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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Green-up boosts deer in aftermath of Carlton fires

Mule deer feed on the post-wildfire green-up on the Chiliwist unit of the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in Okanogan County. (Justin Haug / Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
Mule deer feed on the post-wildfire green-up on the Chiliwist unit of the Sinlahekin Wildlife Area in Okanogan County. (Justin Haug / Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)

WILDLIFE -- While Washington wildlife officials have decided to feed deer this winter near Pateros to keep them from ravaging agricultural areas, the wildfires of 2014 are not forcing the feeding of other deer herds in the formerly charred lands in Okanogan region.

Rain and mild weather have combined this fall to provide a good "green-up" on the lands charred by the Carlton Complex fires, said Madonna Luers, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife spokeswoman in Spokane.

The photo above, she said, "represents well why we’re NOT feeding widespread."



Rich Landers
Rich Landers joined The Spokesman-Review in 1977. He is the Outdoors editor for the Sports Department writing and photographing stories about hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, conservation, nature and wildlife and related topics.

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