Fur deer so far so good.... dis winter

[Lee Borgersen]

  For deer, so far, so good this winter

Laurel Beager
Jan 11, 2018

  ......
The winter severity index for the International Falls area was at 27 on Wednesday, reports Larry Petersen, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources local area wildlife manager.
The winter severity index, or WSI, is a standardized number resource managers use when considering impacts of the winter on deer, said Petersen.

  ...
It is calculated using temperature and snow depth from Nov. 1 through April 30 or whenever winter ends, he said. Every day the daily low temperature is zero or below is one point, and every day the snow depth is 15 inches or deeper in an open aspen woods is one point. The points are added each week until winter ends.

  .....
The snow depth now ranges from 6 to 9 inches in the International Falls vicinity.
“On average we have about 10 inches by this date,” Petersen said. “There are some areas of deeper snow in northwestern Koochiching County and further east and north. Deer have been able to travel easily so far this winter, which helps them conserve energy.”

The WSI last year on the same date was 30; it was 7 on the same date two years ago, he reported.
The average WSI for this date is about 30. The harshest winter Borderland in the mid 1990s had an index of 68 on Jan. 10.
All the winter severity data dates from 1966 to present.

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