Mule Deer Numbers and Shrub Yield: Utilization on Winter Range

1972 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen E. Anderson ◽  
E. Medin ◽  
David C. Bowden
Keyword(s):  
Mule Deer ◽  
Winter Range

scholarly journals A Weather Severity Index on a Mule Deer Winter Range

1986 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donavin A. Leckenby ◽  
Arthur W. Adams
Keyword(s):  
Mule Deer ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Winter Range

Influence of fire severity and vegetation treatments on mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) winter habitat use on the Kaibab Plateau, Arizona

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (10) ◽  
pp. 1292
Author(s):  
Kirby D. Bristow ◽  
Larisa E. Harding ◽  
Richard W. Lucas ◽  
Thomas C. McCall
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Fire Severity ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Similar Treatment ◽  
Natural Fire ◽  
Winter Range ◽  
Kaibab Plateau

Context Wildfire and vegetation treatments affect mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations across the western United States. However, the relative influence of fire and treatments on habitat use by mule deer in Arizona is not well defined. Aims We examined locations of mule deer on the Kaibab Plateau in northern Arizona, so as to determine the influence of vegetation treatments and wildfire severity on deer habitat-use patterns across their winter range where fires and treatments had occurred previously. Methods We used locations (n = 11297) from 21 adult female mule deer fitted with global positioning system collars to model probability of use as a function of habitat covariates. Key results The best model describing winter-range habitat use by mule deer on the Kaibab Plateau included covariates describing the age of vegetation treatments and fire severity. Increased deer use in winter was associated with areas of lower terrain ruggedness and reduced snow depths. Deer use also increased in areas that experienced a higher average fire severity, resulting in decreased vegetation heights. Among treatment age classes, deer use was greatest in areas containing vegetation treatments that were ≤6 years old, but negatively associated with treatments that were >6 years old. Conclusions Vegetation treatments designed to remove or reduce less palatable tree and shrub species to improve forage conditions may increase the use of winter habitats by deer on the Kaibab Plateau. Similarly, prescribed fire and rangeland treatments designed to return areas to a more natural fire regime and, thereby, generate new plant growth, may improve winter-range habitat conditions for mule deer. Implications Similar treatment strategies may also benefit mule deer populations throughout the western USA, by improving forage conditions on critical habitats and reducing the potential for catastrophic wildfire.

Gastropod intermediate hosts of lungworms (Nematoda: Protostrongylidae) on a bighorn sheep winter range: aspects of transmission

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1976-1982 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Robb ◽  
W. M. Samuel
Keyword(s):  
Mule Deer ◽  
Bighorn Sheep ◽  
Ovis Canadensis ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Gastropod Species ◽  
Winter Range ◽  
Infective Larvae ◽  
Third Stage ◽  
Inherent Problem

A study of the gastropod intermediate hosts of the lungworms Protostrongylus stilesi and Protostrongylus rushi was conducted on a bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis) winter range in southwestern Alberta, 1984–1985. Over 7000 gastropods were examined. Seven gastropod species were infected with Protostrongylus-type larvae: the predominant intermediate hosts were Euconulus fulvus (6.8% infected), Vertigo gouldi (5.6%), and Vertigo modesta (3.2%). Prevalence of third-stage (infective) larvae was highest in September and April, coinciding with use of the winter range by bighorn sheep. An index of lungworm availability to sheep was highest in autumn in the margins of aspen copses and in spring in the grassy openings. Copses were used extensively by sheep in autumn, and open areas were used in the spring. Presence of a mule deer (Odocoileus h. hemionus) lungworm, Orthostrongylus macrotis, was an inherent problem.

scholarly journals Behavioral and Demographic Responses of Mule Deer to Energy Development on Winter Range

2021 ◽  
Vol 208 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-37
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Northrup ◽  
Charles R. Anderson ◽  
Brian D. Gerber ◽  
George Wittemyer
Keyword(s):  
Mule Deer ◽  
Energy Development ◽  
Winter Range ◽  
Demographic Responses

scholarly journals Noninvasive genetic surveys before and after a megafire detect displacement of migratory mule deer

