Annual/Termination Reports:

[06/17/2003] [05/12/2004] [03/18/2005] [01/15/2006]

Report Information

Participants

7 Arvai, Joe (arvai.7@osu.edu) - Ohio State University
7 Brown, Tommy (tlb4@cornell.edu) - Cornell University
7 Campa, III, Henry (Rique) (campa@msu.edu) - Michigan State University
7 Clark, Bill (wrclark@iastate.edu) - Iowa State University
7 Hyngstrom, Scott (shygnstr@unlnotes.unl.edu) - University of Nebraska
7 Mathews, Nancy (nemathew@facstaff.wisc.edu) - University of Wisconsin
7 Riley, Shawn (rileysh2@msu.edu) - Michigan State University
7 Van Deelan, Tim (vandet@dnr.state.wi.us) - Wisconsin DNR & University of Ill.
7 VerCauteren, Kurt (Kurt.C.Vercauteren@aphis.usda.gov) - USDA-APHIS
7 Winterstein, Scott (winterst@msu.edu) - Michigan State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

The annual meeting of NC-1005 occurred on February 07, 2003 from 8:15a.m. to 5:30p.m. and February 08, 2003 from 8:15a.m. to 11:00a.m. on the campus of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. The meeting was chaired by Rique Campa (Michigan State University) and Dr. Kevin Kephart (South Dakota State University) participated as the Administrative Advisor.



Participants had considerable discussion on research methods and whether NC-1005 project objectives should be amended and if so, how prominent disease issues need to be. Participants discussed the relative advantages of adding a disease focus for attracting funding. Participants discussed how to structure NC-1005 with sufficient flexibility to allow cooperators to exploit interest in an emerging issue [e.g. chronic wasting disease (CWD)] without diluting the emphasis on deer ecology. All recognized the opportunity to assume a leadership role in deer ecology. Most participants thought that, for the time being, current NC-1005 proposed methods were acceptable pending review by Dr. Kephart. Participants wanted methods flexible enough to address CWD epidemiology in wild deer. Consensus was reached to propose the following new title: Impacts of white-tailed deer on society: Integration of landscape ecology and human dimensions to improve management. In addition the committee agreed to propose the following modified objectives: (1) Assess interactions among landscape characteristics, demographics, and behavior of white-tailed deer associated with issues such as the management of populations and disease (e.g., chronic wasting disease, bovine tuberculosis), (2) Determine relationships between stakeholder tolerance of the risks and desires for benefits associated with white-tailed deer and deer management across multiple scales, and (3) Develop communication, outreach, and decision-making strategies to assist in the management of white-tailed deer.



Rique Campa initiated a discussion to review NC-1005 methods. Rique recapped discussions from the meeting in Minneapolis (i.e., as NCT-185) that adopted a philosophy that participants should generate comparable data sets. This would then facilitate analysis of ecological and sociological patterns across the region. Discussion followed on the nature of the baseline data available, common methods for gathering and archiving data, common analysis, and designating data repositories. Discussion was held on when and how to do analyses: suggested that each PI run their own primary analyses and share summary data with the group to look at regional patterns. This strategy may minimize errors in interpretation by other researchers who may not be as familiar with individual animals and ranges. It was suggested to distribute an e-mail survey among PIs to identify the scale(s) at which different members of the committee are working.



Rique Campa called for nominations for the Executive Board. Rique Campa was elected Chair, Bill Clark-Vice Chair, and Joe Arvai- Secretary.

Accomplishments

Since this was the first meeting of NC-1005 the project is less than a year old, hence no accomplishments to report at this time. As discussed at the meeting, all PIs will prepare a summary of how study sites were (or are to be) selected in their respective states. The amount of research activities and accomplishments within each respective states will be dependent upon internal funding within institutions and external sources available.

Publications

None at this time.

