For some Central Oregonians, autumn means visions of sitting by the glow of a fire. For others, it means making a decision about buying a ski pass. For Central Oregon’s fauna, fall brings a heightened sense of urgency stemming from survival instincts.

The pinyon jay and Clark’s nutcracker are busy topping off their food stockpiles so they can remain aflutter in Central Oregon through winter. Other animals, like squirrels, bears and marmots, have thickened their fat reserves all summer; if they aren’t already hibernating, they will be soon. Some birds, such as the rofous hummingbird, are well on their way to their winter homes, which can be as far as Central America and South America.

To a lesser extent, deer and elk are also on the move. Their migration, however, is a short distance, trading the Cascade Range foothills for lower elevations. Their predators, such as cougars and coyotes, follow close behind.

Sara Gregory, a wildlife habitat biologist at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Chuck Gates, an East Cascades Audubon Society founding member, lent their expertise to this migratory guide to some of Central Oregon’s most prominent animals.

Chipmunks

The yellow-pine and least (the most widespread chipmunk in North America) exhibit torpor behavior during winter, which is a pseudo hibernation state in which they may emerge from a nest and gather nearby food, then return. The Allen’s chipmunk, however, conks out all winter. These three species, all native to Central Oregon, are nearly indistinguishable.

Yellow-bellied marmot

In spring, this marmot wakes up, reproduces and eats as much food as possible before it tucks into a nest or den in August. “People think the marmots in the Old Mill District have all been exterminated. That’s not true; they’re hibernating already,” Gregory said. By retiring early, the marmot dodges heat and wildfire smoke.

Western gray squirrel

This squirrel doesn’t hibernate. It’s still active, and its young are going out on their own. It relies on the caches of food like pine cone seeds that it has buried. The western gray squirrel spends the winter relocating its sometimes snow-covered provisions, but it’s far less active than during warmer months.

Black bear

A member of the most famous family of hibernators, the black bear is a scarce but native resident of the eastern side of the Cascade Crest. There is some research indicating that a bear sometimes animates during winter, but it doesn’t move far from its den. A female bear will hole up with its cubs, having fattened up by eating everything from ant hills to huckleberries all summer. Dens range from a rotten tree stump to rocky outcroppings.

Mule deer

During hotter months, deer forage on forbs, seasonal plants and any kind of flowers and berries in higher elevations. Right now, herds of mule deer are starting their migration to lower elevations to avoid heavy snow, which covers their food sources and complicates moving around. Their winter survival strategy includes moving to a relatively snow-free winter range and conserving energy. Safety in numbers is the deer’s best defense against predators like cougars and coyotes, both of which follow herds to their winter ranges. The deer spotted within city limits are likely year-round residents that have stopped migrating all together. A female deer is usually pregnant during winter. “They’re trying to stay warm but they’re growing a baby, too,” Gregory said. “They have a lot of challenges.”

Cougar

This native cat, also referred to as a mountain lion, shares the migratory pattern of its main food source, deer, and also elk.

Coyote

The local coyotes share the migratory pattern of their main food sources, deer and elk.

Elk

The elk has a winter strategy similar to deer, bulking up on food at higher elevations in hotter months then migrating to lower elevations during winter. But because it is less food sensitive and can get by in higher snowpack, it may be slower to leave higher elevations. An elk herd can be a pest in agricultural zones, particularly in the Fort Rock State Park, Metolius-Windigo and Christmas Valley areas.

Rufous hummingbird

The migratory range of this orange dog fighter of a hummingbird stretches from Alaska to Costa Rica, where it sticks to the Pacific Coast after migrating through the western United States.

Osprey

This raptor needs open, ice-free water to feed on fish. It jets out of Central Oregon around midfall, Gates said. Osprey will wing it as far south as Chile and Argentina’s northern Patagonia region. Some osprey will begin their commute from Alaska, yet Central Oregon has a robust supply of fish and a correspondingly healthy population of resident osprey, or birds that summer here each year. Osprey is a direct competitor with the bald eagle for food sources.

Pinyon jay and Clark’s nutcracker

These two birds, which belong to the same family as the crow and the raven, tuck food like conifer seeds into the cracks and crevasses of trees so they can remain in Central Oregon year-round. They stick to pine and juniper forests. The mounds of seeds these birds bury in the ground can grow into clusters of saplings if left unclaimed.

Flammulated owl

A common bird in Central Oregon forests, the flammulated owl is so named for its reddish-orange feathers. A secretive nighttime bird, this owl makes a big, spooky sound despite being the second-smallest owl in the region, Gates said. It migrates relatively short distances to the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the mountains of northern Mexico in the winter.

— Reporter: 541-617-7816, pmadsen@bendbulletin.com