According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, statewide winter survival for mule deer fawns and elk calves fitted with tracking collars has shown to be slightly lower through the end of February. Fish and Game biologists are monitoring 182 mule deer fawns and 149 elk calves that were captured in early winter and fitted with tracking collars. Through the end of February this year, 72% of the collared fawns and 92% of the collared calves were still alive. Last year, those numbers were 84% and 92% respectively. They say that depending on weather, March and April are often when fawn and calf mortality is the highest because the young animals’ fat reserves are largely depleted.