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Campa, Henry (Rique) III (campa@msu.edu) Michigan State University; Clark, William (wrclark@iastate.edu) Iowa State University; Enck, Jody (jwe4@cornell.edu), Cornell University; Fairbanks, W. Sue, (suef@iastate.edu) Iowa State University; Gehrt, Stan (gehrt.1@osu.edu) Ohio State University; Hyngstrom, Scott (shygnstr@unlnotes.unl.edu) University of Nebraska; Jenks, Jonathan (Jonathan_Jenks@sdstate.edu) South Dakota State University; Litschka, Stacey, (lischkas@msu.edu) Michigan State University; Mathews Nancy (nemathew@facstaff.wisc.edu) University of Wisconsin; Pusateri, Jordan (pusater3@msu.edu), Michigan State University; Riley, Shawn (rileysh2@msu.edu) Michigan State University; Rudolph, Brent, Michigan DNR; VerCauteren, Kurt (Kurt.C.Vercauteren@aphis.usda.gov), USDA-APHIS

Brief Summary of Minutes

The annual meeting was called to order by Chair R. Campa in Allen Park, Michigan. We met from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm on 20 February and 8:30 am to noon on 21 February, 2004. Kevin Kephart (South Dakota State University) participated as the Administrative Advisor.



Participants were welcomed and those unable to attend (J. Millspaugh, Missouri, H. Weeks, Indiana, S. Winterstein, Michigan, and T. VanDeelen, Wisconsin) were mentioned. The outcome of the proposal to amend the title and objectives that was submitted to NCRA and to multi-state MRC was discussed, and Administrative Advisor Kephart indicated that amendments were approved at the NCRA level but that the Washington office stated that they would not allow amending. The issue was whether the proposal as written was sufficient to pursue disease related questions and Kephart suggested current objectives would allow participants to pursue disease ecology in relation to population and landscape ecology of deer. There was brief discussion of NC-505, a new project with a predominately vet-science focus on rapid diagnostic tests for response to Transmissible Spongiform Encephalitis, and also about ESCOP research priority areas. Campa led discussion centered on the use of a project website to relate implications of NC-1005 results to disease issues and Riley suggested that Wisconsin could have benefited from the regional project if such information had been in place prior to the chronic wasting disease (CWD) outbreak. State reports included summaries about cooperative funding, field research in relation to NC-1005 objectives and about current results applicable to managing diseases associated with white-tailed deer, particularly CWD. Michigan, Minnesota/South Dakota and Wisconsin have implemented field studies of deer ecology in relation to landscape features that substantially contribute to the NC-1005 objectives and methods. Nebraska is about to implement a similar project design. At the institutional level most Experiment Station funding has been limited to administrative support. Investigators have been successful at attracting financial support from state Departments of Natural Resources, USDI Geological Survey cooperative units and laboratories, and USDA APHIS. Much of the external funding is associated with disease ecology objectives. Investigators reported results from field studies that are already ongoing. Research in human dimensions of stakeholder attitudes toward deer management alternatives naturally proceeds at a much faster pace than field study and there was presentation of some specific results on quality deer management. Nominations were solicited a new Executive Board for 2004-2005 was elected: W. Clark-Chair, N. Mathews-Vice Chair, S.Gehrt-Secretary. Participants agreed to hold the 2005 meeting in January-February in Nebraska.

