_ they forage. Outdoors TheReview — Wednesday, January 23,1991 — All Cold and snow makes feeding difficult The current heavy snow condi- tions and low temperatures, espe- cially in the interior, pose very real © problems for elk, mule deer and moose just as they do for some of our birds. When the snow is very deep, these mammals experience a good deal of difficulty in moving about in their ranges in search of an adequate, available supply of food. Much of their preferred food in the form of grasses and other flowering plants is buried deep beneath the snow cover. Moving through the snow and digging for the plants requires the expenditure of a good deal of energy which under more favoura- ble conditions is secured from the food which is processed within their bodies. Under the prevailing conditions, energy demands are increased even more by the necessity of maintaining body temperatures in -a cold environment in which heat loss is accelerated. How do the animals cope in a game in which energy demands exceed the supply in the form of nutrients? AS in winter-sleeping bears and hibernating rodents and bats, the deer, moose and elk call upon the fat reserves stored within their bodies. However, such fat reserves which were garnered during the previous summer season are not inexhaustible. As they are used up, the animals become thinner and thinner and may well experience severe stress and even death unless environ- mental conditions improve. Fawns and calves of the preced- ing spring are more vulnerable since much of the nutrient secured has been used for growth and development, rather than the stor- age of fat. In our photo today, the mule deer, though experiencing diffi- culty in moving through the deep snow, 1s still in good condition; the - winter season is early. But hard times could well be ahead, should adverse conditions persist. One of the strategies used by such animals during hard winters consists of congregating or ‘yard- ing up’ in favorable areas where food 1s more abundant. Here, they beat out trails which make travel- ling easier. However, the pressure of many mouths upon the limited food supply tend to exhaust it much more quickly. Elk, moose and deer also make use of man-made roads in their winter. movements which makes them much more visible along our thoroughfares in winter. Stopping along some of our roadsides in winter often immedi- ately discloses signs of extensive browsing; many of the animals are making use of twigs and buds as I suspect that all outdoorsmen have witnessed bark removal, par- ticularly from aspen poplar, by elk during a hard winter. The black, partially healed scars of such for- aging may be seen for miles in some of our parks in the interior. They extend as high up the trunks of the trees as the elk can reach. : MULE DEER CY HAMPSON photo New Fare Day FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1991 When you travel with BC Ferries, you'll be paying a new fare. On major routes between the Mainland and Vancouver Island, the new fare for car and driver will be $24.00. Adult passenger fares are $5.25. The Sunshine Coast and Comox - Powell River routes will also have these new fares. The BC Ferries 1991 fare brochure, listing all the fares for the 25 routes, will be~ available soon at BC Ferries offices, on board vessels, and at major Information Centres. - «ASK ABOUT CANADIAN SEAT SALES! SIDNEY TRAVEL > SERVICE “At the Emerald Isle”’ 656-0905 2-2310 BEACON AVENUE PLEASE. COMEAS YOU ARE. You don't need a great body to come to a Jazzercise class. Jazzercise is an aerobic workout you can take at your own pace. It’s also a complete health and fitness program. So do a little body work and have some fun. Before you know it, you'll be feeling great and looking body beautiful. Ik Judi Sheppard Missett's hr jazzercise In Tune With Your Body. SANSCHA HALL Soe 2423 Beacon Ave. SARAH Sidney 656-6632 Ask about Mon. Wed. our New 6 pm-7pm Student LORELEI Special = = 388-9836 ws welcomes back Leanne! POT ae x Denny, Leanne, Tannis, Nicola, Darren To Celebrate We’re Having a PERM SALE! Receive 25% OFF any Regular Priced Quality Perm! TANNING AVAILABLE 10 for $35.00 CALL NOW FOR AN APPOINTMENT e’re Open ‘til 8 p.m. Thursdays #79843 2nd S f 656-2321 #7 - 9843 2nd Sireet, Sidney a unique blend of 75 adult orientated carriage homes nestled throughout 75 acres of manicured and prestine parkland. < OPEN DAILY 10-5. = Over 90% é£ ' Sold Just a few loca- tions left in our 3rd and Final Stage ME ey" ek We: