NEAFWA 2017

AUTHORS: Eric Ness, University of Delaware; Jacob L. Bowman, University of Delaware; Brian Eyler, Maryland Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT: Predation of white-tailed deer can affect deer density and recruitment rates. Evidence of this effect, however, has been highly variable across the white-tailed deer range. Due to this variability, determining the relationship between predator density and deer demographic rates is valuable for localized management practices. To quantify this relationship, extensive effort is required to monitor individuals and determine the cause of death. Although providing robust information on the predator-prey relationship, this monitoring can be costly and time consuming. Using noninvasive surveys, we investigated if the density of predators is associated with the density and recruitment of deer within our study area of western Maryland. Deer density and fawn recruitment were estimated using 6 distance surveys on 50km road transects from August-October 2015 and 2016. Across our 3 study sites, deer density ranged from 14-19 deer/mi2 in 2015 and 16-27 deer/mi2 in 2016. Fawn recruitment ranged from 0.57-0.59 (fawn/doe) in 2015 and 0.53-0.57 (fawn/doe) in 2016. Predator densities were estimated with package unmarked for program R using a 60 day camera survey from June-August 2015 and 2016. Predator densities of black bear (2015=1.58-1.67/mi2, 2016=0.62-1.21/mi2), coyote (2015=0.04-0.40/mi2, 2016=0.91-4.74/mi2), and bobcat (2015=0.11-0.19/mi2, 2016=0.06-2.33/mi2) did not differ among our study sites. Additionally, we compared fawn recruitment estimates based on harvest data from other counties of Maryland where predator communities are not well established. This information will allow managers to determine if fawn recruitment differs with changes in predator communities.