July 1st - 15th Range Rider Update
Range Riders have been out regularly riding through seven different herds, setting and checking cameras, and helping elsewhere as needed. Overall, herds have remained healthy with some cases of hoof rot, pneumonia, and other miscellaneous injuries. In several instances, Cody and Taylor have helped producers doctor cattle as needed, which has been a great bonus for folks this season.
There have been a few cattle losses due to natural causes (i.e. poison, sickness). Range Riders deployed game cameras on several of these carcasses to record scavenging activity. On one of the carcasses, in a marshy area, two different grizzly bears appeared on camera. This included one with a collar that cameras may have captured in the same area last year.
Warmer weather has decreased the mosquito population it seems. Unfortunately, flies have come out in full force instead. Be prepared to brave the flies if you’re out and about working and recreating! Usually, they seem to subside after a couple weeks – let’s hope that’s the case again this year.
Grizzly bear activity was a little quieter and more nocturnal over the last several weeks, likely due in part to the warmer weather. With the warmer weather, be extra diligent along creeks and cool shaded areas where a bears might be bedded during the day. There were five (5) grizzly bear observations in the first half of July, all game camera events. Two of these observations were associated with carcass scavenging out in the middle of the Valley. Only one black bear was observed via game camera.
There were three (3) wolf observations in the last several weeks, all on game camera. Two of the observations were likely of the same grey wolf on different days, and the third observation was of a wolf pup.
As usual, CVA game cameras collected numerous moose, deer, elk, and pronghorn photos over the last two weeks. Calves are getting larger but still with mom. Antlers for all the males are starting to get to full size, although with plenty of room left to grow and covered in velvet.
The Team and the cameras cannot capture the entire Valley each day, so community reports are extremely valuable to understand how wildlife use the Valley. If you have any wildlife reports to share (big or small!) please contact Erika Nunlist, Wildlife Program Coordinator, at wildlife@centennialvalleyassociation.org. We look forward to hearing from you!
*** 2023 content is property of the Centennial Valley Association. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without written permission. ***