REXBURG — The Japanese yew plant has proved fatal to a mule deer fawn in East Idaho.

Idaho Fish and Game reports that Conservation Officer Andrew Sorensen responded to a call recently about a dead fawn outside of Rexburg.

“The fawn belonged to a group of about 25 mule deer that hang out on the south end of town every winter. Upon investigation, Sorensen determined that the young fawn had ingested a large amount of Japanese yew and died of yew toxicity,” the agency said in a news release.

According to Fish and Game, Japanese yew is not native to the region, but it’s often used as an ornamental plant for landscaping. Local nurseries sell the plant, and it’s popular with homeowners because the plant stays green and lush through the year.

In the past, Fish and Game has reported that it’s not unusual for hungry wildlife like moose and deer to head to communities where there are a lot of green plants that looks like food.

Japanese yew is highly toxic when ingested by domestic livestock or by wildlife such as deer, elk, pronghorn and moose, according to Fish and Game.

“Eating only a few ounces of the plant may result in the death of the animal,” according to Fish and Game.

Sorensen reported that this was the first year he’s seen wildlife die from eating Japanese yew.

“I hope it does not become a pattern,” he said.

Fish and Game reported that the plant has killed several animals in recent years.

Sorensen said that a moose calf died from eating the plant in the same place last year as the deer died recently.

Fish and Game encourages homeowners who live in rural areas adjacent to communities like Rexburg to consider using a different plant for landscaping and to replace their Japanese yew plants.

Anything a homeowner can do to prevent animals from gaining access to the plant is helpful, according to Fish and Game.

For more information on reducing risk to wildlife visit https://idfg.idaho.gov/conservation/yew/paper.

ISLAND PARK — An air ambulance plucked an injured snowmobiler from Mt. Sawtelle around 3 p.m. Tuesday. Just shortly before, the man and a group of snowmobilers narrowly escaped an avalanche.

The injured man was not buried during the avalanche nor were any of his group. Some of the sleds suffered damage.

Fremont County Search and Rescue was called out, but before the group arrived, the air ambulance had retrieved the man.

“He was with a group. They called for help. We were able to get the helicopter to get him. The helicopter was able to get in quickly and transport him out,” said Fremont County Sheriff Len Humphries.

The man’s age, where he was from and the extent of his injuries wasn’t known. 

ASHTON — A lack of snow might move the annual American Dog Derby Race to Mesa Falls next month.

Race chairman John Scafe made the announcement during the city’s recent council meeting.

“Mother Nature’s not being nice to me,” he said.

Unless Mother Nature dumps a foot and a half of snow on Ashton between now and Feb. 16, Scafe says he might move the race to the Bear Gulch Trail near Mesa Falls.

It doesn’t look like there will be much snow anytime soon in Ashton, he said.

“The long-range forecast is not looking really good, but it can always change,” Scafe said.

Even if Ashton gets snow, there are concerns that warm weather might overheat dogs. It could also create mushy snow that’s damaging to sleds.

“We don’t want to cancel, but if it comes down to the safety factor for the dogs and mushers, that’s our number one priority. If it’s too warm, it can overheat the dogs. Weather is a big factor in everything,” he said.

Derby organizers last canceled the race about four years ago. At the time ice covered the snow, which was mushy underneath, making it difficult to sled over. In the 27 years that the derby has been held on a regular basis, officials have only canceled the race three times. At one point around the 1930s, despite no snow, mushers put their sleds on wheels to keep the races going. That isn’t an option now, Scafe said.

“Back in those days they could do that more. It’s just not really feasible with these sleds. Mushers have invested a lot into them,” he said.

Over the weekend Scafe visited Bear Gulch Trail and noted that while snow covered the trail, there wasn’t a lot of it.

“It’s marginal, but a snowmobile can go on it. I think they’ve been grooming it,” he said.

While there’s snow on the Bear Gulch Trail, Scafe was also concerned about room for mushers’ families and visitors to watch the races.

“My biggest concern is parking and spectator safety. It’s just a two-lane road there. I’ve got to really look at safety factors for people,” he said.

Despite the bleak snow forecast, dogsled racers have signed up for the 2018 race.

“I’ve had a 7-year-old signed up. She’s been racing since she was 2. I’ve got five vendors signed up,” he said.

Last year American Dog Derby officials celebrated the race’s centennial. While there had been lots of snow during the 2016 winter, warm weather melted much of it, leaving barely enough snow on Ashton streets for the races. Ashton City workers hauled in more of the white stuff to compensate. Still, the snow was limited, and officials shortened races.

Although there were concerns about the amount and quality of snow last year, racers from throughout the country and as far away as Scotland participated. Dog racer Ann Stead, who helped train dogs for the Disney movie “Iron Will,” also attended and met with residents.

“She’s looking at coming out again,” Scafe said.

Racers from California to Minnesota have been known to attend the dog sled races. Iditarod racers have also attended the annual Ashton races.

“We get all kinds,” Scafe said.

He said that he recently received a phone call from a fat bike enthusiast who wants to race in the dogsled races next month.

“He wants to run his bike. He says he has the dogs pull it. I told him I’d have to do a little thinking about that. I’ve never had that request before. I told him we were set up for sleds, not fat tire bikes,” he said.

That’s not to say organizers wouldn’t eventually consider such an event.

“You need to change up and get fresh things going. It would be quite interesting. If there’s more interest in it, I would entertain people to help me out with it. It’s something to think about next year,” Scafe said.

Scafe said the man had some sort of harness he hooked between his bike and his dogs.

“It’s like skijorning — a skier being pulled with a couple of dogs — but on a bike,” he said.

The Ashton dog races prove popular for mushers, and Scafe says they’re looking forward to attending again this year.

“It’s a good race. People have fun. The mushers have all told me that it’s like a big family reunion when they come to Ashton,” he said.

In the meantime, Scafe is hoping for snow. Members of the Ashton City Council joked he could do a snow dance to urge Mother Nature to drop some precipitation on Ashton during the next three weeks.

Scafe joked that the weather consistently changes in Idaho. If you don’t like it, just give it five minutes, and you’ll see something different.

In the meantime, Scafe is planning on having a dogsled race — somewhere — next month.

“We have to have a positive attitude about it. We’re still going for it. Like it or not, we’re going to have fun,” he said.

For more information on the upcoming race visit americandogderby.com or check out the derby’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/americandogderby.