Test of localized nanagement for reducing deer browsing in forest regeneration areas

Brad F. Miller; Tyler A. Campbell; Ben R. Laseter; W.Mark Ford; Karl V. Miller

doi:10.2193/2009-221

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Test of localized nanagement for reducing deer browsing in forest regeneration areas

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Brad F. Miller, Tyler A. Campbell, Ben R. Laseter, W.Mark Ford, Karl V. Miller

Year:

2010

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2193/2009-221

Source:

Journal of Wildlife Management. 74(3): 370-378.

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Abstract

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing in forest regeneration sites can affect current and future stand structure and species composition. Removal of deer social units (localized management) has been proposed as a strategy to alleviate deer overbrowsing in forest systems. We conducted an experimental localized removal in a high-density deer population in the central Appalachians of West Virginia, USA, during winter 2002. We removed 51 deer within a 1.1-km² area that encompassed 2 forest regeneration sites (14 ha). During the summer following removal, we detected decreases in distance from the removal area in 8 of 30 (26.7%) adult females having pretreatment mean telemetry locations

Keywords

Appalachians, forest regeneration, herbivory, localized management, Odocoileus virginianus, rose-petal hypothesis, West Virginia, white-tailed deer

Citation

Miller, Brad F.; Campbell, Tyler A.; Laseter, Ben R.; Ford, W.Mark; Miller, Karl V. 2010. Test of localized nanagement for reducing deer browsing in forest regeneration areas. Journal of Wildlife Management. 74(3): 370-378.