North Dakota: Game and Fish Reports Another Harsh Winter for Wildlife

BISMARCK - It may sound like a broken record, but North Dakota’s weather in February and March will once again be critical to the health of the state’s wildlife populations.

Randy Kreil, North Dakota Game and Fish Department wildlife chief, said wildlife populations have had to struggle with tough conditions through three consecutive winters. “Animals definitely could use a reprieve,” he said. “They are not as resilient as they were in the beginning of winter. The longer winter drags on, the greater the impact to wildlife populations and next fall’s hunting opportunities.”

Record to near-record snowfall has blanketed much of North Dakota each winter since 2008-09.
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No wildlife species has suffered the harsh realities of winter more so than pronghorn, as the population has declined by more than 50 percent since 2008.