Habitat- by George Nelson
What is Habitat? The dictionary defines it as; the environment in which an animal or plant normally lives. But what is habitat to us humans? Or for the purpose of our organization, what is habitat to Deer?
For us our habitat is not just where we live, it can be our work place, our desk or office, even our vehicle. All these are things we have grown used to being set up a particular way. If you have left work for a time, maybe a long leave or layoff, when you return if things are different, new desk, office, or vehicle. It takes time to grow comfortable again.
Then there is our home. After a move it takes us out of our comfort zone, this is our ultimate habitat. How many of you remember your last move? The new path to the refrigerator for that 3:00am drink of water, how about the different feeling floor for that half asleep middle of the night potty trip. Here is one, the new sounds that come with a new to you house or neighborhood.
It doesn’ t take much thought to realize that all of our daily areas and routines are what make up our habitat. What of wildlife? More specifically, what of Idaho’ s deer? What is their habitat and what effects do humans and natural occurrences have on deer habitat? Most of Idaho’ s deer, especially Mule deer migrate to and from summer and winter range every year. So there are two habitats. Should we call the migration route itself a habitat? Much like our living and working space, it too is subject to change. Then there is birthing areas, most deer use these areas for their safety from predators, then move back to the safety of the herd.
What of Mother Earth? She is forever changing body, the living, breathing changing earth.
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Clement is the most talked about change of late. Some say that man has caused a major change in the earth’ s clement. Funny thing about that though is that there are little if any records dating back more than one hundred years. So how do we really know what the earth clement was five hundred years ago? Maybe it has been getting warmer sense the beginning of time. OOPS, off track that debate is for another time. Although clement change might be debatable, man has definitely had an effect on deer habitat. We build subdivisions in the foothills, winter habitat. Roads to and through the mountains, migration routes. Build cabins and log the forest, summer habitat. None of this is to say that humans have done all the bad or irreversible damage to deer habitat. Some forest thinning does open up more grazing areas for deer and elk. Roads can be modified to allow for safe passage of wildlife. Foothill subdivisions are now commonly built with open, natural areas that deer and wildlife during winter and in some cases year round.
These and many other thoughts, ideas and study information will be part of my upcoming serious of articles. I will look at each habitat, natural and manmade changes to said habitat. As well as what we are able to do to maintain or improve, where necessary, that habitat. I hope you will look forward to this serious as I do. If you have any thoughts or ideas, please pass them on, as I love hearing your thoughts. Chat Soon.