Accomplishments

A primary goal of this project was to study deer movements and survival across a gradient of landscapes that vary in woodland and agricultural components. We now have field research ongoing across these landscape types in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Within study areas, woodland habitat varies from 3% in eastern South Dakota to 38% in southeastern Minnesota and agricultural habitat varies from 60% in eastern South Dakota to about 40% in southeastern Minnesota. In Michigan researchers have initiated studies in southern lower Michigan (Jackson and Washtenaw Counties), an area of mixed farmland compared to their previous studies in more forested habitats of northern lower Michigan. We currently have nearly 200 deer radio-marked in 5 states, and access to data on hundreds of deer from these landscapes comprising tens of thousands of radio locations in relation to landscape features. In the course of the preparation for the field studies researchers spent many hours contacting private landowners and farmers who are essential cooperators in this research.<br /> <br><br /> <br>The goal of considering deer ecology across regional landscape gradients is a primary motivation for common approaches to management of GIS data, methods of quantifying habitat selection by deer, and human dimensions research. We are debating whether national land cover classification data are sufficient to accomplish individual research goals but we have agreed to be sure that the approach each state uses can be translated into this common data form. Quantifying habitat selection and movements is an interest of a number of the researchers in the group and we have exchanged methodology so that we can begin developing new methods. Not only will this facilitate regional comparison of deer/landscape relationships, but also new methods for analyzing habitat selection data will have very wide application in wildlife research. Likewise the development of stakeholder acceptance capacity methods, lead primarily by Michigan, is being used by other participants as the approach for human dimensions assessment. <br /> <br><br /> <br>Investigators have been successful at attracting financial support from state Departments of Natural Resources, USDI Geological Survey cooperative units and laboratories, and USDA APHIS. Researchers in Michigan have a well-funded program that combines support and personnel from the DNR as well as the MSU Experiment Station. In the cases of Wisconsin and Iowa, the external funding is associated with CWD. Wisconsin has funding from the DNR and USGS. Iowa has funding from USGS Wildlife Health Lab. Researchers in Nebraska have secured funding from the USDA-National Wildlife Research Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USGS-Biological Resources Division, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and Berryman Institute for Wildlife Damage Management-East for continuation of deer research in Nebraska. At the meeting the committee explored sources of funding for research associated with concerns about vehicle collisions including AAA, National Transportation Safety Board, and the Bradley Fund for the Environment. Enck agreed to describe the project to Sand County Foundation-Bradley. <br /> <br><br /> <br>We have attempted to quickly beginning work on information and technology transfer about products of this project. Michigan has created a web site for their efforts that we plan to use as a blueprint for information exchange on other project accomplishments (http://www.fw.msu.edu/deer/). We are making publications available on line where possible (see Riley et al.). At the recent annual meeting we spent substantial time discussing efficient exchange of information among participants. N. Mathews proposed a method for videoconferencing to relay student presentations in a seminar forum. S. Hyngstrom suggested INTERNET II, POLYCOM as platforms to use, based on his experiences in extension. Participants are checking on the availability of systems, and we will attempt a half-day meeting sometime in September. R. Campa is inquiring about presenting our efforts at a possible poster session for the annual conference of The Wildlife Society (national meeting) and the Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference (regional meeting).<br /> <br><br /> <br>All of the participants have a close working relationship with their respective Departments of Natural Resources and a number of DNR biologists are participating in the regional committee. As a result university wildlife ecologists are actively consulted during planning of deer management in their respective states. Researchers at Michigan State have formalized these working relationships into a process termed adaptive impact management (AIM) that provides a framework for integrating ecological and social insights to wildlife management. AIM requires engagement of stakeholders in all aspects of for wildlife management, including objective setting, appropriate actions to achieve objectives, and evaluation of management performance. <br /> <br><br /> <br>Our plans for the next year include first working on technology outreach using videoconferencing. This should insure improved communication among all participants, especially graduate students. We will focus on two technical objectives: preparing a review of methods to quantify habitat selection and methods for reaching common classification of landscapes that can be used to assess deer habitat across the region.

