Use of mixedwood stands by wintering white-tailed deer in southern New Brunswick

Abstract

On the northern edge of their range, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) congregate during winter to cope with severe climate conditions. We documented the winter habitat use of deer in southern New Brunswick, where winters are of moderate severity, and tested predictions concerning the influence of food and cover availability on habitat use by deer under different snow depth regimes. Sixty-three radio-collared deer were monitored during the winters of 1995 to 1997. Within wintering areas, deer showed a preference for mixedwoods. Mixedwood stands provided only moderate amounts of food and cover relative to some other cover types, but were the only type to provide both simultaneously. Current habitat management guidelines in parts of northeastern North America consider critical habitat for wintering deer to be softwood-dominated stands. These guidelines may not provide adequate habitat in this region, since deer appear to use mixedwood stands under some conditions.