Snow is one of the most limiting environmental factors for large wildlife of temperate and arctic zones during winter. Snow depth may limit space use, increase energy expenditure related to movement, limit resource availability, and ultimately affect individual survival. Most of the studies on the effect of snow on animal space use have used cumulative snow depth. The amount of recently fallen snow, however, could be more relevant for wildlife, especially in alpine and northern environments, where wind shifts and hardens the snow cover constantly. From 2011 to 2013, we studied space use of mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus (Blainville, 1816)) within Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. During winter, daily and weekly movements decreased with the amount of recently fallen snow, but not with cumulative snow depth. These results indicate that recently fallen snow should be included in wildlife space-use studies during winter. Limited movement and range size of mountain goats also highlight the energy-saving tactic used in winter by this species.Résumé : Durant l'hiver, la neige est l'un des facteurs environnementaux les plus limitants pour la grande faune des régions tempérées ou arctiques. L'épaisseur de neige peut limiter l'utilisation de l'espace, augmenter les dépenses énergétiques liées aux déplacements, limiter la disponibilité des ressources et ultimement affecter la survie. La plupart des études concernant les effets de la neige sur l'utilisation de l'espace de la faune ont utilisé des mesures d'épaisseur de neige. Par contre, la quantité de neige fraiche pourrait être plus représentative des conditions rencontrées par la faune, particulièrement en région alpine ou arctique où le vent déplace et compacte constamment le couvert nival. De 2011 à 2013, nous avons étudié l'utilisation de l'espace des chèvres de montagne (Oreamnos americanus (Blainville, 1816)) dans le Parc national Jasper en Alberta, Canada. Durant l'hiver, les déplacements quotidiens et hebdomadaires, diminuaient en fonction de la quantité de neige fraiche, mais pas en fonction de l'épaisseur de neige au sol. Ces résultats indiquent que la neige fraiche devrait être incluse dans les études d'utilisation de l'espace de la faune durant l'hiver. Les déplacements limités et la petite taille des aires utilisées par les chèvres de montagne soulignent la tactique d'économie d'énergie utilisée par cette espèce durant l'hiver.

Hunting is commonly used to reduce overabundant deer populations that are of socioeconomic and ecological concerns. Recently, it has been suggested that "hunting for fear" might help maximize nonconsumptive effects of hunting and their cascading impacts. We investigated how a predator-free black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis Merriam, 1898) population introduced to the Haida Gwaii archipelago (Canada) responded to short-term hunting for fear. We conducted a hunt that minimized killing and maximized scaring on an island where some deer were marked. Between control and hunted sites, we compared deer use of bait stations and of shoreline areas (i.e., an open and risky area that provided marine subsidies). We also compared the browsing pressure and growth of two grasses and two shrubs. Hunting for fear had no effect on the overall use of bait stations and shorelines. However, in the area exposed to hunting, unmarked deer, which were assumed to be less tolerant of human disturbance, avoided bait stations at the outset of hunting. We concluded that individuals perceive and respond to risk differently. Furthermore, two of the four plant species were less likely to be browsed and had better growth in the experimental area than in the control area, suggesting an indirect effect of hunting on plants mediated by deer behaviour.