Publications

Bigalke, B. J., J. A. Jenks, and C. S. DePerno. 2003. An efficient lower jaw removal technique for large mammals. South Dakota Academy of Science 82:67-72.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Brinkman, T. J. 2003. Movement and mortality of white-tailed deer in southwest Minnesota. M.S. Thesis, South Dakota State University, Brookings. 135pp.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Brinkman, T. J., J. A. Jenks, C. S. DePerno, and B. S. Haroldson. 2004. Survival of white-tailed deer in an intensively farmed region of Minnesota. Wildlife Society Bulletin 32: In Press. <br /> <br><br /> <br>Brinkman, T. J., J. A. Jenks, C. S. DePerno, and B. S. Haroldson. 2004. Clostridium perfringens Type A induced disease in a free ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawn in Minnesota? The Prairie Naturalist 35:In Press.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Brinkman, T. J., K. L. Monteith, J. A. Jenks, and C. S. DePerno. 2004. Predicting neonatal age of white-tailed deer in the Northern Great Plains. The Prairie Naturalist 35:In Press.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Gilsdorf, J.M., S.E. Hygnstrom, and K.C. VerCauteren. 2003. The use of frightening devices in wildlife damage management. IPM Reviews 7:29-45. <br /> <br><br /> <br>Gilsdorf, J.M., S.E. Hygnstrom, K.C. VerCauteren, E. Blankenship, and R.M. Engeman. 2004. Evaluation of propane cannons and electronic guards to reduce deer damage in cornfields. Wildlife Society Bulletin. (in press)<br /> <br><br /> <br>Gilsdorf, J.M., S.E. Hygnstrom, K.C. VerCauteren, E. Blankenship, and R.M. Engeman. 2004. Evaluation of a deer-activated bioacoustic frightening device to reduce deer damage in cornfields. Wildlife Society Bulletin. (in press)<br /> <br><br /> <br>Riley, S.J., D.J. Decker, J.W. Enck, and P.D. Curtis. 2003. Deer populations up, hunter populations down: implications of interdependence of deer and hunter population dynamics on management. Ecoscience 10(4): 356-362. http://www.fw.msu.edu/people/riley/publications_files/RileyetalEcoscience.pdf<br /> <br><br /> <br>VerCauteren, K.C. and S.E. Hygnstrom. White-tailed deer. in D. Wishart, ed., Great Plains Encyclopedia. Center for Great Plains Studies. UN, Lincoln, NE. (in press)<br /> <br><br /> <br>VerCauteren, K.C., S.E. Hygnstrom, M.J. Pipas, P.B. Fioranelli, S.J. Werner, and B.F. Blackwell. 2003. Red lasers are ineffective for dispersing deer at night. Wildlife Society Bulletin 31:247-252.<br /> <br><br /> <br>Zimmerman, T. J., J. A. Jenks, L. D. Holler, C. N. Jacques, and W. W. Morlock. 2004. Congenital Hypotrichosis in a white-tailed deer fawn from South Dakota. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 40 (in press).

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Campa III, Henry (Rique) (campa@msu.edu)  Michigan State University; Clark, William (wrclark@iastate.edu)  Iowa State University; Enck, Jody (jwe4@cornell.edu)  Cornell University; Fairbanks, W. Sue (suef@iastate.edu)  Iowa State University; Jenks, Jonathan (johnathan.jenks@sdstate.edu)  South Dakota State University; Kephart, Kevin (Kevin.kephart@sdstate.edu)  South Dakota State University; Hyngstrom, Scott (shygnstrom1@unl.edu)  University of Nebraska; Mathews, Nancy (nemathew@wisc.edu)  University of Wisconsin; Menzel, Bruce (bmenzel@csrees.usda.gov)  CSREES; Riley, Shawn (rileysh2@msu.edu)  Michigan State University; Winterstein, Scott (winterst@msu.edu)  Michigan State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

The annual meeting of NC-1005 occurred on January 21, 2005 from 8:30a.m. to 11:15p.m. on the campus of the Arbor Day Foundation in Nebraska City, Nebraska. The meeting was chaired by Dr. William Clark (Iowa State University) and Dr. Kevin Kephart (South Dakota State University) participated as the Administrative Advisor. The meeting was called to order at 8:30am by the Chair, and participants introduced themselves. B. Menzel (CSREES Washington DC office) gave an overview of CSREES, various program areas, grant opportunites, and contact information. He also discussed the federal budget situation as it affects the grants programs. Future grant proposals should emphasize (a) integrated research, extension, education, and (b) impacts to stakeholders. He encouraged someone from NC-1005 to attend annual meetings of two other wildlife-related multi-state committees (NE-1005 and WE-995) to collaborate on grant proposals. Finally, he encouraged us to submit a proposal for developing a module for the national web-based learning center for private forest and rangeland owners (forestandrange.org).

