Various mammals seem to prefer living well above the valley floor. A possible reason might be avoidance of valley-clustering humans. Yet, the population density of people is not very high around here. In many cases the altitude bias of creatures seems to be driven by preferred habitat and the competition of other animals. Who knows?
These are male Mule Deer on the mountain side. It may be that competition with the valley-favouring White-tailed Deer drove the Mule Deer into the subalpine. Be that as it may, they are not often seen near the valley floor. These males have started on this year’s antlers.
Why the Yellow-pine Chipmunk is usually only found at higher elevations is unclear. When I was a child, I remember seeing chipmunks down around the Lake. What caused the change?
The Pika is an endemic subalpine creature. I had really wanted to capture a picture of this cute lagomorph, but while I did hear them around me, I didn’t see one. This lovely shot was made by Derek Kite who was observing from a spot perhaps thirty metres from me.
Derek Kite’s picture of the Pika is used with permission.
I’ve always thought the movement of mule deer to the higher elevations was an effort to get away from the clouds of mosquitoes. Even this time year with an abundance of snow in the high sub-alpine basins, one can see mule deer on the exposed ridges, enjoying the cool breeze and (presumably) the absence of bugs!
Doug, yet it is my understanding that they used to be down in the valleys (even with mosquitoes). But then settlers came, modified the land which made it appealing to the White-tailed Deer and the Mule Deer moved out. It does not seem that the mosquitoes were the crucial factor here.
Is it possible that it is simply where the sources of food are to be found? This specific area was recently logged, many hectares of open country. It is starting to green up at that altitude and there is ample food for browsing in the open areas. Between the river and the clear cuts, there is thick forest with limited feeding opportunities. I’ve seen mule deer near the highway on the north shore; there is a group of three regularly browsing on the grass about a mile out of town, and not far up from the highway in areas that were opened up by logging a few years ago. The white tail seem to like getting into people’s gardens and in town, in fact there was one the other day above the Hume school, much to the delight of the kids.