Mule Deer Outruns Massive Elk Fire, Arrives at Sheridan Property with Burn Marks
A mule deer doe with burn marks, a testament to her narrow escape from the fast-moving Elk Fire, recently showed up on a Sheridan-area resident’s property, Cowboy State Daily reports.
The fire, which has burned more than 92,000 acres across the Bighorn Mountains, pushed local wildlife to the brink, but this particular deer, along with her twin fawns, managed to survive the blaze.
Dave Paullin, who lives near Sheridan, first noticed the doe on October 7. Her right flank was covered in blackened patches, initially raising concerns about a potential wildlife disease. After a closer look, Paullin realized the marks were burns, likely caused by embers as the deer fled the wildfire.
Paullin speculates that on the night of October 5, when the Elk Fire surged eight miles due to 50 mph winds, the doe barely outran the advancing flames while guiding her 5-6 month-old fawns to safety. Despite the burn marks, the doe appears to be in good health, and her fawns show no signs of injury.
Wildfires like the Elk Fire pose significant risks to wildlife, with smaller, less mobile animals like porcupines and rabbits likely suffering greater losses. However, this mule deer doe represents both the resilience and vulnerability of animals caught in such natural disasters.
Paullin, who continues to monitor the fire’s progression, expressed his admiration for the local firefighting crews working to contain the blaze. He welcomes the doe and her fawns to stay on his property as long as they like, noting that they seem to have found a safe refuge amidst the devastation.
While the Elk Fire remains active, efforts to control it through prescribed burns and containment strategies have shown some success in reducing its intensity.