K. Kephart, Administrative Advisor, summarized reporting needs for the project. NC-1005 will go through a mid-term review. Needed documentation includes annual meeting minutes, and other information posted on the NIMSS web page. At our 2006 annual meeting, we should discuss the need and potential for renewing the project, currently due for termination in 2007. If we decide to renew, we need to complete a proposal for renewal by November 2006. R. Campa suggested that NC-1005 committee members attending TWS annual meetings in Madison (2005) and Anchorage (2006) meet informally to discuss progress on the current project and needs regarding possible renewal. K. Kephart also is administrator of a 2-year, rapid response committee NC-505 focused on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). The NC-505 committee was asked by the Experiment Station Committee on Policy (ESCOP) to develop a white paper on TSE. J. Jenks from NC-1005 already has been participating in the prion meetings, and will contact A. Young (from NC-505) to offer collaboration for broadening the focus from a narrow, organismal disease issue to include ecological aspects. K. Kephart also encouraged NC-1005 committee members to keep their department heads and AES directors informed about the project.

State reports then were made regarding current research activities and methods associated with NC-1005. All participants provided handouts or showed slides about their research efforts. Details of each states report for this meeting can be found through links on the NIMSS web page.

Accomplishments

Objective 1: Assess dynamic interactions among physical landscape characteristics and white-tailed deer demographics. <br /> <br /> Relationships among recruitment, mortality, movement patterns and landscape characteristics are being assessed by participants in Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. Generally high survival rates across the spectrum of habitat conditions are associated with high density estimates. Some patterns may be emerging with respect to home range size and landscape characteristics. In the mixed agricultural-suburban-forested areas of southern Wisconsin and southern Michigan, home ranges seem small relative to other areas. Various kinds of movements are being documented in several states. These include permanent dispersal, temporary exploratory movements, and in some cases, migratory behavior. <br /> <br /> Several techniques are being examined for estimating deer density. All the participating states use harvest data. Nebraska has used helicopter counts and fixed wing aircraft to try to assess density independent of harvest. Iowa and Wisconsin are developing computer simulation models to predict density based on habitat characteristics and to predict potential spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).<br /> <br /> Objective 2: Assess dynamic interactions among human dimensions characteristics of the landscape, wildlife stakeholder acceptance capacity (WSAC), and white-tailed deer demographics and management.<br /> <br /> In both Michigan and New York, participants have worked directly with landowners (including farmers and exurbanites) and deer hunters to assess the impacts from white-tailed deer that are deemed most important. Participants from Michigan and New York have collaborated to develop a mail survey to be implemented in spring 2005 in both states to confirm impacts of importance to stakeholders, verify the interactions among ecosystem components (including people) that influence those impacts, and determine how levels of those impacts might be managed. Participants in Wisconsin and Iowa have expressed interest in adopting these surveys for their states.<br /> <br /> In addition to the surveys developed to measure positive and negative deer-related impacts of importance to landowners and hunters, New York and Michigan participants are collaborating on efforts to develop a method for measuring the concept of wildlife stakeholder acceptance capacity (WSAC) based on desired and tolerable levels of impacts, compared to current levels. The capacity of any stakeholder group to accept a wildlife species occurring in their area depends largely on some combination of positive and negative impacts associated with that species. Management actions can then be identified to appropriately balance these positive and negative impacts. Nevertheless, the management challenge may be exacerbated because different stakeholders interact differently with deer, even within the same landscape area, and associate various impacts with the same deer population.<br /> <br /> Objective 3: Develop communication and outreach strategies from the research findings to assist in white-tailed deer management.<br /> <br /> In all participating states, researchers are collaborating with state wildlife staff to make informed management decisions ranging from refinement of hunting regulations, to development of communication and education strategies for landowners and motorists, to interventions to curb the spread of CWD and other diseases. In Nebraska recommendations were used by the USFWS and NGPC to establish special harvest seasons in the Boyer Chute NWR (antlerless, mentored youth), DeSoto NWR (antlerless, muzzleloader), and Gifford Point-Fontenelle Forest area (antlerless, urban archery, muzzleloader). Newspaper articles about the research in Nebraska have generated positive letters.<br /> <br /> State wildlife personnel, landowners, and hunters have been involved directly in development of research plans in both Michigan and New York, based on needs that stakeholders identified. Hunters and landowners within the study area in New York have been impacted directly by the research and have used study results to develop ideas for voluntary changes in landowners hunting access policies and implementation of antler restrictions.<br /> <br /> In Michigan, on-going research project developments and findings have been communicated to interested stakeholders by a Wildlife Extension Specialist who created a project summary flyer that has been distributed to conservation groups, landowners, natural resources professionals and civic groups such as Rotary Clubs. In addition, the following project web site was created: http://www.fw.msu.edu/deer/index.html which has been well received by numerous stakeholders. <br /> <br /> Our plans for next year include development of a series of manuscripts to facilitate collaboration and document findings from the project. Specific participants have agreed to develop an outline and synopsis for each of 5 manuscripts. The outlines will include: considerations for obtaining and analyzing data across multiple states (e.g., land classifications to be used, home range analysis, particular forms or types of data needed, statistical analyses to be conducted, etc). The leaders also are responsible for developing a time line and set of assignments to ensure completion of the manuscripts. All participants will have the opportunity to review each outline and decide if and how they can contribute to that manuscript.<br /> <br />

