Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) wintering in the Mingo Basin changed their habitat use, daily time budgets, and food habits in response to human-related disturbance. Hunting was the main disturbance, but vehicular and foot traffic were also involved. Refuge areas were especially important during hunting seasons as evidenced by concentrations of mallards on certain areas. Effects of hunting disturbance are not entirely known but potentials were outlined in an earlier study. Disturbance seems most detrimental to wintering mallards in late winter and spring.