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Spring Can Be Tough For Deer
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A warm, sunny afternoon and the sound of a western meadowlark might herald spring for some folks, but for deer spring can bring the toughest days of the year. "We've had a pretty good winter with no major die offs," says Adam Grove, Fish, Wildlife and Parks wildlife biologist in White Sulphur Springs. "But deer are at their most vulnerable right now."

That's because the body fat reserves in a deer are normally about gone by spring. So a prolonged winter that drags into late April and even May can be fatal.

"The majority of deer mortality occurs in March, April and May," Grove says.

Deer will often be seen this time of year eating newly emerging grass. But that's not enough to sustain them for long, Grove says.

"Green grass is high in water content and gives deer a boost of energy," Grove says, "but it's low in nutrition."

Nutrition will come from forbs that bloom later, like yellow sweetclover. Until then, deer like humans await spring.
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