Publications

Brinkman, T. J., K. L. Monteith, J. A. Jenks, and C. S. DePerno. 2004. Predicting neonatal age of white-tailed deer in the Northern Great Plains. The Prairie Naturalist 36:75-81.<br /> <br /> Brinkman, T. J., J. A. Jenks, C. S. DePerno, and B. S. Haroldson. 2004. Survival of white-tailed deer in an intensively farmed region of Minnesota. Wildlife Society Bulletin 32: 726-731. <br /> <br /> Brinkman, T. J., J. A. Jenks, C. S. DePerno, and B. S. Haroldson. 2004. Clostridium perfringens Type A induced disease in a free ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawn in Minnesota? The Prairie Naturalist 36:181-185.<br /> <br /> Gilsdorf, J.M., S.E. Hygnstrom, K.C. VerCauteren, E. Blankenship, and R.M. Engeman. 2004. Evaluation of a deer-activated bioacoustic frightening device for reducing deer damage in cornfields. Wildlife Society Bulletin 32:515-523. <br /> <br /> Gilsdorf, J.M., S.E. Hygnstrom, K.C. VerCauteren, E. Blankenship, and R.M. Engeman. 2004. Propane exploders and electronic guards were ineffective at reducing deer damage in cornfields. Wildlife Society Bulletin 32:524-531. <br /> <br /> Zimmerman, T. J., J. A. Jenks, L. D. Holler, C. N. Jacques, and W. W. Morlock. 2004. Congenital Hypotrichosis in a white-tailed deer fawn from South Dakota. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 40:145-149.<br />

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

Campa, Henry (campa@msu.edu) Michigan State University;
Clark, William (wrclark@iastate.edu) Iowa State University;
Hygnstrom, Scott (shygnstrom1@unl.edu) University of Nebraska;
Mathews, Nancy (nemathew@wisc.edu) University of Wisconsin;
Riley, Shawn (rileysh2@msu.edu) Michigan State University;
Schauber, Eric (schauber@siu.edu) Southern Illinois University;
Vercauteren, Kurt (kurt.c.vercauteren@aphis.usda.gov,) National Wildlife Research Center

Brief Summary of Minutes

The annual meeting of NC-1005 occurred on January 20 and 21, 2006 on the campus of the Arbor Day Foundation in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Following a review and approval of minutes from 2005 meeting there was discussion of a plan to for 2007 RFP after RFP was published in October 2006. Updates of each states actives were presented (details in minutes) for the following states: Illinois (Schauber), Iowa (Clark), Michigan (Riley, Campa), Nebraska (Hygnstrom and Vercauteren), Wisconsin (Mathews). The group identified six papers were for preparation. Of these, 4 were outlined with major questions and data sources identified (see minutes). Lead authors were identified. During 2006, the following members will serve as leaders: Scott Hygnstrom (chair), Shawn Riley (vice-chair), Kurt Vercauteren (secretary). All participants attended a half day field trip to DeSoto where Scotts students presented overviews of their research and lead us on a tour of their study area.

