PIERRE, S.D. - Game, Fish and Parks officials are encouraging farmers and ranchers to think now about protecting their winter-feed supply from wildlife.

"With the effects of the past mild winters in some locations, there are many more big game species such as deer, elk and turkey than usual, leaving less available forage," said GFP Wildlife Damage Management Program Administrator Art Smith. "If we receive appreciable snowfall, we expect the animals will be forced into producer’s feed stores, maybe in larger than usual numbers."

To protect hay and stored feed from hungry wildlife, producers should take extra planning steps to store their winter hay and other livestock feeds in a secure manner and location.

"If producers wait too long, snow could make moving hay difficult or impossible and leave the feed easily accessible to wildlife," Smith said. "There are also locations and configurations of storing hay where it is more protected from wildlife. He added that Game, Fish and Parks has a number of protective fencing options available.

"The earlier producers contact Game, Fish and Parks before a problem becomes serious, the more management options that may be considered," Smith said. "The more options we have to use, the better chances we have of developing a successful management plan. The longer a problem is allowed to develop, the fewer tools we have to use and the more expensive a solution costs."

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