Wyoming Wildlife magazine - 5

MAILBAG
GOOD MOVE ON DIRECTOR'S COLUMN
Congratulations on putting the director's column
back where it belongs. His words frequently set the
tone for the entire issue and should not be buried
back in the pages.
Spencer Amend
Casper
PRONGHORN AND FENCES
Your recent article " Worrying the Fence " in the
July issue of Wyoming Wildlife reminded me of an
encounter I had with pronghorn following a session
photographing sage grouse at the Pass Creek lek.
On this particular morning in early March before
pandemonium shut down travel, I was headed north
toward Interstate 80 from the lek after the birds had
left the lek around 8:30 a.m. The area to the north
of the lek was covered in low clouds and fog when
I came over a rise near Rattlesnake Pass Road. As I
entered the fog, I found a truck stopped in the road
not far ahead and slowed to see what might be the
issue. Approximately two dozen pronghorn were
racing back and forth in the roadway trying to cross
from the fields on the east side of the road to a field
on the west side. A few turned back and remained
east of the road, but most had cleared the fence on
that side and were trying to get under the fence on
the west side. Eventually, the road cleared enough for
the vehicle ahead of me to go on, but I pulled off onto
the shoulder and waited to see what would happen.
I had seen the herd in the area south of Rattlesnake
Pass Road on both sides of Wyoming Highway 130
on the previous afternoon while driving around.
There is clearly a well-traveled path where the

animals cross but it is only wide enough for one
animal at a time to get under the fences. From what
I can tell, the lower strand of the fence on the west
side of the road is smooth wire but not the upper
three strands.
I love the magazine. Keep up the good work.
Richard Nolde
Littleton, Colorado
TERRIFIC TROUT CAKES
Thanks for Hank Shaw's great recipe for trout
cakes. Wow, they are delicious. I used lake trout from
Jackson Lake and we loved it. This recipe has opened
up a whole new way to enjoy trout.
Keep the recipes coming!
Larry Lewis
Dubois
QUESTION ABOUT BURROWING OWLS
I enjoy your magazine so much, and the July issue
was great. Hummingbirds and burrowing owls - so
enjoyable.
I have a question about the burrowing owls. I also
see them on Marco Island in Florida. Do you know
where they migrate to from Florida?
Howard Bender
Mendham, New Jersey
Howard,
The burrowing owl population in Florida does not
migrate at all. Owls are year-round residents because
all their needs for food and shelter can be met without the need to migrate to a more temperate climate.
Thanks so much for asking. ~ Andrea Orabona,
Game and Fish nongame bird biologist.

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CORRECTIONS:
The hunting forecast in the October
issue stated elk hunting in the Laramie Region could be a concern due
to above-average losses over the last
two winters and subsequent poor
to fair fawn production. Outside of
some closures associated with the
Mullen Creek fire in the Snowy Range
Mountains, elk populations were
above objectives with ample harvest
opportunities throughout the region.

HUNTING HARVEST
Readers help us celebrate their favorite hunting
harvest photos from around the Cowboy State every
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Visit our Facebook page to contribute.

Submitted by Erin Campbell

Submitted by Alecia Banker

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Wyoming Wildlife | 5

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Wyoming Wildlife magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Wyoming Wildlife magazine