In Maine, deer select winter habitats that offer protection from the wind, lighter snow cover, and food. These winter habitats, commonly referred to as deer yards or deer wintering areas, typically contain varying amounts of mature coniferous forest stands (shelter), which are interspersed with other forest types and openings that provide forage. Deer wintering areas are essential for the survival of deer in Maine, as deer are at the northern limit of their range in Maine.

Deer use of deer wintering areas -- mature stands of balsam fir, spruce, cedar, hemlock, and pine that may span entire watersheds -- is traditional. Specific sites may receive annual use by successive generations of deer. In some instances, continuous use of specific areas has been documented for 50-100 years. The size of the deer wintering area and the portion occupied by deer varies with the severity of the winter. When the winter is severe and deer mobility is poor, deer occupy a small portion of their winter range and are largely confined to the shelter portion of the wintering area. Under less severe conditions, deer may travel widely, even far beyond the normal boundaries of the wintering area. As winter weather is highly dynamic over time, so too is the area that deer occupy within and beyond the wintering area in response to changes in snow cover, sinking depth, and temperature.

Potentially, 10 -30 % of the deer population may die during any Maine winter, depending on its severity. We have experienced more snowfall this past winter, particularly in southern Maine, compared to the past several years. Later this spring, wildlife biologists will calculate the statewide winter severity for 2004-2005 by evaluating a variety of measurements including weekly snow depths, the depth that the deer sink in the snow as they are walking, and minimum and maximum daily temperatures at weather stations scattered throughout Maine's deer wintering areas.

The harvesting of trees for lumber and paper may compete with the ability of the forest to sustain different species of wildlife. In particular, the size and health of the deer population depends upon a diversity of habitats that must include an interspersion of food and cover. Dense evergreen stands provide winter cover, while open areas, where new growth occurs, are necessary for food production. Thus, timber harvesting can contribute to the health of the deer herd by making food available and regenerating softwood cover; however, excessive harvesting in deer wintering areas can contribute to deer mortality.

Consequently, the Land Use Regulation Commission (LURC) created the Fisheries and Wildlife Protection (P-FW) zone in which critical portions of documented deer wintering areas were to be protected in Maine's unorganized towns while allowing timber harvesting and other traditional economic uses that were not destructive to the habitat. In particular, the Commission sought to protect deer wintering areas by administering a balanced zoning program that considered the management needs of landowners and the economic constraints on them. LURC has zoned deer wintering areas since 1975. Currently, LURC and the Department have zoned almost 200,000 acres of the most critical deer wintering areas in Maine's unorganized towns.

The Department's long-term strategy to minimize deer mortality during the winter is to improve the availability of good wintering habitat by working with landowners, especially large paper and forestry companies. Trees may be cut in these deer wintering areas but a proportion of the area must provide adequate winter cover. Over the years, the Department has found that the zoned deer wintering areas represent only a fraction of the winter cover needed. More recently, it has developed cooperative agreements with a number of large landowners to provide for a reliable supply of wintering shelter within the constraints of a working forest. In essence, each agreement outlines the strategy by which a continuous supply of pulp and lumber will be available for the landowner, while maintaining winter shelter for deer. This is achieved by ensuring that approximately 50% of the deer wintering area is composed of mature, closed-canopy softwood stands that provide cover. The remainder of the deer wintering area is composed of young, growing coniferous stands of several ages that provide browse -- and future shelter. When necessary, the agreements delineate "travel corridors," bands of softwood shelter that allow deer to pass freely throughout the wintering area and its patchwork of young softwood stands. The agreements may also contain specific management guidelines for road construction, herbicide application, sand and gravel extraction, and the leasing of recreational property (i.e., camps) within the deer wintering area.

The cooperative agreements, because they cover larger areas over many years, have several benefits over zoned deer wintering areas (P-FWs): greater flexibility in selecting timber management options; greater certainty and predictability regarding future land management, timber productivity, and economic return; and with a larger area managed as winter habitat, the Department can more fully achieve its deer management goals and objectives, with benefits accruing to other wildlife as well. There are approximately 140,000 acres of deer wintering habitat conserved under cooperative agreements.
--Mark Stadler, Director, Wildlife Division, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

