During severe winters, some elk herds face food shortages that can result in normal to above-normal winter mortality. As a general rule, winter mortality is a normal phenomenon. Any time a series of mild winters have allowed game populations to increase beyond normal carrying capacity and then a hard winter hits, increased winter mortality rates can be expected.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation receives many calls from sportsmen and landowners asking for assistance with winter-feeding efforts. In general, winter-feeding is not a desirable game management practice and is usually avoided by state and provincial wildlife departments.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will participate in the funding of emergency winter feeding programs only when:
- The state or provincial wildlife agency determines that an emergency situation exists and that “short-term, emergency” winter-feeding can improve the over-winter survival of specific elk herds.
- The state or provincial wildlife agency initiates an emergency winter-feeding program.
- The respective state or provincial wildlife agency director requests funding assistance from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
- The funding proposal is reviewed and supported by the respective RMEF State or provincial Project Advisory Committee.
- The RMEF conservation programs staff and President/CEO believes it is in the best interest of the RMEF to participate.