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L Brazeal ◽  
Rahel Sollmann ◽  
Benjamin N Sacks
Keyword(s):  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Burned Area ◽  
Winter Range ◽  
High Severity ◽  
Western Us ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Summer Range ◽  
Capture Recapture ◽  
Carry Over

Due to climate change and past logging and fire suppression, the western US are experiencing increasingly large and frequent wildfires. Understanding how wildlife respond to these mega-fires is becoming increasingly relevant to protect and manage these populations. However, the lack of predictability inherent in such events makes studies difficult to plan. We took advantage of a large high-severity wildfire that burned adjacent to an ongoing study of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) on their summer range upslope of the fire to investigate their displacement onto our study area both immediately and upon their return to summer range the following year. We used spatial capture-recapture models in conjunction with noninvasive fecal DNA sampling to estimate density and non-spatial Pradel robust-design models to estimate apparent survival and recruitment rates. Compared to density before the fire, we observed an increase in deer density and an increase in per-capita recruitment rates one month after the fire. These findings suggest that the immediate response of at least some deer was to flee the fire upslope onto the study area rather than to downslope toward their winter range. These changes did not carry over into the following year, however, suggesting that deer formerly using the burned area as summer range may have returned there despite the high severity of the fire, or may have chosen new areas for their summer range. This suggests that, at least in the short term, the fire did not negatively affect the deer population.

Movements, space use and site fidelity of translocated and resident mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 509 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Smedley ◽  
Madelon van de Kerk ◽  
Brock R. McMillan ◽  
Kent R. Hersey ◽  
Jericho C. Whiting ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Odocoileus Hemionus ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Winter Range ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
High Site ◽  
Resident Female

Abstract ContextTranslocation of wildlife has become common practice for wildlife managers charged with management of animals on increasingly modified landscapes. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is a species of great interest to the public in western North America, and individuals of this species have been translocated several times, but little has been done to document the outcomes of those translocations. AimOur objective was to evaluate the movement, space use and site fidelity of translocated female mule deer in comparison with resident female deer in Utah, USA. MethodsIn January and March 2013, 102 translocated and 50 resident female mule deer were captured and fitted with radio-transmitters. Movement distances, home range sizes and seasonal range sizes were compared, as well as site fidelity between translocated and resident deer. Key resultsMean distance moved and mean annual home range size were significantly larger for translocated than resident deer in 2013, but not in 2014. Translocated deer demonstrated high site fidelity to their release areas. In total, 75% of surviving deer returned during the fall (September–November) migration to winter range within 7km of release sites. ConclusionsOur results indicate that home range sizes and movements of translocated deer are larger than those of resident deer during the first year after release, but during the second year after release, home range sizes and movements of translocated deer are similar to those of resident deer. ImplicationsThe similar home range sizes and movements of translocated and resident deer >1 year after release, as well as the high site fidelity we observed, suggests that translocation is a strategy managers could use to establish or augment populations of mule deer on winter range.

Winter habitat use by mule deer in the central interior of British Columbia

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (10) ◽  
pp. 1721-1725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold M. Armleder ◽  
Michaela J. Waterhouse ◽  
Dagmar G. Keisker ◽  
Richard J. Dawson
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Snow Depth ◽  
Mule Deer ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Biological Data ◽  
Planning System ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
Winter Range ◽  
Crown Closure

We analyzed winter habitat use by 23 radio-collared mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) in the central interior of British Columbia, Canada, from February 1982 to March 1989. This research was essential to provide sound biological data for development of a selection silvicultural and planning system that would integrate timber harvesting with the habitat needs of mule deer. Habitat selection was analyzed by comparing deer use with habitat availability of various levels (categories) of the following variables: age, crown closure, species composition, slope, and aspect. Additionally, we compared the use of each category among snow classes. Regardless of snow depth class, use of old stands (> 140 years) by deer was greater than the availability of that age category. Also, the use of old stands was greater in moderate (26–40 cm) and deep (>40 cm) snow depth classes than in the low snow depth class. Areas of winter range dominated by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) were more often used than areas where other tree species were most common. In the deep snow class, use of both moderate and high crown closures categories exceeded their availability.

scholarly journals Behavior of mule deer on the Keating Winter Range /

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. B. Fowler ◽  
J. Edward. Dealy ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mule Deer ◽  
Winter Range
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