Accomplishments

Objective 1: Assess dynamic interactions among physical landscape characteristics and white-tailed deer demographics. <br /> <br /> Relationships among recruitment, mortality, movement patterns and landscape characteristics are being assessed by participants in Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Illinois. Michigan reported higher mortality in this study (where the study site is dominated by public land) than a pervious study conducted in southern Michigan (where the study site was dominated by private land). Michigan and Illinois each reported that canids, probably coyotes, were responsible for multiple fawn mortalities. In the exurban environment, Illinois reported that deer avoided dwellings during fawning season, but less so during other seasons. Deer used linear strips of developed areas with edge associated with them. Some patterns may be emerging with respect to home range size and landscape characteristics. In the mixed agricultural-suburban-forested areas of southern Wisconsin and southern Michigan, home ranges seem small relative to other areas. In Wisconsin, work has begun on relating habitat selection and deer behavior to abiotic transmission of CWD. Various kinds of movements are being documented in several states. These include permanent dispersal, temporary exploratory movements, and in some cases, migratory behavior. <br /> <br /> Several collaring techniques are being examined for estimating fawn and adult survival. Michigan incorporated the use of fawn drop-off collars. Illinois has variable success with GPS collars designed to drop of individuals to facilitate data retrieval. <br /> <br /> Objective 2: Assess dynamic interactions among human dimensions characteristics of the landscape, wildlife stakeholder acceptance capacity (WSAC), and white-tailed deer demographics and management. <br /> <br /> In both Michigan and New York, participants have worked directly with landowners (including farmers and exurbanites) and deer hunters to assess the impacts from white-tailed deer that are deemed most important. Participants from Michigan examined the perspectives on deer hunting in the Detroit Metro area, in agro-forest land, on state and privately owned land. They also examined ex-urbanites and new land owners on their perspectives on deer hunting, presence, deer-vehicle collisions. In general, there is a tension impacting management due to land owners who want deer but fear them as well. <br /> <br /> Objective 3: Develop communication and outreach strategies from the research findings to assist in white-tailed deer management. <br /> <br /> In all participating states, researchers are collaborating with state wildlife staff to make informed management decisions ranging from refinement of hunting regulations, to development of communication and education strategies for landowners and motorists, to interventions to curb the spread of CWD and other diseases. State wildlife personnel, landowners, and hunters have been involved directly in development of research plans in both Michigan and New York, based on needs that stakeholders identified. <br /> <br /> Our plans for next year include writing manuscripts to facilitate collaboration and document findings from the project. Specific participants have developed an outline and synopsis for each of 4 manuscripts. The leaders also are responsible for developing a time line and set of assignments to ensure completion of the manuscripts. All participants will have the opportunity to review each outline and decide if and how they can contribute to that manuscript. <br /> <br />

Publications

Skuldt, L. 2005. Influence of landscape pattern, deer density, and deer harvest on white-tailed deer behavior in south-central Wisconsin. Unpublished M.S. Thesis. University of Wisconsin-Madison. 137 p.<br /> <br /> Oyer, A. M., N. E. Mathews, L. H. Skuldt. Long-range movement of a female white-tailed deer from a Chronic Wasting Disease-infected area. (Accepted J. Wildlife Management). <br /> <br /> Skuldt, L. H., N. E. Mathews, and A. M. Oyer. Influence of habitat, harvest and deer density on movements and dispersal of white-tailed deer in South-Central Wisconsin. (Submitted to Journal of Wildlife Management).<br /> <br /> Skuldt, L. H., N. E. Mathews, and A. M. Oyer. Homerange characteristics of white-tailed deer in relation to landscape features, deer density and deer harvest in a Chronic Wasting Disease management area. (In Prep for Journal of Wildlife Management). <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

Impact Statements

1. Multistate analyses of the effects of landscape composition and structure on deer population dynamics have never been conducted for white-tailed deer hence these findings will have significant impacts for managing deer to minimize agricultural crop depredation and human-deer conflicts in developing areas and increase our understanding of deer movements and biology in agro-forest ecosystems to combat the spread of potential wildlife borne diseases in the future.
2. Participation in hunting and farming affects perception of impacts resulting from interactions with white-tailed deer, The total effect of impacts perceived explains a majority of variation in acceptance capacity.
3. Impact perception may serve as a meaningful measure to integrate human values to manage wildlife populations.

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