Date of Award

1-1-1990

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Biology

Abstract

I studied mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) ecology in summer and fall on the Kinley Plateau study area (KPSA) of Billings County, North Dakota, during May-December 1984-1986. The primary objective of this research was to examine habitat use by mule deer in North Dakota's badlands. Data also were collected on vegetation composition, and social structure, activity patterns, and movement of the deer.I captured and individually marked 19 fawns during the summers of 1984-86. Between 1981-85, 46 older individuals also were trapped and marked. Movements of radio-collared animals (N = 16) were monitored by use of a hand-held yagi antenna and null-peak antenna system.Presence of fawns had a dramatic influence on doe behavior and the social structure of maternal groups. Distance between matriarchal group members increased during pre- and postparturition in June and July, with maternal groups reforming in late August. Dispersal of does from maternal groups appeared to be affected by social rank.Home range fidelity was high within doe groups. Members of a matriarchal group had nearly complete spatial overlap of home ranges. Home range size in the KPSA apparently was influenced by distribution of habitat types.Thermal regulation and predator detection appeared to be important factors in bedding site selection. During June and July, coyote predation heavily influenced the location of fawns with respect to the nearest arroyo. Ash and brush complex vegetation types were important feeding areas during summer and fall. Chance observations of habitat use were highly biased, compared to observations of radio-collared individuals, due to differences in observability across vegetation types. Therefore, I suggest care in interpreting results obtained through chance observations, and a reevaluation of habitat use monitoring techniques. Ash and brush complex vegetation types provide important feeding and resting areas for mule deer in the North Dakota badlands. If stable deer numbers are to be maintained, these areas must be protected from oil development and excessive cattle grazing.

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