North Dakota

Doug Leier: North Dakota’s winter wears on for all species of wildlife

Published

2 years ago

March 7, 2023

Doug Leier: North Dakota’s winter wears on for all species of wildlife

Doug Leier is an outreach biologist for the North Dakota Recreation and Fish Division. Attain him at dleier@nd.gov.

WEST FARGO – The winter of 2023 began out in late fall of 2022 with snow and ice, then chilly, extra snow, some extra ice after which chilly. As way back because it appears, the pounding that people, livestock and wildlife absorbed in simply these first couple of months was vital. Luckily, we settled right into a stretch of climate with much less snow, and most of us would admit January wasn’t too dangerous, in contrast with what December provided.

As my profession spans years, I really feel extra assured assessing that the beginning of this winter was harsher than most, and when the primary studies of wildlife mortality began trickling in, the biologist in me admitted as dangerous as the start was, the true take a look at can be coming in spring 2023.

When deer and pheasants die in November and December, it’s straightforward to grasp how in any given winter, these animals actually wouldn’t have made it by means of winter anyway. That’s the tough actuality of how nature weeds out the small and the weak.

On the identical observe, the early begin to winter meant wildlife can be tapping into fats reserves sooner than hoped. A late begin to winter and tender starting to 2023 would give animals a shorter window of stress and a greater probability to outlive into the spring.

As we see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel signaling spring is on the best way, it’s shaded by the truth of final yr, when toes of snow and extended chilly had been inflicting stress for livestock producers and knocking energy out for days and weeks.

Those self same storms are a grim reminder of how true winter mortality can stretch into spring and the way the critters want as a lot house as attainable. We perceive North Dakotans need to get outside and have enjoyable in winter. Even so, the more durable the winter is, it can be crucial that individuals using snowmobiles, shed searching, cross-country snowboarding or doing no matter are cognizant of the place wildlife are and to view them from a distance.

Which means ready to shed hunt till later within the spring so that you simply’re not pushing deer out and in of thermal cowl the place they’re making an attempt to simply preserve vitality. Animals pressured into the open are uncovered to the weather much more, which provides additional stress. Additionally, individuals want to understand that harassing wildlife from snowmobiles or different machines is illegitimate in North Dakota.

It’s widespread for snowmobilers and others to experience in areas the place snow has collected, corresponding to close to shelterbelts and different wooded habitat as a result of that’s the place the drifts are, however individuals additionally should notice there could possibly be deer or different wildlife inside these areas to get out of the climate. So, each time animals are pushed from these areas, it will increase the quantity of vitality they expend to outlive the following day.

These identical warnings, for shed hunters, skiers and others, additionally apply on Recreation and Fish Division owned or operated wildlife administration areas, the place many animals collect to climate the winter months.

Doug Leier is an outreach biologist for the North Dakota Recreation and Fish Division. Attain him at dleier@nd.gov.

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North Dakota

Deer mice in North Dakota

Published

4 hours ago

January 18, 2025

Press Room

What is the most abundant mammal in North America? I saw that question used in trivia recently. The answer was deer mouse. I am not so sure about that, in part because deer mouse is used to refer to a genus of mice as well one of the species of the genus. Either way, deer mice are certainly one of the contenders.

There are over a dozen species of small mammals that the casual observer may refer to as mice in North Dakota. That would include the house mouse, deer mice, voles, pocket mice, jumping mice, and shrews. The term deer mouse is used to refer to mice in the genus Peromyscus. Most are gray or reddish brown with a white underbelly, white feet, and comparatively large ears. And they are often characterized as having large “bulging” eyes. Robert Seabloom in his Mammals of North Dakota lists two species of Peromyscus in North Dakota.

What is commonly known as a deer mouse (P. maniculatus), a species of the grasslands, is common and abundant throughout the state. They are around 6 inches long, including a tail about 2.5 inches long. Although juveniles may be gray, adults are usually a brown to grayish-brown. Seabloom also notes that they have “distinctly” bicolored tails which helps in identification.

The deer mouse feeds largely on seeds and insects. Home range for these mice is around 2-3 acres. They are prey to several animals including snakes, hawks, owls, and fox. They are also a major carrier of the hantavirus.

