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Abstract

Environmental Analysis & Ecology Studies

Spatial and Temporal Use of an Urban Landscape by White-Tailed Deer

Submission: April 26, 2018; Published: June 13, 2018

DOI: 10.31031/EAES.2018.03.000553

ISSN: 2578-0336
Volume3 Issue1

Abstract

White-tailed deer (WTD) (Odocoileus virginianus) home range size, habitat use, and seasonal movement patterns were assessed within the Greater Winnipeg Area (GWA) in comparison to the rural area of Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP), Manitoba. Urban deer monthly home range sizes were significantly smaller (GWA average Minimum Convex Polygon [MCP] area=2.21km²) than deer residing within RMNP (RMNP average MCP area = 6.65km²). Urban female deer home range size was substantially smaller than that of urban males. A majority of the GWA deer did not migrate between summer and winter core use areas, appearing to display a strong fidelity to an annual home range. Urban deer shortest and slowest movements occurred in city neighborhoods, likely in association with the supply of artificial food resources. Management of urban deer habitats may be most effective with efforts tailored to specific localized areas to mitigate human-deer conflicts.

Keywords: Collaring; Global Positioning System [GPS]; Human-deer conflict; Movement patters; Spatial; Temporal; Urban deer; White-tailed deer

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