Date of Graduation

2001

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

Committee Chair

John W. Edwards

Abstract

I compared 5 methods of estimating white-tailed deer density, evaluated the area a baited automated camera surveys, and examined the effects of baiting on deer movement at the Westvaco Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest in Randolph County, West Virginia during 2000 and 2001. A concurrent study provided a marked deer population (267 radiocollared and 2118 total marked deer) and deer telemetry data.

I compared deer density estimates derived from pellet group counts, spotlight distance sampling, spotlight mark-resighting, automated camera surveys, and automated camera mark-resighting among summer, fall, winter, and spring. A pellet group count was not performed in the winter and automated camera survey estimates were not calculated in the winter or spring. Stratified sampling, based on cover type, was used to sample pellet group density; results showed stratification was unnecessary. Deer density estimates from pellet group counts were the least precise, though they were the least expensive method used. Spotlight distance sampling yielded relatively precise deer density estimates, as did spotlight mark-resighting when the number of marked deer seen was >15; spotlighting was moderately expensive. Automated camera surveys produced the most precise deer density estimates while camera mark-resighting was fairly precise; automated cameras were the most expensive method used. Significant differences were seen among density estimates within seasons based on confidence intervals. In summer the pellet group count estimate was significantly different from all others while the spotlight mark-resighting estimate was significantly different from spotlight distance sampling and camera mark-resight estimates. Estimates were similar within the fall sampling period. The spotlight mark-resight estimate was significantly different from spotlight distance sampling and camera mark-resight estimates in winter. The pellet group count estimate was significantly different from spotlight distance sampling, spotlight mark-resight, and camera mark-resight estimates in spring. Sex and age ratios observed were highest in fall and spring, respectively; within-season sex, age, and marking ratios observed via automated cameras were generally higher than those observed during spotlighting.

Telemetry data and resightings of marked deer indicated that the area an automated camera surveyed on the site was 39 ha. Telemetry data also showed that baiting during automated camera surveys did not significantly affect deer movement.

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