The white-footed deer mouse (P. leucopus) is a species of wooded areas, and as such is less common. It is similar in appearance to the deer mouse but is perhaps a bit larger. Seabloom also notes that their “indistinctly bicolored tail” is a key characteristic in identification.

Like the deer mouse, the white-footed deer mouse feeds largely on seeds and insects. Acorns can also be an important food item. Their home range is less than that of a deer mouse, averaging around one acre

If you are interested in more information on the biology, ecology, and identification of these and other North Dakota mammals, I suggest you check out Mammals of North Dakota by UND professor emeritus Robert Seabloom. First published in 2011, it is now in its second edition.

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North Dakota

North Dakota House considers bills on AI in political ads, ‘deepfakes’ • North Dakota Monitor

Published

12 hours ago

January 17, 2025

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North Dakota House considers bills on AI in political ads, ‘deepfakes’ • North Dakota Monitor

Artificial intelligence used for political purposes would require a disclaimer under a bill proposed in the North Dakota Legislature.

The House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing Friday on House Bill 1167 that would require a “prominent disclaimer” on any political communication or political advertisement created wholly or in part by artificial intelligence tools.

The disclaimer must read: “This content generated by artificial intelligence.”

Bill sponsor Rep. Jonathan Warrey, R-Casselton, said he expects AI use in political communications to become a much bigger issue in the future.

Rep. Jonathan Warrey, R-Casselton, speaks during a committee hearing on Jan. 17, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

“There are other states taking action on this to provide some protections in place, and I think the overall theme is very sound,” Warrey said.

He added the bill was crafted through consultation with the Secretary of State’s Office and creates a new provision under the Corrupt Practices section of North Dakota Century Code, making any violation punishable by a Class A misdemeanor.

Deputy Secretary of State Sandy McMerty testified in support of the bill. She said AI can be used to help create graphics, write a newsletter and other communication.

However, if AI is used in political communication, she said the public should be informed. McMerty likened the new policy to statements politicians are already required to attach to their political ads that say who paid for the ad.

Terry Effertz, executive director of advocacy group TechND, testified against the bill, telling lawmakers the proposal is too broad.

“The bill, to be honest, is a reaction to hypothetical concerns, rather than a solution to documented harm,” Effertz said. “AI is evolving and hasty legislation in this area could inhibit legitimate uses while failing to address the actual risks.”

Terry Effertz, executive director of TechND, speaks during a committee hearing on Jan. 17, 2025. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor)

Because AI has become widely embedded in digital content and software, it could lead to “disclosure overload,” she said.

“Really what we need to focus on is the fact that deepfakes are the real threat here,” Effertz said.

A separate proposal, House Bill 1320, would outlaw the fraudulent use of deepfake videos and images in North Dakota.

Deepfakes, or videos, images or recordings manipulated by generative AI, have caused concerns about spreading misinformation. The bill would make the creation, possession and release of deepfake videos and images, without the consent of the person featured, a Class A misdemeanor.

Rep. Josh Christy, R-Fargo, the prime sponsor of the bill, said deepfakes are a threat to North Dakotans because it’s become more difficult to determine what is real and what is fake.

He said the intent of his bill is to prevent someone from using someone else’s likeness without permission. The bill is not limited to deepfakes used for political purposes.

“If I’m able to take a video of you, upload it to a service, and then be able to represent you in a way that you don’t want, it’s not a good thing,” Christy said.

A public hearing on the bill is at 11 a.m. Monday in Room 327B at the Capitol. Christy said he plans to play a video of himself reading a portion of the Gettysburg Address in Russian, German and from a female avatar that he programmed though software.

He said he doesn’t want to cross any lines with satire or First Amendment concerns and hopes to get some feedback during the hearing.

“I don’t know where that line is,” he said. “Hopefully the Attorney General’s Office or others will come out for testimony on this and help clarify any amendments.”

The committee did not take immediate action on the bill related to disclosures of AI in political ads. Written testimony on the bill addressing deepfakes can be submitted online until 8 a.m. Monday.

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