Comments to the Editor . . .
Wildlife adapt well to wildfire .
Biologists say blazes burn up few animals, but may affect their chances of surviving winter. When a wildfire burned the Disney-created forest where the fawn Bambi lived with his mother, the cartoon wildlife went crazy with fear, leaping out of harm's way in a manic frenzy. In the Teton Wilderness and other large tracts of public lands throughout the West, such a scenario is nearly unimaginable, according to two wildlife experts in the valley. Instead of fleeing from violent flames, most big game animals will tend to move out of the fire's way but remain in the burning area, said Mark Gocke, Wyoming Game and Fish Department spokesman. Instead they appear to want to stay in their home territory and do not show any visible signs of stress or fear from the flames, he said.