Harsh winter takes heavy avian toll | CapeCodOnline.com

The winter of 2010-2011 has been cold and windy, slightly worse than any of its recent predecessors. Prolonged cold temperatures have turned tidal and near-shore saltwater habitats into ice kingdom wonderlands. It is beautiful to look at, but treacherous for waterfowl.

Dead ducks, geese and swans have all been encountered across the region in the past few weeks.

Harsh Minnesota winter tough on wildlife - TwinCities.com

Wildlife in northern Minne-sota are feeling the effects of one of the region's most severe winters since the devastation of 1995-96 and 1996-97.
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For late January, Grand Rapids' 51 points is that reporting point's highest WSI number since 1996-97. The 39 at Two Harbors is that area's second-highest since 1997-98.

The winter of 1995-96 is considered the most severe on record in northern Minnesota. Some stations reported that WSI readings topped 200. A year later, WSI readings topped 150. Forty percent of the deer in the area perished after those two winters.