Seasonal Changes in Defecation Rates of Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer

Abstract

Defecation rates of 7 free-ranging female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were stud- ied in a coniferous-deciduous forest in northeastern Minnesota. Defecation rates averaged 22.3, 27.0, 34.4, and 51.9 pellet groups/day during January-April, May-June, July-August, and September-December, re- spectively. Average defecation rate between autumn leaf-fall (15 Oct) and spring snowmelt (30 Apr) was 34 pellet groups/day. The same deer, when penned, defecated from 11 to 14 times/day. There was an average of 68.7 pellets/group