Healthy habitats save wildlife
It’s time for an updated Wildlife inventory for Deschutes County
Protecting wildlife is a driving force behind our work at LandWatch. To understand how to best accomplish that, we need the most accurate and up-to-date research on the habitat needs of regional wildlife.
What is a Wildlife Inventory? Under Oregon’s land use system, counties must map (or “inventory”) areas that are significant to wildlife needs. Often, these inventories are created in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Deschutes County’s last Wildlife Inventory was conducted in 1991. In the 30 years since then, Central Oregon has undergone immense change, and our wildlife populations have felt the pressure.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife reports that mule deer herds in Deschutes County have declined 55% since 1998. Learn more about declining mule deer herds.
In 2021, Deschutes County worked with ODFW and USFWS to gather new data. This proposed Wildlife Inventory Update from ODFW gives an updated picture of the winter range of elk and deer and sensitive habitat areas for bald eagles and golden eagles across Deschutes County.
Expert scientific research shows deer and elk winter range expands beyond the County’s current inventory areas. Inventories for golden and bald eagles reveal updated numbers that show extended sensitive habitat areas. As these updates show, Deschutes County is home to sensitive habitats needed by our deer, elk, and eagles to thrive.
What does the data say?
These updated reports show an expanding range of habitat areas. As wildlife populations are actually declining in number, the expanded ranges shown here give insight into the current habitat needs for the survival of these species in Deschutes County. As animals are displaced by continued development in the rural County, efforts are needed to protect winter range and sensitive habitat that remains.
View an interactive version of these maps here or click on the maps below for a larger view.
Mule Deer Winter Range Habitat
Green shading shows the previous 1991 designation for winter range. Blue shading shows the updated Winter Range Habitat from the 2021 analysis.
Sensitive Bird Habitat: Bald and Golden Eagle Nest Locations
The green areas show the previous 1991 designation for sensitive habitat. Orange shading shows the updated sensitive habitat from 2021 analysis.
Elk Winter Range Habitat
Green shading shows the previous 1991 designation for winter range. Blue shading shows the updated Winter Range Habitat from 2021 analysis.
Take Action
This research is just a first step. In 2023, Deschutes County will look at this research and commit to updating its Wildlife Inventory.
We’ll be asking you to provide input throughout the process.
At LandWatch, we work to ensure our region’s wild lands are protected to support biological diversity and critical wildlife habitat. We support land use planning and decision-making based on the best available science and most up-to-date research regarding our region’s wildlife populations.