during the winter so that the deer can feed on the tops, and reduce the browsing on shelter species, such as hemlock, white pine and cedar.
“Maple and birch provide most of the winter browse in the Loring Deer Yard. These species sprout new shoots every year, and as long as the deer keep browsing, the hardwoods don’t grow tall. From a deer habitat point of view, browsing hardwoods keeps food coming and does not reduce shelter because large hardwoods do not provide winter shelter. Deer also browse hemlock, white pine and cedar, and these are the ones that need to grow but do not provide cover. Also, small conifers cannot survive many years of browsing, the way hardwoods can. Hardwoods store energy in their roots to produce new leaves in the spring. Conifers rely on existing foliage/needles to produce energy to grow new shoots. If the conifers are stripped bare of their needles, there is nothing to produce energy (photosynthesis).
What about hemlock succession? She explained there are two conditions that allow hemlock, and other species, to regenerate and grow. One is a long winter with a lot of snow. “This reduces the deer population. “
The other is that hemlock will regenerate away from concentrations of large and dense conifer areas. “Deer generally do not go to these areas during the winter. As areas of dense coniferous trees die out, the deer move to new sites, where the hemlock and other conifers, have been able to grow. The areas they leave, because of reduced cover, may then regenerate if the growing conditions are suitable.” For more on the hemlock go to, www.ontariotrees.com.
Where to See the Deer
Combine this ecology lesson with a snowshoe experience or a Sunday drive. Take Highway 11 South and exit the Hemlock Rd., Trout Creek and Port Loring exit. Take 522b to 522; in Trout Creek turn west on to Highway 522; travel 39 km to Little River Rd and turn east (left). Set your odometer. Travelling slowly, you will see deer tracks on and crossing the road; you are almost guaranteed to see a deer.
Travel 3.9 km and you see the remains of the former interpretative trail signs; park, tight to the snow bank, alongside the road. (You can travel another 0.9 km and turnaround at the snowmobile OFSC c105d trail.) The former walking trailhead is at WGS 84 17 T E597257 N5085675 or N45° 55’ 03.9” W79° 44’ 45.0”. Follow the faded blue blazes north eastwards. Within 100 m you will see the viewing platform where you once could see deer feeding, from above. There was a supplementary program where a grain mix was provided as a food source and viewing opportunity. You can see what was, ; the elevated structure is now on the ground.
It is a great snowshoe through a hardwood forest. You can follow the trail in a clockwise orientation, veering south to southwest, then crossing the Little River Road, now on the west side of the road, and travel NW while winding your way back at the former trailhead. You are never too far from the road; it is about a 2 km for the loop. For anyone this is better than turning to page 47 in the text or watching YouTube; a natural lesson relating fauna behaviour to flora attributes. Follow the deer tracks; they take the path of least resistance, as you will too. Contact the author at [email protected] or www.steertonorthernontario.ca for Google Earth maps and more.