Ungulate Winter Range Habitat

Ungulate winter range (UWR) is a critical element of survival for elk, deer, moose, sheep and goats. In general, UWR habitats are low-elevation south-facing areas where little snow accumulates and snow melts first in the spring. Around Golden, these habitats are quite close to town - valley bottom and the east side of the valley.

Dogs can chase deer or simply cause them to flee, expending energy at a time when energy/fat storage is critical for survival. Being continually disturbed or chased results in a depletion of fat stores and can contribute to miscarriages, predation, and starvation.

While a dog chasing a deer may not result in the direct killing of a deer, over time, indirect loss and in extreme cases, abandonment of critical habitat can occur. Uncontrolled dogs and excessive activity in UWR can have major impacts on ungulate populations. The availability of UWR is directly related to the number of animals that can survive in an area.

Moral of this story:
- Please control dogs in UWR and do not allow them to chase animals
- Avoid UWR for dog-friendly, off-leash recreation activities
- Use the west side of the valley to XC ski, fat bike and run with your dog