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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

WSI looks to finish about average

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 3/30/22

REGIONAL—Barring another major snow event, the 2021-22 winter season should wind up around average for much of the North Country, at least in terms of severity for whitetail deer. As of …

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WSI looks to finish about average

Posted

REGIONAL—Barring another major snow event, the 2021-22 winter season should wind up around average for much of the North Country, at least in terms of severity for whitetail deer.
As of Tuesday, the winter severity index stood at anywhere from 100-130 in northern St. Louis and Lake counties.
Variations in snow depths around the area account for most of the differences.
The WSI, which wildlife managers use as a guide to winter deer mortality, adds a point for every day with a below-zero temperature and another for every day with a snow depth of 15 inches or greater.
Winters with a WSI reading in excess of 120 are considered severe, but the current readings are fairly typical of winters in far northern Minnesota. The sustained mid-March warm spell across the region dropped snow levels in most areas below the 15-inch threshold. While the area saw a couple single digit below-zero nights earlier in the week, such temperatures provide no real challenge for whitetail deer, although they did add a couple points to the index. The most recent extended forecast shows no below-zero readings into the middle of April, which suggests the region may be finished with such temperatures for this winter season.
And with daytime temperatures forecasted to reach above freezing every day next week, the region’s snowpack is likely to continue to diminish.
DNR wildlife managers acknowledge that the WSI is only one of a number of factors that impact deer survival. The overall duration of winter and the timing of spring green-up, along with the quantity and quality of habitat and forage, are other factors that affect survival. Wolf density and food competition from other deer can make a difference as well.