Wyoming
Rock Springs Loves Steve, A Mule Deer With Gnarled Antlers And…
When it comes to hanging out with his deer buddies and snacking on his favorite treat — crabapples fresh off the trees — a mule deer buck that lives in Rock Springs isn’t about the let anything stop him.
Not even terrible injuries that have left him limping along on three hooves with antlers that are a tangled mess.
What Do We Call Him?
Folks weren’t sure what to call the buck that has limped his way around the southwest Wyoming town for a couple of years and become a local fixture.
So, Rock Springs resident Daxton Staley posted a poll on social media calling on other locals to help him decide on a name.
Popular options included Eliot after the goofy, one-antlered deer from the animated children’s movie “Open Season.”
Many favored “Lt. Dan” after the character in the hugely popular cinematic tribute to Americana, “Forrest Gump.”
In that movie, Lt. Dan is initially angry and cynical after losing his legs during the Vietnam War, but eventually finds redemption and happiness.
However, one fitting name won out: Steve the Survivor.
Staley said he came up with that name.
“I was sitting on the couch, and I saw him through the living room window, and I thought ‘Steve’ seemed to fit him. He’s Steve the Survivor,” he said.
How Did He Get That Way?
Quite a few mule deer call Rock Springs home. They frequently move between tasty lawns in quiet neighborhoods and resting spots in the vast, arid lands surrounding the city.
Among the deer, Steve has been popular for a while, Staley told Cowboy State Daily.
Nobody seems to know for sure how Steve got to be the way that he is. But as the story goes, he was more-or-less a normal buck before being struck by a vehicle about two years ago, Staley said.
The accident left the young buck horribly wounded and deformed, but he slowly recovered enough to keep living his best life.
At first, one of Steve’s rear hooves was “hanging on by just some fur and maybe a tendon,” Staley said. “But then it fell completely off.”
Not to be so easily stopped, Steve continued to limp along on the stump, which eventually calloused over, Staley said.
According to wildlife biologists, head injuries can cause unusual antler growth in deer. That could probably account for the wild and wacky way that Steve’s antlers come in every year.
Bucks start growing antlers in the spring. At first, the antlers are covered with a nutrient-rich membrane called velvet. Once that dries up and falls off, usually in late summer or early fall, the antlers are revealed in their full glory.
The antlers themselves fall off, usually around February, and the process starts all over again with the antlers growing in bigger with each passing year.
A Few Injured Deer Around Town
Steve isn’t the only deer with old injuries in Rock Springs, Animal Control Officer Lydia Gomez told Cowboy State Daily.
“There are a few bucks that we have been called about,” Gomez said. “Game and Fish is also aware of the deer. They have old injuries, and are able to get around and eat, (so) Game and Fish leaves them alone.”
He’s Not Pathetic, He’s Tough
Some people think Steve the Survivor is pathetic. But Staley doesn’t think that’s the right way to regard the tenacious buck.
“A lot of people have seen him, and some people were talking about how sad it is,” he said.
Steve doesn’t seem to be sad at all, Staley said.
“He’s been munching on the neighbor’s crabapples” and appears to have plenty of energy, he said.
Staley said when he watches Steve, he doesn’t feel pity. He feels inspired.
“He’s a symbol of perseverance,” Staley said. “He’s definitely a cool deer, and he’s tough.”
Contact Mark Heinz at mark@cowboystatedaily.com
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
Wyoming
Governor Gordon attends signing of Wyoming’s Healthy Choice Waiver in Washington D.C.
Wyoming
March 31 Deadline For Wyoming’s ‘Becoming An Outdoor Woman’ Workshops
Gaining the knowledge to become an outdoorsy type of person isn’t easy. It takes time, dedication, and the desire to sometimes get out of your comfort zone. Sure, if you grew up in the outdoors, but it’s been a while since you’ve actually been out hunting, fishing, hiking, or camping, you may be a little rusty, but you have a leg up on those who haven’t.
If you’re in Wyoming, there’s a good chance that taking advantage of the incredible outdoor activities we have available has crossed your mind, but where to start is the big question. Asking others for help is one way, but there’s sometimes an element of intimidation or embarrassment involved.
If you’re a woman looking for that help and want to avoid the intimidation, you should really check out the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Becoming an Outdoor Woman (BOW) workshops this summer. It’s held at the Whiskey Mountain Conservation Camp near Dubois, and everything you need to learn about the outdoors is provided, including food and lodging.
The registration deadline is March 31, meaning you have just a couple of weeks to apply for one or all of the offered workshops.
There are multiple options available depending on your level of outdoor knowledge.
Basic BOW Workshop: Introductory level camp teaching outdoor survival, basic fly fishing, backpacking, how to shoot, outdoor photography, and more. There will be two of these workshops, June 5-7 and August 7-9. $150
Fly Fishing Beyond BOW Workshop: The focus here is on fly fishing. Learn the basics and then put them to use. This workshop runs July 30 – Aug 2. $150
Backpacking Beyond BOW: This workshop is all about backpacking, hiking, cooking on the trail, adjusting to the trail, and preparing for the trip. You’ll learn how to properly pack your bag, set up camp, and then head out on an overnight trip. July 30 – Aug 2. $150
Become a BOW Instructor: Here’s where you put your years of experience to work by sharing your skills and knowledge with others, helping them learn the tricks and tips of the outdoors.
Not only will these workshops help get you started on a life in the outdoors, but you’re likely going to gain some street cred with your family when you can teach them the skills they’ll need to get out and celebrate a Wyoming lifestyle.
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Wyoming
Snowpack In The South Laramie Range At Just Three Percent Of Normal Levels
The snowpack in the South Laramie Range in southeast Wyoming as of Monday was at three percent of normal, according to the Cheyenne Office of the National Weather Service.
And while other mountain ranges in southeast Wyoming were not nearly that low in snowpack, they were still well below normal at last report.
The agency posted the following on its website:
February was yet another warm and dry month, continuing the pattern that has dominated our area since last fall. Mountain snowpack remains well below average in southeast Wyoming, especially in the Laramie Range where snowpack is at an all time record low. For the plains, some light snow fell last month, but it was not enough to keep from increasing seasonal snowfall deficits. Cheyenne is off to its 4th least snowy start to the season since records began in the 1880s, and Scottsbluff has received the 2nd least snow since record began in the 1890s. We are now approximately two-thirds of the way through the snow accumulation season, with a little more than one-third to go in March, April, and into early May.
But the good news is that after a wet 24 hours on Monday night/Tuesday, more snow may be headed our way on Friday.
Cheyenne, Laramie Forecasts
Cheyenne Forecast
Tonight
A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 11pm. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 24. West wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 55. West wind around 10 mph.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday
A slight chance of rain showers after 11am, mixing with snow after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 59. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south southeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night
Rain and snow showers likely, becoming all snow after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Blustery. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Friday
Snow showers. High near 32. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Friday Night
A chance of snow showers before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 18.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 44. Breezy.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Breezy.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Breezy.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Breezy.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Breezy.
Monday Night
A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Tuesday
A chance of rain and snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 54. Breezy.
Laramie Forecast
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 20. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph after midnight.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 48. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon.
Wednesday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 27. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday
A slight chance of rain and snow showers after 11am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night
Snow showers. Low around 23. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday
Snow showers. High near 31. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Friday Night
A chance of snow showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 39.
Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 25.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 48. Breezy.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 32.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. Breezy.
Monday Night
A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Tuesday
A chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 50. Breezy.
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Gallery Credit: Kolby Fedore, TSM
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