Survival of White‐Tailed Deer Fawns in Southern Illinois

Rohm, John H.; Nielsen, Clayton K.; Woolf, Alan

doi:10.2193/2006-027

Cited by 78 publications

(176 citation statements)

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“…If we detected mortality signals, we attempted to recover the collar and carcass immediately. We conducted field necropsies and assessed site evidence to determine cause-specific mortality according to the criteria given by Garner et al (1976) and Rohm (2005). Specifically, we looked for hemorrhaging in wounds to distinguish between scavenging and predation, and we considered caching behavior to be characteristic of bobcat predations.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, we noted any signs of hemorrhagic disease such as sloughing of the hooves or splenomegaly. We calculated age at capture by assuming fawns were born June 6, the peak of parturition in southern Illinois as reported by Rohm (2005). Capture and sampling procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (Protocol 11-027).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This region typically has hot humid summers and mild winters; mean monthly temperatures range from 32 C in July to -5 C in January, and annual precipitation average 120 cm (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 2010). Study areas in southern Illinois are primarily oak-hickory forest with some residential and agricultural areas; bobcats, coyotes, and domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris (L., 1758)) are the primary predators of fawns in this region (Rohm et al 2007). …”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman, 1780)), fawn production and survival rates are especially important to population dynamics (Fuller 1990;Hatter and Janz 1994;Gaillard et al 1998;White and Lubow 2002). Much research has focused on neonatal fawn survival because young fawns are most susceptible to mortality, particularly predation by coyotes (Canis latrans (Say, 1823)), bobcats (Lynx rufus (Schreber, 1777)), black bears (Ursus americanus (Pallas, 1780)), and wolves (Canis lupus (L., 1758)) (Cook et al 1971;Porath 1980;Nelson and Mech 1981;Epstein et al 1983;Ballard et al 1999;Rohm et al 2007). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies that have continued to monitor radiomarked fawns past the first 8 weeks of life have attributed older fawn mortalities to hunting, poaching, and vehicle collisions (Vreeland et al 2004; Rohm et al 2006;Burroughs et al 2006;Hiller et al 2007). Thus, another method for estimating deer vital rates is by analyzing deer harvest data (e.g., fawn-to-doe kill ratios, age structure of harvest).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Increased overwinter mortalities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns during a drought year

et al. 2018

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mortality events. In order of importance, survival rates were affected by days since capture, year of drought, age at capture, week post-capture (1/0 indicator), and region. Estimated overwinter (fall through spring) survival rate (± SE) of fawns in both regions during 2010-14 was 0.83 ± 0.04. However, estimated overwinter survival rates were depressed during 2012-13, following the severe drought of 2012 (0.63 ± 0.11 or 0.66 ± 0.11 depending on model). Main causes of mortality were capture-related and predation, though some dead deer also showed signs of hemorrhagic disease. We suspect that the extreme drought of 2012 created favorable conditions for fall-spring mortality of fawns, due to elevated disease transmission and lower forage quality and quantity for deer. In addition, drought may have contributed to predation by reducing abundance of alternative prey. Our results suggest that severe weather conditions during summer can substantially impact overwinter fawn survival.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Increased overwinter mortalities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns during a drought year

et al. 2018

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Logging, linear features, and human infrastructure shape the spatial dynamics of wolf predation on an ungulate neonate

Johnson‐Bice,

Gable,

Homkes

et al. 2023

Ecological Applications

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Humans are increasingly recognized as important players in predator‐prey dynamics by modifying landscapes. This trend has been well‐documented for large mammal communities in North American boreal forests: logging creates early seral forests that benefit ungulates like white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), while the combination of infrastructure development and resource extraction practices generate linear features that allow predators like wolves (Canis lupus) to travel and forage more efficiently throughout the landscape. Disturbances from recreational activities and residential development are other major sources of human activity in boreal ecosystems that may further alter wolf–ungulate dynamics. Here, we evaluate the influence that several major types of anthropogenic landscape modifications (timber harvest, linear features, and residential infrastructure) have on where and how wolves hunt ungulate neonates in a southern boreal forest ecosystem in Minnesota, USA. We demonstrate that each major anthropogenic disturbance significantly influences wolf predation of white‐tailed deer fawns (n=427 kill sites). In contrast to the ‘human shield hypothesis’ that posits prey use human‐modified areas as refuge, wolves killed fawns closer to residential buildings than expected based on spatial availability. Fawns were also killed within recently‐logged areas more than expected. Concealment cover was higher at kill sites than random sites, suggesting wolves use senses other than vision, likely olfaction, to detect hidden fawns. Wolves showed strong selection for hunting along linear features, and kill sites were also closer to linear features than expected. We hypothesize linear features facilitated wolf predation on fawns by allowing wolves to travel efficiently among high‐quality prey patches (recently logged areas, near buildings), and also increase encounter rates with olfactory cues that allow them to detect hidden fawns. These findings provide novel insight into the strategies predators use to hunt ungulate neonates and the many ways human activity alters wolf–ungulate neonate predator‐prey dynamics, which have remained elusive due to the challenges of locating sites where predators kill small prey. Our research has important management and conservation implications for wolf–ungulate systems subjected to anthropogenic pressures, particularly as the range of overlap between wolves and deer expands and appears to be altering food web dynamics in boreal ecosystems.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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The effect of terrain and female density on survival of neonatal white‐tailed deer and mule deer fawns

Bonar

Manseau

Geisheimer

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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Juvenile survival is a highly variable life‐history trait that is critical to population growth. Antipredator tactics, including an animal's use of its physical and social environment, are critical to juvenile survival. Here, we tested the hypothesis that habitat and social characteristics influence coyote (Canis latrans) predation on white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (O. hemionus) fawns in similar ways during the neonatal period. This would contrast to winter when the habitat and social characteristics that provide the most safety for each species differ. We monitored seven cohorts of white‐tailed deer and mule deer fawns at a grassland study site in Alberta, Canada. We used logistic regression and a model selection procedure to determine how habitat characteristics, climatic conditions, and female density influenced fawn survival during the first 8 weeks of life. Fawn survival improved after springs with productive vegetation (high integrated Normalized Difference Vegetation Index values). Fawns that used steeper terrain were more likely to survive. Fawns of both species had improved survival in years with higher densities of mule deer females, but not with higher densities of white‐tailed deer females, as predicted if they benefit from protection by mule deer. Our results suggest that topographical variation is a critical resource for neonates of many ungulate species, even species like white‐tailed deer that use more gentle terrain when older. Further, our results raise the possibility that neonatal white‐tailed fawns may benefit from associating with mule deer females, which may contribute to the expansion of white‐tailed deer into areas occupied by mule deer.

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Survival of White‐Tailed Deer Fawns in Southern Illinois

Cited by 78 publications

References 51 publications

Increased overwinter mortalities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns during a drought year

Increased overwinter mortalities of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns during a drought year

Logging, linear features, and human infrastructure shape the spatial dynamics of wolf predation on an ungulate neonate

The effect of terrain and female density on survival of neonatal white‐tailed deer and mule deer fawns

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