A frequently asked question during a typical Maine winter is whether it is advisable to begin artificially feeding wild turkeys, especially during periods of sub-zero weather and deep snow. It is intuitive to think that these conditions can have a negative impact on the turkey population. In general, feeding wildlife in the winter does more for the person doing the feeding than it does for the intended species. One risk is that turkeys tend to become tame and dependent on the food. The potential of disease transmission around feeding sites poses another problem. Third, artificially concentrating turkeys at feeding sites attracts predators and makes them far more vulnerable to predation. So what's the bottom line? Biologically, artificial feeding is not the best approach to helping wild turkeys. The department advocates proper habitat management to promote a naturally sustaining wild turkey population in all suitable range. But, without a doubt, winter feeding will always be with us as long as people want to help wildlife in any way they think is best.
-- R. Bradford Allen, Bird Group Leader, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Mild winters may prove to be more of a problem for moose than severe ones, because they allow winter tick populations to build up. Ticks attach to moose in the fall and spend the entire winter on one moose. Adult female ticks drop off moose in late March to lay eggs. A tick that lands in the litter of the forest floor has a better chance of surviving and laying eggs than a tick that falls onto several feet of snow. Therefore, an early spring results in more larval ticks the next fall. A mild or average fall allows more larval ticks to attach to a moose in September or October. When tick numbers are high, a moose may harbor hundreds of thousands of ticks over the winter. A heavily infested moose spends a lot of time grooming and scratching rather than eating. They may rub large bald patches on their bodies. The combination of poor body condition, loss of blood, and lack of an insulating coat can kill a moose. Calves are the most susceptible due to small body size and lower fat reserves.
-- Karen Morris, Moose Project Leader, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

During 2005, Wildlife Division biologists handled 135 bears in 58 dens including 27 yearlings (14 females, 13males) and 51 cubs from 25 litters (22females, 29males; 2.04 cubs/litter). This lower-than-average litter size is suspected to be a result of partial litter losses due to severe weather (flooding and freezing) that also claimed whole litters in northern and eastern Maine. Cub survival for the last year was 63%.

Most bears appeared to have denned by early October, especially in the Spectacle Pond Study Area, yet we recorded some of the heaviest weights ever. Some examples include a 70 lb. male yearling, a 2-year old growing from 40 to 93 lbs., a 108 lb. 3-year old, and adults up to 230 lbs. Early den entry typically results in lower den weights as it is caused by poor fall food availability and the bears are spending extra time fasting in the den. However, this year didn't follow this pattern.

Den entry dates Downeast were similar to Spectacle Pond and heavy weights were recorded there, as well. One 2-year old went from 34 lbs. in late May to 70 lbs. in the den, and one adult tipped the scales at 234 lbs. Although we can't compare these weights with past years, they are impressive nonetheless. Bradford bears didn't miss out on this year of food abundance. One 3-year old gave birth and another weighed 116 lbs. Adults weighed up to 220 lbs. It appears that the wet, cool spring weather in May and June produced excellent spring and summer foods in all 3study areas.

The data that is collected on survival, reproduction and densities of female bears in these study areas form the analysis of the effects of food and harvests on black bear population growth. It also provides insight into the influence of beechnut production on reproduction rates and population growth.

Maine's large bear population provides a range of benefits to residents and visitors of the State. Our tradition of bear hunting is a recreational activity that supplies successful hunters with excellent table fare and memories of good days afield, and drives a guiding and outfitting industry that helps to support rural economies. In recent years, the public's interest in opportunities to view bears has been fueled by the increased visibility of bears along roadsides during the spring and summer months. As our human population grows and the number of tourists visiting Maine increase, we will be challenged to address potential conflicts between bears and humans while maintaining our abundant bear population.

The Department has developed bear management goals and objectives to drive the Department's bear program through 2015. A public working group of citizen advisors, representing diverse interests in bears, assisted with the development of these goals and objectives. The Department's bear management goal seeks to provide hunting, trapping and viewing opportunity for bears through the 15-year planning period. Three management objectives were developed. First, we will strive to stabilize the bear population by 2005 at no less than 23,000 bears statewide, through annual hunting and trapping harvests. Second, we will create information and education programs that target specific audiences and promote traditional hunting and trapping methods as valid and preferred tools to manage black bear populations in Maine. Third, we will create information and education programs that target specific audiences and promote public tolerance of bears in Maine.

The Department's long-term bear management plan ensures that Maine will continue to be a stronghold for black bears well into the future.
--Randy Cross, Bear Project, Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Open water fishing season is now open and as you prepare your fishing equipment for ice out, don't forget to check your boating safety equipment. More than half of the drowning accidents that occur in the Northeast involve people in a non-motorized boat not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). Inspect your life jackets, buy new ones if necessary and wear them!

There are many lightweight and comfortable PFD models available to suit everyones needs and activities.

Good luck fishing, be careful on the open water this year and remember to wear your life jacket.

Don't forget - you can now purchase your fishing license online by visiting our website: mefishwildlife.com.
-Colonel Tom Santaguida, Chief of the Maine Warden Service