Wild Wonders

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Wildlife viewing, hunting and angling are some of the most popular activities in the state. As a result, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists and staff field some interesting questions on a range of subjects including requests to help bear proof homes, disentangle deer from fences, get birds out of homes, and prevent damage from beaver.

Periodically, FWP will share some of these questions and our take on the answers. Here are some recent examples:

Do pheasants eat the hay bales they are sitting on during the winter?

FWP biologists say a pheasant’s first choice is to feed on grain or natural food sources in close proximity to cover. If pheasants happen to be on baled grain, they may eat the grain portion of these baled crops and could tear up the bales looking for more grain. Pheasants generally won’t eat grass bales, but if they are using them as a winter roost they may cause damage defecating and scratching.

Can antelope starve on hay?

Yes, they can, if the rumen microflora in the antelope’s digestive system has not had time to adapt to digest the new food.   So, an antelope that is starving may eat what is available, only to perish with a stomach full of vegetation it can’t digest.   Antelope prefer sagebrush in winter and grasses, forbs and shrubs in the spring and summer. They may eat early spring grass shoots, but are not big grass eaters.

Can fish be skinny?

Yes, for the same reason some people are—not enough food. The body of water may not produce enough food, or there may be too much competition for what food there is. Disease can also affect weight. To determine the condition of a fish, fisheries biologists use the ratio of the length to the weight.   The heavier the fish is for its given length, the better condition it is in.