Seasonal movements of female sika deer in eastern Hokkaido, Japan.

Abstract

Seasonal movements of 16 female sika deer (Cervus nippon) were monitored using radio telemetry from April 1993 through June 1996 in eastern Hokkaido. Fifteen of these deer migrated between summer and winter ranges, and one was killed during the hunting season, before we could determine its migratory habits. Timing of spring migration coincided with snow-melt in April and May. Snow cover also influenced the timing of autumn migration, but its effects were less clear. Distances traveled from winter to summer ranges averaged 19.9 km (n=22) and maximum distance was 42.0 km. Deer showed high fidelity to summer ranges; all 9 females that were monitored more than 12 months used the same summer range in consecutive years. Fidelity to winter ranges was less apparent. Distances between consecutive winter ranges used by individual deer averaged 5.0 km (n=10) and those between consecutive summer ranges averaged 0.6 km (n=10).