Ecology of white-tailed deer in eastern Everglades National Park-an overview

Abstract

A population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus seminolus) was studied in the eastern Everglades National Park from 1987 to 1992. The data for the interval January 1987 to June 1991 are summarized in this publication. During this interval, from 35 to 40 deer were monitored annually. Deer were captured utilizing a shoulder-held gun projecting a net, and fired from a helicopter. Captured deer were fitted with a radio collar and, thereafter, located by telemetry from both the ground and a fixed wing aircraft. Aerial locations were logged to a recognizable hectare square. Minimum convex polygons of deer home range use then were determined. Individual females occupied ranges of approximately 37 ha and males 113 ha, but seasonal differences in range use indicated that some males may have an annual range exceeding 12 km2. There was considerable overlap of home ranges, especially among individual females and their presumptive offspring. The population density was estimated to be 0.68 deer/km2. Adult females produce a single young; twinning was not recorded. During the course of this study, recruitment into the population was low. Mortality rates varied from year to year, especially for young fawns. The population appeared to be stable. During the course of the study, the panther (Puma concolor) was present. Deer comprised 57 percent of 99 identified panther kills in the eastern Everglades National Park and adjacent areas. Adult bucks with a mean age of 5.5 years were the dominant age/sex class killed (47% of all deer). We conclude that, although densities of both deer and panthers are low in the eastern Everglades National Park, they were normal and near carrying capacity or stable.