Roe deer may suffer in Vitebsk forests due to heavy snowfall

January 3, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Heavy snowfalls that have hit the Vitebsk region can pose a danger to the roe deer population, Vladimir Muravitsky, chief gamekeeper of the Vitebsk State Forestry Association, told a BELTA correspondent. The main winter food for roe deer is berries. They can forage for them if the snow depth does not exceed 40 cm. According to the Vitebsk Regional Center for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, the snow depth in the region ranges from 33 cm in the south to 57 cm in the north. Due to such abundant snow, not only roe deer but also wild boars have difficulty finding food, so gamekeepers come to their aid. About a thousand feeding grounds have been created for wild boars in hunting grounds, and similar grounds are operating for roe deer. Wild boars are fed with grain waste and potatoes, while hay is laid out for roe deer. However, elk and red deer, according to Vladimir Muravitsky, do not experience significant difficulties due to the deep snow. These ungulates feed on the branches of deciduous trees and can reach them without much trouble. According to 2010 census data, there are over 17,000 wild boars, 7,500 elk, over 13,000 roe deer, and more than 1,000 red deer in the region's forests. In February of this year, another annual animal census will begin. There are 61 hunting grounds operating in the region. -0-