Wildlife often struggles to find food during winters that have heavy snow. By spring, many animals are vulnerable and weak. So if you are planning to take your dog on hikes this spring and summer, make sure your pet doesn’t chase or harass any wildlife.
Dogs that are off-leash in nature may act on their instincts to chase deer and other big game animals they see. However, that is harmful for the deer because by the end of winter, they are usually in survival mode.
“If they get chased, it uses up their energy and they might not survive the winter,” said KJ Pollock, public Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest public affairs specialist. “These animals are often starving, and they can’t afford to waste energy from any actions that cause them to move away from where they are trying to feed.”
Deer and other big game animals typically move to lower elevations in search of feed during the snowy winter months, which often brings them closer to roads and other populated urban areas where people and pets may be.
While there are many areas throughout the state where dogs aren’t required to stay on a leash, we ask that pet owners not let their dogs chase deer, elk, moose or other wild animals. It can be harmful not only for the wildlife, but also can be dangerous for your pet.
“Wildlife is often unpredictable and may injure or kill a dog seen as threatening,” said Covy Jones, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources big game coordinator.
(Photo source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
Mara nyingi wanyama-pori hujitahidi kupata chakula wakati wa majira ya baridi kali yenye theluji nyingi. Kufikia majira ya kuchipua, wanyama wengi huwa dhaifu na dhaifu. Kwa hiyo ikiwa unapanga kumchukua mbwa wako kwenye matembezi ya majira ya kuchipua na majira ya kiangazi, hakikisha kwamba mnyama wako hafuati au kutesa wanyama wowote wa porini. Mbwa ambao hawajafungwa kamba kwa asili wanaweza kutenda kulingana na hisia zao za kufuatilia nyati na wanyama wengine wakubwa wanaowaona. Hata hivyo, hilo ni jambo lenye kudhuru kwa nyati kwa sababu mwishoni mwa majira ya baridi kali, kwa kawaida wao huwa katika hali ya kuishi. "Ikiwa wanakimbizwa, inatumia nishati yao na huenda wasiishi msimu wa baridi kali", alisema KJ Pollock, mtaalamu wa masuala ya umma wa Msitu wa Kitaifa wa Uinta-Wasatch-Cache. "Wanyama hawa mara nyingi wanakufa njaa, na hawawezi kumudu kupoteza nishati kutokana na vitendo vyovyote vinavyowafanya waondoke mahali wanapojaribu kula. ""Wanyama wa mwituni na wanyama wengine wakubwa wa mchezo kwa kawaida huhamia maeneo ya chini kutafuta chakula wakati wa miezi ya baridi kali, ambayo mara nyingi huwafanya kuwa karibu na barabara na maeneo mengine ya mijini ambapo watu na wanyama wanaweza kuwa." Wakati kuna maeneo mengi katika jimbo ambapo mbwa si required kukaa juu ya leash, sisi kuuliza kwamba wamiliki wa wanyama wa kufugwa si basi mbwa wao kufuatilia deer, elk, moose au wanyama wengine wa porini. Hii inaweza kuwa hatari kwa wanyama wa pori na pia kwa wanyama wako wa kipenzi. "Wanyama wa porini mara nyingi hawawezi kutabiriwa na wanaweza kuumiza au kuua mbwa anayeonekana kuwa hatari", alisema Covy Jones, mratibu wa mchezo mkubwa wa Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. (Chanzo cha picha: Marekani Huduma ya Samaki na Wanyama wa Pori)