As we make our way into the colder months of the year, and snow blankets the land with greater frequency, the variety and abundance of food sources in the wild begins to grow in scarcity. The rich, tall grasses of summer become desiccated and wither. The last of the fall berries and tree fruits that survived the autumnal feeding frenzy dry up and often fall only to be buried under layers of ice and snow. Life in the mountains for the wild inhabitants truly becomes a day-to-day struggle for survival.

Using elk as an example, I’ve mentioned previously how important it is for the bulls to avoid injuries during the rut. As dramatic as battles are and frenzied as the bulls become in general, their intent usually isn’t to harm one another, hence the time they spend the rest of the year sparring and practicing. They expend massive amounts of their summer stores simply by enduring the annual mating season.

So focused they are on the rut and subsequent competitions and territorial defense, they don’t eat well for nearly two months leading up to the long winter. Any injuries incurred only serve to sap even more of their energy simply to heal what might normally be a minor wound. As food becomes scarcer, the potential for death by malnutrition grows dramatically.

Survival is the key to the continuation of life, and it is amazing at how wildlife adapts to the seasonal change in their own ways. Some animals spend their summers not only fattening up but also storing away extras. Pika, who live nearly exclusively at or above tree-line, do not hibernate, and to compensate, store vast amounts of dried grasses and flowers from which to nibble away the cold months underground. Squirrels and other tree rodents also famously store away large quantities of nuts and other goodies in their nests.

The creatures that tend to fare the worst are the larger ones, typically the ungulates (deer of all species, sheep, etc). Predators tend to fare better, as they prey on the weakened and sick, but the prey animals themselves find winter to be the hardest. They do not store food and can only rely on what is grazeable as they move through their territories. What is left of the grass becomes accessible only when snow melts, as they lack the adequate naturally given tools to access the grass. A hoof is not designed for efficient digging, and expends more energy to get to the grass than the grass itself provides.

This leaves them to dine on what is readily available, which is often food that would not seem ideal during the more abundant seasons. As seen here, pine needles are a very regular part of the winter diet. They are a leaf, of sorts, and while we humans might not find them palatable, if eating is purely about survival, they do just fine as breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They also contain high amounts of vitamin C which helps in maintaining good general health. I have also seen deer take down entire dried-up stalks of mullein. Again, it is a food source that typically isn’t buried under snow and is easier to access.

Nature is the absolute model of efficiency, ever winnowing out the weak, sick, and wasteful. Thus, even the remotest thing counting as food is relied upon and consumed to survive in the wild during winter. Moose are often seen eating just twigs and bark. Even the predators will opt for “veggies,” having been observed eating frozen fruits long buried under the snow simply to make it to their next kill.

One harsh winter can decimate a population, as we saw in other parts of the country just last year. Using our neighbor Wyoming as an example, about half of the collared female pronghorns and one-third of collared female mule deer succumbed to the harsh conditions. Nearly 90% of the year’s fawns also did not survive. Efforts were made to plow meadows and other areas simply to provide access to the buried grasses. As a result, hunting tags were greatly limited, and in some places concerned game managers even gave out prizes to conservation-minded hunters in exchange for their awarded tags for the year.

For we humans that live in or on the outskirts of the wilderness and enjoy the same fruits of the wild as the day-to-day inhabitants, it is incumbent upon us to live and act mindfully of this harsh battle to survive. While many of us enjoy wild foraging the tasty delights of the forest as various foods become available in the spring, summer, and fall, it is vitally important to remember to take only what one will eat for a meal or two, and not “stock one’s own stores,” thus diminishing what might be taken up by a creature truly in need, even if it is frozen and withered.

Like our ungulate neighbors, it is best to graze for a moment then move on. That said, by all means, brew yourself as much pine needle tea as you might like (one item in vast abundance any time of the year), and make sure you get your natural vitamins!

Information for this article came from https://trib.com/outdoors/harsh-winter-decimates-wyoming-pronghorn-mule-deer-populations/ article_ 51564152-d019-11ed-a49ecf5defd46e1f. html and https:// cowboystatedaily.com/2023/09/16/wyoming-hunters-giving-up-deertags-catching-on-across-the-nation/.

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