Neighbors

One neighbor came for a visit yesterday. He was unsuccessful with lunch but he got in a few good chest rubs! It's that time of year to see bears around the property. If you encounter a black bear, have no fear, they are only aggressive when they have something to be concerned about. Usually ignoring them and staying out of their way is the best medicine.

Habitat

Who says that golf courses are harmful to the environment? For most of the winter the elk have been visiting the golf course almost every night. This picture was taken just a 30 minutes ago on the 8th hole. They should be around this area for most of the day. There aren't many safer places to be than the golf course.

These elk, similar to black bears, prefer to be left alone and can be scared easily. With activity such as car traffic, skiers and people snapping photos during the day, they just may hang out on the course until dusk.

As I mentioned before in a similar blog, most of the ground underneath the snow is frozen and they most likely will not cause much damage with their hooves. However, their urine is what is most lethal to the turfgrass. Today they trampled over the 7th green, but were not there long. They were close to the 8th green at one point, but then quickly moved away.

Over 5 winter seasons, this is by far the most elk activity I have noticed through the winter. I have seen some damage in the past, specifically to one green. Yet I have noticed very few of their tracks on or near the putting surfaces. Who knows what kind of mark they leave this winter.

Attack of the elk

With little snow fall so far this winter the elk will travel. During the early evening a herd of elk return to the valley floor for water and nest for the night. Fencing and light reflectors attempt at keeping them away from greens.
Elk urine and hoof prints can damage turf underfoot and we have seen this in the past. The only way to prevent the elk from roaming through the golf course and nordic trails are heavy snowfalls. Once we begin measuring snow in feet, we hope the elk will find "greener pastures".
We have not had too much trouble with them nesting come spring time. At this point they are doing more damage to the ski trails.

A Second Home

It's marmot season. They are out and ready to greet golfers. They too, have a second home here in Vail. For a limited time only, soon we hope this pipe gets in the ground.

Voles

Voles are rodents that look very similar to mice that wreak havoc to turfgrass in the wintertime. Every four to five years there is a spike in their population and they can create areas like this. 2009 is one of those highly populated years. These vegetarians can eat through turfgrass and perennial plants quickly and leave you with much less plant material in the spring than you had in the fall.

Over the past few years we have noticed most of these areas come back in time, but over seeding and getting proper nutrients to the damaged areas are a must. A few other observations we have noticed, first they fear fungicides and any areas that were applied with fungicides in the fall, keep away from through the winter. Also they stay away from the Nordic track and any other compacted areas. It is impossible for them to burrow through the ice layers.